Denim (UK band)
Encyclopedia
Denim was the brainchild of Lawrence
, formerly of Felt
, and was based in Birmingham, England.
outfit Felt
, Lawrence moved into different territory with Denim, a band whose brash teaming of glam rock
with cutting and highly satirical lyrics was very much the opposite of his previous work.
, a record which was both a revival
(particularly with its glam rock
influences and its mix of synth and guitar) and critique
(in its satirical lyrics) of the 1970s music scene. A single, Middle Of The Road was released from the album in January 1993 on Boy's Own Records.
with the 1996 release of Denim On Ice
, which was preceded by a single It Fell Off The Back Of A Lorry. Following the same musical path as its predecessor, whilst added notable reference to bands such as Devo
and Ultravox
Denim on Ice featured even more cutting lyrics with comment on the current state of music in England (The Great Pub Rock Revival, which was a stinging attack on Britpop
and the realities of England's social malaise (on the tracks Glue & Smack and Council Houses). The album earned Denim a support slot with Pulp
who were long time fans of Lawrence and his work.
, a compilation of B-sides and some new material, which was released early 1997.
.http://www.glassdarkly.com/feltfolder/summer.html, with EMI feeling any release would be in poor taste. However, some of the album's tracks have been released on a subsequent Lawrence project, the 2005 Go Kart Mozart
album Tearing Up The Album Charts
.
Lawrence Hayward
Lawrence Hayward , known simply as Lawrence, his surname never used in credits or press, is best known as the singer, songwriter and guitarist of British indie band Felt.-Felt:...
, formerly of Felt
Felt (band)
Felt were a 1980s British alternative rock band led by Lawrence, whose surname was never listed in any credits or press; the band's name was inspired by Tom Verlaine's emphasis of the word "felt" in the Television song "Venus"...
, and was based in Birmingham, England.
History
Following the end of his former group, 1980s post-punkPost-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
outfit Felt
Felt (band)
Felt were a 1980s British alternative rock band led by Lawrence, whose surname was never listed in any credits or press; the band's name was inspired by Tom Verlaine's emphasis of the word "felt" in the Television song "Venus"...
, Lawrence moved into different territory with Denim, a band whose brash teaming of glam rock
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
with cutting and highly satirical lyrics was very much the opposite of his previous work.
Back in Denim
Denim debuted in 1992 with Back in DenimBack in Denim
Back in Denim is an album by the band Denim. It was released in 1992 on Boy's Own Recordings and then reissued in May 2006 on West Midland's Records, a subsidiary of Cherry Red...
, a record which was both a revival
Revival
Revival may refer to:*Resuscitation of a person*Language revival of an extinct language*Revival of a defunct team*Revival of a former television series*Revival of a former hit play in a new production...
(particularly with its glam rock
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
influences and its mix of synth and guitar) and critique
Critique
Critique is a method of disciplined, systematic analysis of a written or oral discourse. Critique is commonly understood as fault finding and negative judgement, but it can also involve merit recognition, and in the philosophical tradition it also means a methodical practice of doubt...
(in its satirical lyrics) of the 1970s music scene. A single, Middle Of The Road was released from the album in January 1993 on Boy's Own Records.
Denim on Ice
Denim followed Back in DenimBack in Denim
Back in Denim is an album by the band Denim. It was released in 1992 on Boy's Own Recordings and then reissued in May 2006 on West Midland's Records, a subsidiary of Cherry Red...
with the 1996 release of Denim On Ice
Denim on Ice
Denim on Ice is the second album by Denim. It was released in 1996.-Track listing:#"The Great Pub Rock Revival" – 4:14#"It Fell off the Back of a Lorry" – 3:21#"Romeo Jones Is in Love Again" – 1:44#"Brumburger" – 4:23#"The Supermodels" – 4:02...
, which was preceded by a single It Fell Off The Back Of A Lorry. Following the same musical path as its predecessor, whilst added notable reference to bands such as Devo
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
and Ultravox
Ultravox
Ultravox is a British New Wave rock band. They were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the late 1970s/early 1980s. The band was particularly associated with the New Romantic and New Wave movements....
Denim on Ice featured even more cutting lyrics with comment on the current state of music in England (The Great Pub Rock Revival, which was a stinging attack on Britpop
Britpop
Britpop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom. Britpop emerged from the British independent music scene of the early 1990s and was characterised by bands influenced by British guitar pop music of the 1960s and 1970s...
and the realities of England's social malaise (on the tracks Glue & Smack and Council Houses). The album earned Denim a support slot with Pulp
Pulp (band)
Pulp are an English alternative rock band formed in Sheffield in 1978. Their lineup consists of Jarvis Cocker , Russell Senior , Candida Doyle , Mark Webber , Steve Mackey and Nick Banks ....
who were long time fans of Lawrence and his work.
Novelty Rock
Denim's final release was Novelty RockNovelty Rock
-Side one:#"The New Potatoes" – 1:52#"On a Chicory Tip" – 3:24#"Robin's Nest" – 1:51#"Internet Curtains" – 3:22#"Snake Bite" – 2:59...
, a compilation of B-sides and some new material, which was released early 1997.
Denim Take Over
Denim Take Over was to be Denim's fourth album, but it was shelved due to a lack of commercial success for the band and when its lead single Summer Smash, due to be issued in September 1997, was cancelled, despite promotional copies being distributed, due to the death of Princess DianaDiana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
.http://www.glassdarkly.com/feltfolder/summer.html, with EMI feeling any release would be in poor taste. However, some of the album's tracks have been released on a subsequent Lawrence project, the 2005 Go Kart Mozart
Go Kart Mozart
Go Kart Mozart is a band founded by Lawrence, originally of the bands Felt and Denim. The sound of the band is similar to Denim, although with an emphasis on synthesizers rather than guitars. The songs are short in nature, most never going over three minutes. The lyrics are often funny and satirical...
album Tearing Up The Album Charts
Tearing Up The Album Charts
Tearing Up the Album Charts is an album by the band Go Kart Mozart. It was released in 2005 on West Midland's Records, a subsidiary of Cherry Red...
.
Discography
- Back in DenimBack in DenimBack in Denim is an album by the band Denim. It was released in 1992 on Boy's Own Recordings and then reissued in May 2006 on West Midland's Records, a subsidiary of Cherry Red...
LP (1992) - Denim on IceDenim on IceDenim on Ice is the second album by Denim. It was released in 1996.-Track listing:#"The Great Pub Rock Revival" – 4:14#"It Fell off the Back of a Lorry" – 3:21#"Romeo Jones Is in Love Again" – 1:44#"Brumburger" – 4:23#"The Supermodels" – 4:02...
LP (1996) - Novelty RockNovelty Rock-Side one:#"The New Potatoes" – 1:52#"On a Chicory Tip" – 3:24#"Robin's Nest" – 1:51#"Internet Curtains" – 3:22#"Snake Bite" – 2:59...
LP (1997)