Farse
Encyclopedia
Farse are a five-piece ska-punk band hailing from Birmingham
in the West Midlands.
They attended St. Thomas Aquinas school in Birmingham, where the band formed in 1996 as a four piece, Ollie (Vocals/Guitar) Chris (Bass) Dan (Drums) Tom Rose (Guitar). After releasing a string of demos and a few line up changes, mainly Tom Whithouse joining on second Guitar, leaving Ollie as Vocalist and Ade Preston replacing Tom Rose in the same year, they released their debut album, Means To An End, (recorded at Rich Bitch studios, Selly Oak, Birmingham) on 8 October 2001. The record created a buzz throughout the underground punk
and ska
scene in the UK and attracted the attention of the Moon Ska Europe label. Farse then entered UB40
's DEP International Studios
, to record their second album Boxing Clever in late 2002. Following the album's release the band's popularity grew, with the video for the song Hopscotch receiving heavy rotation on the now-defunct digital music channel P-Rock
. The band then embarked on several headlining tours throughout the UK before unexpectedly announcing their split in early 2004. During their career they performed with similar acts such as King Prawn
, Voodoo Glow Skulls
, Mad Caddies
, Bowling For Soup
, Reel Big Fish
and Capdown
.
The final performance was held on Thursday 18 March 2004 at the Carling Academy 2 in Birmingham. The show involved former band members joining the line up to play old material. The set finished with the song "Youth On Paper", a song said to have been previously unheard at live shows.
Bassist Chris Badham now tours with The Mad Caddies.
Ade is also the bassist of Beat Union
formerly known as Shortcut to Newark, and has more recently joined The King Blues
replacing Fruitbag as guitarist.
Farse played two reunion gigs, one at Subside Bar in Birmingham on Monday, 4 May 2009, and one at O2 Academy 2 Birmingham on Saturday, 9 May 2009.
Farse also performed at the Slam Dunk Festival in Leeds on Sunday, 24 May 2009.
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
in the West Midlands.
They attended St. Thomas Aquinas school in Birmingham, where the band formed in 1996 as a four piece, Ollie (Vocals/Guitar) Chris (Bass) Dan (Drums) Tom Rose (Guitar). After releasing a string of demos and a few line up changes, mainly Tom Whithouse joining on second Guitar, leaving Ollie as Vocalist and Ade Preston replacing Tom Rose in the same year, they released their debut album, Means To An End, (recorded at Rich Bitch studios, Selly Oak, Birmingham) on 8 October 2001. The record created a buzz throughout the underground punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
scene in the UK and attracted the attention of the Moon Ska Europe label. Farse then entered UB40
UB40
UB40 are a British reggae/pop band formed in 1978 in Birmingham. The band has placed more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and has also achieved considerable international success. One of the world's best-selling music artists, UB40 have sold over 70 million records.Their hit singles...
's DEP International Studios
DEP International Studios
DEP International Studios is a recording studio situated in Digbeth, Birmingham, UK. Designed by Recording Architecture, the studio is owned by dub music band UB40 . Situated in Birmingham's Eastside area, it still exists today.- Studio One :...
, to record their second album Boxing Clever in late 2002. Following the album's release the band's popularity grew, with the video for the song Hopscotch receiving heavy rotation on the now-defunct digital music channel P-Rock
P-Rock
P-Rock TV was a UK based music channel which played mostly music videos in the Punk and Ska genres. It also featured underground rap and hardcore artists. It was first set up in November 2002 by two South London based businessmen on a marketing budget of £2,500, with no previous TV experience...
. The band then embarked on several headlining tours throughout the UK before unexpectedly announcing their split in early 2004. During their career they performed with similar acts such as King Prawn
King Prawn
King Prawn were a prominent band of the UK ska punk scene during the 1990s and early 2000s.King Prawn blended elements of punk, hardcore, metal, ska, dub, reggae, and hip hop into their music, which they dubbed wildstyle....
, Voodoo Glow Skulls
Voodoo Glow Skulls
Voodoo Glow Skulls are an American ska punk band formed in 1988 in Riverside, California by brothers Frank, Eddie and Jorge Casillas and their longtime friend Jerry O'Neill...
, Mad Caddies
Mad Caddies
The Mad Caddies are a third wave ska band from Solvang, California. The band formed in 1995 and has released five full-length albums, one live album, and two EPs...
, Bowling For Soup
Bowling for Soup
Bowling for Soup is an American pop-punk band which originally formed in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1994...
, Reel Big Fish
Reel Big Fish
Reel Big Fish is an American ska punk band from Huntington Beach, California, best known for the 1997 hit "Sell Out". The band gained mainstream recognition in the mid-to-late 1990s, during the third wave of ska with the release of the gold certified album Turn the Radio Off. Soon after, the band...
and Capdown
Capdown
Capdown are a band from Milton Keynes, England. Originally known as Soap, their songs have political themes as alluded to by their name, which is short for Capitalist Downfall...
.
The final performance was held on Thursday 18 March 2004 at the Carling Academy 2 in Birmingham. The show involved former band members joining the line up to play old material. The set finished with the song "Youth On Paper", a song said to have been previously unheard at live shows.
Bassist Chris Badham now tours with The Mad Caddies.
Ade is also the bassist of Beat Union
Beat Union
Beat Union was a pop-punk band from Birmingham, Bromsgrove and Redditch, United Kingdom. They were formerly known as Shortcut to Newark. The group has garnered comparisons to Elvis Costello and The Jam, as well as pop punk groups like Green Day....
formerly known as Shortcut to Newark, and has more recently joined The King Blues
The King Blues
The King Blues are a punk band from London, England, credited for fusing ska and folk together with influences from punk rock and hardcore punk. Tariq Ali described the band's sounds as 'rough, radical music that should unsettle the rulers of this country. A new generation of musicians are...
replacing Fruitbag as guitarist.
Farse played two reunion gigs, one at Subside Bar in Birmingham on Monday, 4 May 2009, and one at O2 Academy 2 Birmingham on Saturday, 9 May 2009.
Farse also performed at the Slam Dunk Festival in Leeds on Sunday, 24 May 2009.
Reformation
On Friday 30 October 2009 Farse played their 'finale' gig at O2 Academy Birmingham. During this set, frontman Ollie proclaimed that it wasn't to be their last ever show, in fact, that the group were reforming, writing some new material and getting back out on the road. "Why give up doing something that you enjoy and love so much?"Band members
- Last Line-Up:-
- Ollie Patrick - Vocals / Guitar (Until 1998). (1996-2004 / 2009)
- Chris Badham - Bass. (1996-2004 / 2009) (Mad CaddiesMad CaddiesThe Mad Caddies are a third wave ska band from Solvang, California. The band formed in 1995 and has released five full-length albums, one live album, and two EPs...
) - Dan O'Connell - Drums. (1996–1998 / 1999-2004 / 2009)
- Ade Preston - Guitar. (1998–2004 / 2009) (Beat UnionBeat UnionBeat Union was a pop-punk band from Birmingham, Bromsgrove and Redditch, United Kingdom. They were formerly known as Shortcut to Newark. The group has garnered comparisons to Elvis Costello and The Jam, as well as pop punk groups like Green Day....
, The High SocietyThe High SocietyThe High Society are a glam rock group from Birmingham, United Kingdom formed in 2006 by Matt "Maxi" Browne and Martyn "The Nelsta" Nelson following the breaup of their previous band King Adora. They have one release to date, the self-titled EP The High Society, released in 2009...
, The King BluesThe King BluesThe King Blues are a punk band from London, England, credited for fusing ska and folk together with influences from punk rock and hardcore punk. Tariq Ali described the band's sounds as 'rough, radical music that should unsettle the rulers of this country. A new generation of musicians are...
) - Dean Ashston - Guitar. (2009) (Shooter McGavin, Shortcut To Newark, Beat UnionBeat UnionBeat Union was a pop-punk band from Birmingham, Bromsgrove and Redditch, United Kingdom. They were formerly known as Shortcut to Newark. The group has garnered comparisons to Elvis Costello and The Jam, as well as pop punk groups like Green Day....
, The King BluesThe King BluesThe King Blues are a punk band from London, England, credited for fusing ska and folk together with influences from punk rock and hardcore punk. Tariq Ali described the band's sounds as 'rough, radical music that should unsettle the rulers of this country. A new generation of musicians are...
)
- Past Member:-
- Tomas Whitehouse - Guitar. (1998–2004)
- Adam Price - Drums. (1998–1999)
- Tom Rose - Guitar. (1996–1998)
Releases
- Means To An End - 2001 (Sucka Punch).
- Boxing Clever - 2003 (Moon Ska Europe).