King of the Slums
Encyclopedia
King of the Slums were a British alternative rock
band. Formed in Greater Manchester
in the mid-1980s, the band specialised in a kind of electric violin
and guitar
-driven rock music, and released their debut single in 1986. Whilst the band earned some critical acclaim from the UK music press, commercial success eluded them and the group disbanded in the early 1990s following the release of their second studio album, Blowzy Weirdos
(1991). An album of new material plus some older songs appeared in 2009 credited to both King of the Slums and Slum Cathedral User, which was the original name of the group.
, Greater Manchester
, England
, by writer Charley Keigher aka Charlie Keighera (vocals, guitar) and Sarah Curtis (electric violin), initially as Slum Cathedral User, the group made its recording debut with the "Spider Psychiatry" single in 1986 on a small independent label (SLR Records). Curtis had studied violin at the Royal Northern College of Music
, but dropped out after Keigher reportedly assaulted someone there. Further releases followed in 1988 and 1989 on the Play Hard label, now with bassist Jon Chandler and drummer Stuart Owen (who replaced a succession of drummers), most of which were collected on the album Barbarous English Fayre
(1989). The band also recorded a session for John Peel
's BBC Radio 1
show in 1988. An incendiary live performance of "Fanciable Headcase", shown on the influential Snub TV
television programme, earned the band national exposure, and helped to push their EP
s up the independent chart
, "Bombs Away on Harpurhey" reaching #8. After switching to Midnight Music, the band issued its debut album proper, Dandelions
(1989), to favourable reviews in the British music press. Keigher and Curtis were now joined by a new rhythm section. The following year, King of the Slums signed to Cherry Red Records and issued the Blowzy Weirdos
album in 1991, with Keigher's gritty take on British life again finding favour amongst the critics. Later in the year, however, the band broke up without ever achieving a commercial breakthrough to match their critical acclaim. The band performed nearly 200 concerts during their career resulting in numerous bootlegs being circulated, all of which the band disowned. A cult following has remained and grown over the years since the band broke up. In 2009 the band announced the release of a new fourth album called The Orphaned Files, a collection of predominately brand new songs together with some rare and remixed older songs, released through their first record label, SLR Records.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band. Formed in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
in the mid-1980s, the band specialised in a kind of electric violin
Electric violin
An electric violin is a violin equipped with an electronic output of its sound. The term most properly refers to an instrument purposely made to be electrified with built-in pickups, usually with a solid body...
and guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
-driven rock music, and released their debut single in 1986. Whilst the band earned some critical acclaim from the UK music press, commercial success eluded them and the group disbanded in the early 1990s following the release of their second studio album, Blowzy Weirdos
Blowzy Weirdos
Blowzy Weirdos is an album by the British band King of the Slums, released in 1991 on the Cherry Red label.- Track listing :# "Gone All Weirdo"# "Smile So Big"# "Casin' The Joint"# "Keepin' It All Sweet"# "Hot Pot Shebeen"# "Clubland Gangs"# "Joy"...
(1991). An album of new material plus some older songs appeared in 2009 credited to both King of the Slums and Slum Cathedral User, which was the original name of the group.
History
Formed in Salford and HulmeHulme
Hulme is an inner city area and electoral ward of Manchester, England. Located immediately south of Manchester city centre, it is an area with significant industrial heritage....
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, by writer Charley Keigher aka Charlie Keighera (vocals, guitar) and Sarah Curtis (electric violin), initially as Slum Cathedral User, the group made its recording debut with the "Spider Psychiatry" single in 1986 on a small independent label (SLR Records). Curtis had studied violin at the Royal Northern College of Music
Royal Northern College of Music
The Royal Northern College of Music is a music school in Manchester, England. It is located on Oxford Road in Chorlton on Medlock, at the western edge of the campus of the University of Manchester and is one of four conservatories associated with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music...
, but dropped out after Keigher reportedly assaulted someone there. Further releases followed in 1988 and 1989 on the Play Hard label, now with bassist Jon Chandler and drummer Stuart Owen (who replaced a succession of drummers), most of which were collected on the album Barbarous English Fayre
Barbarous English Fayre
Barbarous English Fayre is an album by the British band King of the Slums. Originally released on vinyl only in June 1989 on the Play Hard label, the album compiles early releases by the band. It reached number 4 on the UK Indie Chart in 1989...
(1989). The band also recorded a session for John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
's BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
show in 1988. An incendiary live performance of "Fanciable Headcase", shown on the influential Snub TV
Snub TV
Snub TV or simply Snub was a alternative culture television programme that ran from 1987 to 1989. Originally produced as a part of the Nightflight in the USA, it went on to success in the UK and other countries...
television programme, earned the band national exposure, and helped to push their EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
s up the independent chart
UK Indie Chart
The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
, "Bombs Away on Harpurhey" reaching #8. After switching to Midnight Music, the band issued its debut album proper, Dandelions
Dandelions (album)
Dandelions is the debut album proper by the British band King of the Slums, released in 1989 on the Midnight Music label.- Track listing :# "Schooley"# "Armed Robbery"# "Unfit Mother"# "Violate Nothing But The Best"# "Up She Rises"...
(1989), to favourable reviews in the British music press. Keigher and Curtis were now joined by a new rhythm section. The following year, King of the Slums signed to Cherry Red Records and issued the Blowzy Weirdos
Blowzy Weirdos
Blowzy Weirdos is an album by the British band King of the Slums, released in 1991 on the Cherry Red label.- Track listing :# "Gone All Weirdo"# "Smile So Big"# "Casin' The Joint"# "Keepin' It All Sweet"# "Hot Pot Shebeen"# "Clubland Gangs"# "Joy"...
album in 1991, with Keigher's gritty take on British life again finding favour amongst the critics. Later in the year, however, the band broke up without ever achieving a commercial breakthrough to match their critical acclaim. The band performed nearly 200 concerts during their career resulting in numerous bootlegs being circulated, all of which the band disowned. A cult following has remained and grown over the years since the band broke up. In 2009 the band announced the release of a new fourth album called The Orphaned Files, a collection of predominately brand new songs together with some rare and remixed older songs, released through their first record label, SLR Records.
Albums
- Barbarous English FayreBarbarous English FayreBarbarous English Fayre is an album by the British band King of the Slums. Originally released on vinyl only in June 1989 on the Play Hard label, the album compiles early releases by the band. It reached number 4 on the UK Indie Chart in 1989...
(Play Hard, 1989) (UK IndieUK Indie ChartThe UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
#4) - DandelionsDandelions (album)Dandelions is the debut album proper by the British band King of the Slums, released in 1989 on the Midnight Music label.- Track listing :# "Schooley"# "Armed Robbery"# "Unfit Mother"# "Violate Nothing But The Best"# "Up She Rises"...
(Midnight Music, 1989) - Blowzy WeirdosBlowzy WeirdosBlowzy Weirdos is an album by the British band King of the Slums, released in 1991 on the Cherry Red label.- Track listing :# "Gone All Weirdo"# "Smile So Big"# "Casin' The Joint"# "Keepin' It All Sweet"# "Hot Pot Shebeen"# "Clubland Gangs"# "Joy"...
(Cherry Red, 1991) - The Orphaned Files (SLR Records, 2009)
Singles & EPs
- "Spider Psychiatry" (SLR, 1986)
- "Haemophiliacs on Tacks" (Debris, 1987) - split flexi-disc with Moist
- England's Finest Hopes EP (Play Hard, 1988)
- "Bombs Away On Harpurhey" (Play Hard, 1989) (UK Indie #8)
- Vicious British Boyfriend EP (Play Hard, 1989)
- "Trouble at Mill" (Getout Fanzine Flexi Disc, 1989)
- "Once A Prefect" (Midnight Music, 1989)
- "It's Dead Smart" (Midnight Music, 1990)
- "Bear Wiv Me" (Fluorescent Mix) (Midnight Music, 1990)
- "Joy" (Cherry Red, 1991)