Lodestar was an experimental progressive

Progressive rock

Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...

 band formed in 1996 by Heitham Al-Sayed

Heitham Al-Sayed

Heitham Al-Sayed is a rapper/singer from South West London. He is of Saudi and English parentage.Al-Sayed is lead vocalist in the band Senser and Lodestar. He is known for strong political opinions which permeate his music and contributed to conflict within, as well as the eventual break-up of,...

 (Lead Vocalist), John Morgan (Drums

Drum kit

A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....

) and "Haggis" (Sound Engineer) after they left Senser

Senser

Senser, a politically-charged UK band, originally formed in South West London from a group of friends in the late 1980s, Nick Michaelson , Heitham Al-Sayed , Kerstin Haigh , John Morgan , James Barrett and Alan "Hagos/Haggis" Haggarty and in 1992 they were joined by Spiral Tribe D.J, Andy Clinton...

. They were joined by a fourth member, Jules Hodgson

Jules Hodgson

Jules Hodgson, also credited as Joolz or J. Hogstorm, is the guitarist for KMFDM, an industrial band, and The Spittin' Cobras . He is a former member of PIG and Lodestar. In 2006, Hodgson married pin-up model Go-go Amy and divorced in 2008. Jules now resides in Seattle, Washington...

 (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...

). Lodestar were signed to Ultimate Records where they released their album Lodestar in 1996. Though the band never split up, it is considered to be on a permanent hiatus.

Lodestar were a lot more experimental than their previous Senser

Senser

Senser, a politically-charged UK band, originally formed in South West London from a group of friends in the late 1980s, Nick Michaelson , Heitham Al-Sayed , Kerstin Haigh , John Morgan , James Barrett and Alan "Hagos/Haggis" Haggarty and in 1992 they were joined by Spiral Tribe D.J, Andy Clinton...

 material. The band produced a lot more organic and progressive sound, with time changes and polymetrics across a number of songs, most not using the conventional 'verse chorus verse' song structure.

The band released two singles, and gigged across the UK in 1997, including a support slot at the London Astoria

London Astoria

The London Astoria was a music venue, located at 157 Charing Cross Road, in London, England. It had been leased and run by Festival Republic since 2000. It was closed on 15 January 2009 and has since been demolished...

 with Tool

Tool (band)

Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...

. A promotional poster with the words "Down In The Mud With The Primitive Fucks" (from the single "Down In The Mud") could be seen pinned on the right hand side of the stage for a number of years after their gig. The radio version of "Down In The Mud" single was heavily edited.

Albums

• Lodestar CD Album [TOPPCD049] (A&M 1996)
  1. Another Day
  2. Salter's Ducks
  3. Wait A Minute
  4. Representative
  5. By Halves
  6. Better Late Than Never
  7. Aftertaste
  8. Worthwhile
  9. Soiled Blood
  10. Down In The Mud
  11. Iliac Crest

• Lodestar 12" Vinyl Album [TOPPLP049]

Same as above

Singles

• Another Day CD [TOPP046CD] (1996)
  1. Another Day
  2. All You Need
  3. 11/8 Koroviev

• Another Day 7" Vinyl [TOPP046] (1996)
  1. Another Day
  2. Force Of Habit

• Another Day 12" Vinyl [TOPP046T] (Ultimate Records 1996)
  1. Another Day
  2. All You Need
  3. 11/8 Koroviev

• Down in the Mud CD [FEZ001CD] (A&M 1997)
  1. Down In The Mud
  2. Neat, Neat, Neat
  3. Down In The Mud (Primitive Edit)
  4. Horse
• Down in the Mud 7" Vinyl [FEZ001] (1997)
  1. Down In The Mud
  2. Somnopolis

Promos

• Another Day CD (1996)
  1. Another Day
  2. All You Need
  3. 11/8 Koroviev

• Another Day 12" Vinyl [UKPROMO8T] (1996)
  1. Another Day
  2. Down In The Mud (Primitive Edit)

• Down In The Mud CD (1997)
  1. Down In The Mud (Radio Edit)
  2. Down In The Mud (Primitive Club Mix)
  3. Salter's Ducks (Alternate Mix)
  4. Aftertaste
  5. Down In The Mud

• Sampler (Ultimate Records 1997)
  1. Down In The Mud (Radio Edit) (3:38)
  2. Down In The Mud (Primitive Club Mix) (4:19)
  3. Salter's Ducks (Alternate Mix) (4:08)
  4. Aftertaste (4:41)
  5. Down In The Mud (4:16)

Members

• Heitham Al-Sayed (Vocals, 1995–1997)
• John Morgan (Drums, 1995–1997)
• "Haggis" (Bass, 1995–1997)
• Jules Hodgson (Guitar, 1995–1997)

External links

• Ultimate Records