Operahouse
Encyclopedia
Operahouse were a five-piece rock
band based in Camden
London
. Operahouse released their debut single, "Man Next Door" in March 2007 on Glaze Records to great response, earning plaudits and airplay from such stations as BBC 6 Music
, Xfm
, and BBC Radio 2
's Jonathan Ross
. Their next single, "Born A Boy", was released on Marrakesh
in January 2008 and in addition to getting even more airplay, scored rave reviews in the NME
. The follow-up "Diane" was released in May 2008, which was also well received. Their next single, "Change In Nature", marked a new milestone for the band. On the band's MySpace
, they claimed that they were "throwing off our indie shackles" and that the music "has a slightly darker ... theme".
, The Beatles
and Led Zeppelin
. He started playing guitar at eight years old, then quit and took up the saxophone for a few years before deciding he preferred guitar. Originally from Newcastle, Lloyd went to London via Rugby where he played football at school with Jimmy Cratch. Cratch started playing guitar with Lloyd when they were about 15. He moved to London to study photography at Camberwell Arts College. When Lloyd was looking for people to join the band he asked Cratch. As Lloyd and Alex Kaines were both playing guitar, and they needed someone on bass guitar
, Cratch took up the role.
Kaines was introduced to Lloyd by a mutual friend in a café in south London, and the basis for Operahouse was formed. Aged 18, Ben Niblett who had been playing drums for five years, was also recruited.
Dan White, the most recent member of the band (being the only member who joined after the band formed), was recruited to play the synthesizer and keyboard, and also played the xylophone beat in "Change In Nature". He appeared in the videos
for "Change In Nature" and "Genius Child".
In 2007, the band's first single attracted the attention of Dominic Hardisty, who signed The Killers. Hardisty signed the band to his UK
based label Marrakesh Records
. Their debut album was released in early 2009.
They announced their split on 6 July 2009.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band based in Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Operahouse released their debut single, "Man Next Door" in March 2007 on Glaze Records to great response, earning plaudits and airplay from such stations as BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music is one of the BBC's digital radio stations, was launched on 11 March 2002 and originally codenamed Network Y. It was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in 32 years....
, Xfm
Xfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
, and BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
's Jonathan Ross
Jonathan Ross
Jonathan Ross may refer to:* Jonathan Ross , English television and radio personality* Jonathan Ross , United States Senator, Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court* Jonathon Ross , former Australian rules footballer...
. Their next single, "Born A Boy", was released on Marrakesh
Marrakesh Records
Marrakesh Records is a small UK indie label which, in a previous guise as Lizard King, first signed The Killers. The label previously traded under the name Lizard King Records.- See also :* List of record labels...
in January 2008 and in addition to getting even more airplay, scored rave reviews in the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
. The follow-up "Diane" was released in May 2008, which was also well received. Their next single, "Change In Nature", marked a new milestone for the band. On the band's MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
, they claimed that they were "throwing off our indie shackles" and that the music "has a slightly darker ... theme".
History
Singer and guitarist Johnny Lloyd was brought up on The Velvet UndergroundThe Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...
, The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
. He started playing guitar at eight years old, then quit and took up the saxophone for a few years before deciding he preferred guitar. Originally from Newcastle, Lloyd went to London via Rugby where he played football at school with Jimmy Cratch. Cratch started playing guitar with Lloyd when they were about 15. He moved to London to study photography at Camberwell Arts College. When Lloyd was looking for people to join the band he asked Cratch. As Lloyd and Alex Kaines were both playing guitar, and they needed someone on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Cratch took up the role.
Kaines was introduced to Lloyd by a mutual friend in a café in south London, and the basis for Operahouse was formed. Aged 18, Ben Niblett who had been playing drums for five years, was also recruited.
Dan White, the most recent member of the band (being the only member who joined after the band formed), was recruited to play the synthesizer and keyboard, and also played the xylophone beat in "Change In Nature". He appeared in the videos
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Change In Nature" and "Genius Child".
In 2007, the band's first single attracted the attention of Dominic Hardisty, who signed The Killers. Hardisty signed the band to his UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
based label Marrakesh Records
Marrakesh Records
Marrakesh Records is a small UK indie label which, in a previous guise as Lizard King, first signed The Killers. The label previously traded under the name Lizard King Records.- See also :* List of record labels...
. Their debut album was released in early 2009.
They announced their split on 6 July 2009.
Singles
- "Man Next Door" (March 2007, Glaze Records)
- "Born A Boy" (January 2008, Marrakesh RecordsMarrakesh RecordsMarrakesh Records is a small UK indie label which, in a previous guise as Lizard King, first signed The Killers. The label previously traded under the name Lizard King Records.- See also :* List of record labels...
) - "Diane" (May 2008, Marrakesh Records)
- "Change In Nature" (November 2008, Marrakesh Records)
- "Genius Child" (March 2009, Marrakesh Records)
Albums
- Change In NatureChange In NatureChange In Nature is an EP by the indie-rock band Operahouse. It was released in late 2008 through Marrakesh Records, available to buy in certain stores around the UK...
(released November 2008, Marrakesh Records) - Escape From The Sun (released April 2009, Marrakesh Records)