Pete and the Pirates
Encyclopedia
Pete And The Pirates are an English
indie rock band from Reading
. The band consists of Thomas Sanders (vocals), Peter Hefferan (vocals and guitar), David Thorpe (guitar), Peter Cattermoul (bass) and Jonny Sanders (drums). They have extensively toured the U.K and Europe.
in Reading, Berkshire
. It was not until they all left school that they met with Bassist Peter Cattermoul and Guitarist Peter Hefferan, who had also played music together in their late teens, that the band was formed. Initially, the lineup not did not include Tommy Sanders and was fronted by Peter Hefferan.
After playing just a few shows around Reading, the band were invited on a short tour with all-girl punk band Wetdog, who took them to play at The Spitz
in Spitalfield Market. It was here that the band was picked up by a new indie label Stolen Recordings
and where they would begin to build their reputation as an exciting live act. Just a few months later , the bands was in a studio in Hornsey making their first EP.
The band's first release, the Get Even EP, was limited to 500 numbered CDs, all with handmade covers.
Rough Trade
wrote of the EP "The six tracks have folk bits, byrdsy harmony bits, kraut-rock frug-outs, punk blasts of power and superb pop moments all segued and strewn together carelessly but precisely. It's oddball and charming and would sit perfectly next to the englishness of the Mystery Jets or Wire, although they sound like neither."
for live bookings. Songs from Wait, Stop Begin would appear later on the debut album Little Death.
On 25 August 2007 the band played in the Carling Tent at Reading Festival. They also played guerilla gigs in the campsite later that day, which came to the attention of the NME
who featured an article in their magazine.
and were championed by Steve Lamacq
on his In New Music We Trust radio show on BBC Radio 1
.
.
Their first full length album Little Death, produced by Gareth Parton and the band, was released on 17 February 2008. It was described by NME
as "perfect pop without the pretence". Pitchfork gave, Little Death an 8 out of 10 saying "Even if you'd be to admit it to your friends, "Dry Wings", with lines like, "Time for bed/ Find a girl and go to bed/ Close your eyes/ Stars are falling from the sky," is mighty affecting—a winking galaxy of jangled wist, sweet, staggered harmonies and a gawky, yearning sense of wonder." The Guardian gave the album 3 out of 5 stars saying, "this eclecticism does make Little Death feel like the work of several different bands. No matter. There is imagination to spare here, as well as the occasional winning lyric." Conversely, in a review by Vice Magazine, Little Death was given 0 out of 10 and winner of the "worst album of the month" category. In this review, written by Stewy Matterson, the album was described as "jangly guitar music that doesn’t actually sound like it wants to be heard by anybody apart from [the band's] mothers."
The band played several support dates with Maxïmo Park
, Vampire Weekend
, Pigeon Detectives and Gossip (band)
and were the headline act at Club NME at London's KOKO in September 2008. Pete and the Pirates also appeared on BBC 6 Music
sessions with Stephen Merchant
(co-creator of The Office
), George Lamb
, and more frequently Marc Riley
.
Mr Understanding was the band's biggest track to date and featured on many TV shows including The Inbetweeners
and also the trailer for Hollywood Movie Hamlet 2
starring Steve Coogan
.
, was released in the UK on 23 May 2011 to much critical acclaim - the Sunday Express and Artrocker
both gave the Album 5 star reviews and Mark Beaumont from NME
gave the Album an 8/10 score, describing the music as “Pop in a tar-pit – black and sticky but wonderfully pure at heart”. It was also reviewed in The Guardian
, Q (magazine)
and many other magazines and broadsheets. The band had become known for their straight-up accented vocal delivery, as noted by Johnny Dee
for The Guardian
, "you can practically smell the Thames on every word".
The first single from the album Come To The Bar was released on 14 March 2011. The promo video was directed by Rohan Thomas and Tylie Cox and was shot in The Lexington venue in Angel, London. The video features an interpretive dance performance from Daniela Neugebauer and colour grading from Reuben Sutherland
. The song has later appeared on the end credits to Channel 4
TV show Sirens (UK TV series)
.
To promote the record the band toured the UK in April and May 2011 with a sold out show at Heaven, London on 26 May. The Fly (magazine)
reviewed "Celebrating the release of new album ‘One Thousand Pictures’, the band have refined their audience, marking out a clear divide between their work and that of countless indistinguishable landfill indie bands." They also played an instore show at Rough Trade East on 2 June 2011.
The second single United was released on 16 May 2011. The band requested footage of cats from fans through their website and mailing list to include in the video for the song. The video also features the band hanging around with various cats.
Marc Riley
of BBC 6 Music
has been one of the bands most prominent enthusiasts, inviting them to perform on his show on numerous occasions. The band have achieved playlists on BBC 6 Music
and XFM
as well as spot plays on BBC Radio 1
where Zane Lowe
gave Come to the Bar his "Hottest Record In The World" for the song's first radio play.
The Pirates are booked to play at Leeds Festival this summer but not at Reading, notably to the disappointment of BBC Berkshire presenter Linda Serck who wrote an article on the matter stating "If you’re reading this Melvin Benn, esteemed owner of Reading Festival: please put Pete and the Pirates on at Reading. I’m sure thousands of others would urge you to do the same."
Blood Gets Thin was used in a trailer for the fourth season of American TV show Breaking Bad
and subsequently on an episode of The Protector (TV series).
It was also used in the Pilot episode of American Horror Story
A large number CD and Vinyl copies of the album were scorched in a fire at Sony's distribution warehouse during the 2011 England riots
.
The band is scheduled to tour the UK and Europe from September to November 2011 with a headline show at Scala (club)
, London on 4 October and a 9,000 capacity show with Kaiser Chiefs
at Kirkstall Abbey
on 10 September
.
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...
indie rock band from Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
. The band consists of Thomas Sanders (vocals), Peter Hefferan (vocals and guitar), David Thorpe (guitar), Peter Cattermoul (bass) and Jonny Sanders (drums). They have extensively toured the U.K and Europe.
Beginnings and Get Even EP (2004-2005)
Brothers Tommy Sanders and Jonny Sanders grew up playing music together at home in their early teens. Jonny later played in a band with Guitarist David Thorpe while attending Maiden Erlegh SchoolMaiden Erlegh School
Maiden Erlegh School is a large community Academy for boys and girls with arts and business and enterprise specialisms. The school was awarded the Artsmark Gold mark in 2002 and 2005. It currently has 1,800 pupils, 360 of whom are in the sixth form...
in Reading, Berkshire
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
. It was not until they all left school that they met with Bassist Peter Cattermoul and Guitarist Peter Hefferan, who had also played music together in their late teens, that the band was formed. Initially, the lineup not did not include Tommy Sanders and was fronted by Peter Hefferan.
After playing just a few shows around Reading, the band were invited on a short tour with all-girl punk band Wetdog, who took them to play at The Spitz
The Spitz
The Spitz are an independent record label and music promoter. They started out in 1996 running a club in the East End of London, at 109 Commercial Street on the edge of the Old Spitalfields market...
in Spitalfield Market. It was here that the band was picked up by a new indie label Stolen Recordings
Stolen Recordings
Stolen Recordings is an independent record label founded by two musicians and one artist based in Tottenham, London. Stolen's first release was in May 2005 and in 2009 they founded a publishing company in association with Beggars Music called Stolen Publishing.-Current artists:* Pete And The...
and where they would begin to build their reputation as an exciting live act. Just a few months later , the bands was in a studio in Hornsey making their first EP.
The band's first release, the Get Even EP, was limited to 500 numbered CDs, all with handmade covers.
Rough Trade
Rough Trade
Rough Trade may refer to:*Rough Trade Records, a record label*Rough Trade , linked but independent London record stores*Rough Trade , a Canadian new wave rock band*Rough Trade , an episode of American Dad!...
wrote of the EP "The six tracks have folk bits, byrdsy harmony bits, kraut-rock frug-outs, punk blasts of power and superb pop moments all segued and strewn together carelessly but precisely. It's oddball and charming and would sit perfectly next to the englishness of the Mystery Jets or Wire, although they sound like neither."
Wait, Stop, Begin EP (2006-2007)
After the release of their first EP, the band came to the notice of Jason Lamont of CMO Management. The band continued to play more shows around London and the UK and Tommy Sanders joined the group in 2006. Sometime after this the band were approached by Lamont for management and also by William Morris EndeavorWilliam Morris Endeavor
WME is the largest talent agency in the world, with offices in Beverly Hills, New York City, Nashville, London, and Miami. WME represents elite artists from all facets of the entertainment industry, including motion pictures, television, music, theatre, publishing, and physical production...
for live bookings. Songs from Wait, Stop Begin would appear later on the debut album Little Death.
On 25 August 2007 the band played in the Carling Tent at Reading Festival. They also played guerilla gigs in the campsite later that day, which came to the attention of 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...
who featured an article in their magazine.
Little Death (2008-2010)
In June 2007 they released their debut single "Come On Feet" on Stolen RecordingsStolen Recordings
Stolen Recordings is an independent record label founded by two musicians and one artist based in Tottenham, London. Stolen's first release was in May 2005 and in 2009 they founded a publishing company in association with Beggars Music called Stolen Publishing.-Current artists:* Pete And The...
and were championed by Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq , sometimes known by his nicknames Lammo or "The Cat" is an English disc jockey, currently working with the BBC radio stations BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2.-Early career:He was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire...
on his In New Music We Trust radio show on 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...
.
.
Their first full length album Little Death, produced by Gareth Parton and the band, was released on 17 February 2008. It was described by 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...
as "perfect pop without the pretence". Pitchfork gave, Little Death an 8 out of 10 saying "Even if you'd be to admit it to your friends, "Dry Wings", with lines like, "Time for bed/ Find a girl and go to bed/ Close your eyes/ Stars are falling from the sky," is mighty affecting—a winking galaxy of jangled wist, sweet, staggered harmonies and a gawky, yearning sense of wonder." The Guardian gave the album 3 out of 5 stars saying, "this eclecticism does make Little Death feel like the work of several different bands. No matter. There is imagination to spare here, as well as the occasional winning lyric." Conversely, in a review by Vice Magazine, Little Death was given 0 out of 10 and winner of the "worst album of the month" category. In this review, written by Stewy Matterson, the album was described as "jangly guitar music that doesn’t actually sound like it wants to be heard by anybody apart from [the band's] mothers."
The band played several support dates with Maxïmo Park
Maxïmo Park
Maxïmo Park are a British alternative rock band, formed in 2000. They are signed to Warp Records. The band consists of Paul Smith , Duncan Lloyd , Archis Tiku , Lukas Wooller and Tom English...
, Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend is an American indie rock band from New York City that formed in 2006 and signed to XL Recordings. The Band has four members: Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij, Chris Tomson, and Chris Baio. The band released its first album Vampire Weekend in 2008, which produced the singles "Mansard...
, Pigeon Detectives and Gossip (band)
Gossip (band)
Gossip is a three-piece American indie rock band formed in 1999. The band consists of singer Beth Ditto, guitarist Brace Paine and drummer Hannah Blilie. After releasing several recordings, the band broke through with their 2006 studio album, Standing in the Way of Control . A follow-up, Music for...
and were the headline act at Club NME at London's KOKO in September 2008. Pete and the Pirates also appeared on 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....
sessions with Stephen Merchant
Stephen Merchant
Stephen James Merchant is an English writer, director, radio presenter, comedian, and actor. He is best known for his collaborations with Ricky Gervais, as the co-writer and co-director of the popular British sitcom The Office, as the co-writer, co-director and a co-star of Extras, and as the...
(co-creator of The Office
The Office (UK TV series)
The Office is a British sitcom television series that was first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 9 July 2001. Created, written, and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the programme is about the day-to-day lives of office employees in the Slough branch of the fictitious...
), George Lamb
George Lamb
George Lamb was a British politician and writer.The youngest son of Peniston Lamb, 1st Viscount Melbourne and his wife Elizabeth, and the brother of William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, Frederick Lamb, 3rd Viscount Melbourne and Emily Lamb, Lady Cowper, he was educated at Eton College and Trinity...
, and more frequently Marc Riley
Marc Riley
Marc Riley is a British musician, alternative rock critic and radio DJ on BBC 6 Music. Formerly a member of The Fall, he had his own record label, In-Tape, and also worked as a record plugger...
.
Mr Understanding was the band's biggest track to date and featured on many TV shows including The Inbetweeners
The Inbetweeners
The Inbetweeners is a British sitcom which aired for three series from 2008 to 2010 on E4. Created and written by Damon Beesley and Iain Morris, the show follows the life of suburban teenager Will , and three of his friends at the fictional Rudge Park Comprehensive. The Inbetweeners Movie was...
and also the trailer for Hollywood Movie Hamlet 2
Hamlet 2
Hamlet 2 is a 2008 American comedy film directed by Andrew Fleming, written by Fleming and Pam Brady, and starring Steve Coogan, Catherine Keener, Amy Poehler, and David Arquette. It was produced by Eric Eisner, Leonid Rozhetskin, and Aaron Ryder. Hamlet 2 was filmed primarily at a high school in...
starring Steve Coogan
Steve Coogan
Stephen John "Steve" Coogan is a British comedian, actor, writer and producer. Born in Manchester, he began his career as a standup comedian and impressionist, working as a voice artist throughout the 1980s on satirical puppet show Spitting Image. In the early nineties, Coogan began creating...
.
One Thousand Pictures (2011-present)
Their second album, One Thousand Pictures, produced by Brendan LynchBrendan Lynch
Brendan Lynch is a British music producer, who has produced for Paul Weller, Primal Scream, and The Rakes. He has also worked with the 22-20s, Carleen Anderson and Ocean Colour Scene...
, was released in the UK on 23 May 2011 to much critical acclaim - the Sunday Express and Artrocker
ArtRocker
Artrocker is a UK-based collective involved in music promotion and publishing. It was started by Paul Cox and Tom Fawcett who had been co-promoters of a London night called The Sausage Factory...
both gave the Album 5 star reviews and Mark Beaumont from 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...
gave the Album an 8/10 score, describing the music as “Pop in a tar-pit – black and sticky but wonderfully pure at heart”. It was also reviewed in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, Q (magazine)
Q (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
and many other magazines and broadsheets. The band had become known for their straight-up accented vocal delivery, as noted by Johnny Dee
Johnny Dee
Johnny Dee is a fictional mutant character, in the Marvel Comics universe. He debuted in Son of M #1 .-Fictional character biography:...
for The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, "you can practically smell the Thames on every word".
The first single from the album Come To The Bar was released on 14 March 2011. The promo video was directed by Rohan Thomas and Tylie Cox and was shot in The Lexington venue in Angel, London. The video features an interpretive dance performance from Daniela Neugebauer and colour grading from Reuben Sutherland
Reuben Sutherland
Reuben Sutherland is a British VJ, director and visual artist, specialising in mixing up live action and animation.Sutherland has made music videos for The Doves, Phoenix Foundation and Röyksopp . He also created videos for the New Zealand based independent record label Flying Nun Records...
. The song has later appeared on the end credits to Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
TV show Sirens (UK TV series)
Sirens (UK TV series)
Sirens is a British comedy-drama about an ambulance service team broadcast on Channel 4. It was first screened on 27 June 2011.The series is based on the book Blood, Sweat & Tea by Brian Kellett. The series is filmed predominantly in Leeds with some filmed in the surrounding areas...
.
To promote the record the band toured the UK in April and May 2011 with a sold out show at Heaven, London on 26 May. The Fly (magazine)
The Fly (magazine)
The Fly is a free music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom. The magazine is published by the HMV owned MAMA Group.The magazine started as a listings leaflet in Camden, north London, for the Barfly music venue on Chalk Farm Road...
reviewed "Celebrating the release of new album ‘One Thousand Pictures’, the band have refined their audience, marking out a clear divide between their work and that of countless indistinguishable landfill indie bands." They also played an instore show at Rough Trade East on 2 June 2011.
The second single United was released on 16 May 2011. The band requested footage of cats from fans through their website and mailing list to include in the video for the song. The video also features the band hanging around with various cats.
Marc Riley
Marc Riley
Marc Riley is a British musician, alternative rock critic and radio DJ on BBC 6 Music. Formerly a member of The Fall, he had his own record label, In-Tape, and also worked as a record plugger...
of 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....
has been one of the bands most prominent enthusiasts, inviting them to perform on his show on numerous occasions. The band have achieved playlists on 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....
and 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...
as well as spot plays on 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...
where Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe also known as 'Zipper', is a radio DJ and television presenter. He was born in New Zealand and grew up in Auckland, where he was a presenter on the local music station Max TV, before moving to England...
gave Come to the Bar his "Hottest Record In The World" for the song's first radio play.
The Pirates are booked to play at Leeds Festival this summer but not at Reading, notably to the disappointment of BBC Berkshire presenter Linda Serck who wrote an article on the matter stating "If you’re reading this Melvin Benn, esteemed owner of Reading Festival: please put Pete and the Pirates on at Reading. I’m sure thousands of others would urge you to do the same."
Blood Gets Thin was used in a trailer for the fourth season of American TV show Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad is an American television drama series created and produced by Vince Gilligan. Set and produced in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Breaking Bad is the story of Walter White , a struggling high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with advanced lung cancer at the beginning of the series...
and subsequently on an episode of The Protector (TV series).
It was also used in the Pilot episode of American Horror Story
A large number CD and Vinyl copies of the album were scorched in a fire at Sony's distribution warehouse during the 2011 England riots
2011 England riots
Between 6 and 10 August 2011, several London boroughs and districts of cities and towns across England suffered widespread rioting, looting and arson....
.
The band is scheduled to tour the UK and Europe from September to November 2011 with a headline show at Scala (club)
Scala (club)
Scala is a nightclub in London, England, near King's Cross railway station.-History:The Scala was originally built as a cinema to the designs of H Courtney Constantine, but construction was interrupted by the First World War and it spent some time being used to manufacture aircraft parts, and as a...
, London on 4 October and a 9,000 capacity show with Kaiser Chiefs
Kaiser Chiefs
Kaiser Chiefs are an English indie rock band from Leeds who formed in 1996. They were named after the South African football club Kaizer Chiefs....
at Kirkstall Abbey
Kirkstall Abbey
Kirkstall Abbey is a ruined Cistercian monastery in Kirkstall north-west of Leeds city centre in West Yorkshire. It is set in a public park on the north bank of the River Aire. It was founded c.1152. It was disestablished during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under the auspices of Henry...
on 10 September
Studio albums
- Little DeathLittle Death (album)Little Death is the debut album by English indie rock group Pete & The Pirates, released on February 17, 2008. Recorded and mixed by producer Gareth Parton at The Fortress Studios, London.-Critical reception:...
(17 February 2008) - One Thousand Pictures (May 2011) (UK chart peak: #75)
Singles
- "Come On Feet" (June 2007)
- "Knots" (October 2007)
- "Mr. Understanding" (January 2008)
- "She Doesn't Belong To Me" (April 2008)
- "Jennifer / Blood Gets Thin" (December 2008)
- "Come To The Bar (February 2011)
- "United" (May 2011)
Solo projects
Some members of the band have worked on solo projects including Tommy Sanders' Tap TapTap Tap (band)
Tap Tap are a British band fronted by Thomas Sanders the lead singer of Pete and the Pirates.Their debut album Lanzafame was released in 2006 on Catbird Records in the US and in 2007 on Stolen Recordings in the UK...
.