These Animal Men
Encyclopedia
These Animal Men were an English band who achieved minor fame
in the 1990s as part of the New Wave of New Wave
before splitting up after releasing two album
s, in 1998.
circa 1990, signing to Hut Records
, an offshoot of Virgin Records
in 1993. They gained some notoriety with their first few singles
, which featured drug references in both the sleeve artwork and the song lyrics
.
Their first album (Come on Join) The High Society was described by the music press
, notably the NME
, as being part of the New Wave of New Wave
, (alongside contemporaries S*M*A*S*H with whom they shared their first significant release, "Wheelers, Dealers, Christine Keelers").
Although this press attention undoubtedly contributed to their initial success (including a spot on Top of the Pops
) the band tried to distance themselves from this movement in interviews. This was perhaps because they realized that when the press interest moved on to the next big thing, Britpop
they would be left behind.
After a three year hiatus, punctuated by only one EP
, Taxi for These Animal Men, they returned with their second album in 1997, Accident and Emergency. Despite reported difficulties encountered during recording
, including the firing of Hussey, Accident and Emergency received some critical acclaim, but little commercial success. In 1998, the band broke up.
Later in 1998, Boag, Hewings, Warnock and Hague formed "Mo Solid Gold" with a new singer, K, (a.k.a. K.A. Hepburn) taking over vocals from Boag and Hewings. The output, a hybrid of the TAM sound and Northern soul, was the 2001 album Brand New Testament released on EMI/Chrysalis records. Singles for the tracks "David's Soul," "Personal Saviour," "Safe from Harm," and the self-titled "Mo Solid Gold" followed, but despite initial good reviews, the group broke up less than a year later.
In 2007, Hewings and Boag formed the band The Orphans with drummer Kev (since replaced by Paul Emons) and producer/keyboardist Tim Howarth. The Orphans released their first album Muff, a blend of glam, punk and garage rock, in 2008 on the Hail Mary label.
The Orphans continue to gig and are currently putting the finishing touches on the follow-up to Muff.
Original TAM drummer Stevie is currently drumming with former Beta Band front man Steve Mason.
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
in the 1990s as part of the New Wave of New Wave
New wave of new wave
The New Wave of New Wave was a term coined by music journalists to describe a sub-genre of the British alternative rock scene in the early 90s, in which bands displayed punk, post-punk and New Wave influences, particlularly from bands such as The Clash, Blondie, Wire, and The Stranglers. The band...
before splitting up after releasing two album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s, in 1998.
History
These Animal Men formed in BrightonBrighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
circa 1990, signing to Hut Records
Hut Records
VC Recordings trading as Hut Records was a British record label brand which was started in 1990 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Virgin Records...
, an offshoot of Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
in 1993. They gained some notoriety with their first few singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, which featured drug references in both the sleeve artwork and the song lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
.
Their first album (Come on Join) The High Society was described by the music press
Music journalism
Music journalism is criticism and reportage about music. It began in the eighteenth century as comment on what is now thought of as 'classical music'. This aspect of music journalism, today often referred to as music criticism , comprises the study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation of...
, notably 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...
, as being part of the New Wave of New Wave
New wave of new wave
The New Wave of New Wave was a term coined by music journalists to describe a sub-genre of the British alternative rock scene in the early 90s, in which bands displayed punk, post-punk and New Wave influences, particlularly from bands such as The Clash, Blondie, Wire, and The Stranglers. The band...
, (alongside contemporaries S*M*A*S*H with whom they shared their first significant release, "Wheelers, Dealers, Christine Keelers").
Although this press attention undoubtedly contributed to their initial success (including a spot on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
) the band tried to distance themselves from this movement in interviews. This was perhaps because they realized that when the press interest moved on to the next big thing, Britpop
Britpop
Britpop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom. Britpop emerged from the British independent music scene of the early 1990s and was characterised by bands influenced by British guitar pop music of the 1960s and 1970s...
they would be left behind.
After a three year hiatus, punctuated by only one 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...
, Taxi for These Animal Men, they returned with their second album in 1997, Accident and Emergency. Despite reported difficulties encountered during recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
, including the firing of Hussey, Accident and Emergency received some critical acclaim, but little commercial success. In 1998, the band broke up.
Later in 1998, Boag, Hewings, Warnock and Hague formed "Mo Solid Gold" with a new singer, K, (a.k.a. K.A. Hepburn) taking over vocals from Boag and Hewings. The output, a hybrid of the TAM sound and Northern soul, was the 2001 album Brand New Testament released on EMI/Chrysalis records. Singles for the tracks "David's Soul," "Personal Saviour," "Safe from Harm," and the self-titled "Mo Solid Gold" followed, but despite initial good reviews, the group broke up less than a year later.
In 2007, Hewings and Boag formed the band The Orphans with drummer Kev (since replaced by Paul Emons) and producer/keyboardist Tim Howarth. The Orphans released their first album Muff, a blend of glam, punk and garage rock, in 2008 on the Hail Mary label.
The Orphans continue to gig and are currently putting the finishing touches on the follow-up to Muff.
Original TAM drummer Stevie is currently drumming with former Beta Band front man Steve Mason.
Albums
- (Come on Join) The High Society (1994) - UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#62 - Accident and Emergency (1997) - UK #192
EPs
- Too Sussed (1994) - UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#39 - Taxi For These Animal Men (1995) - UK #64
Singles
- "Wheelers, Dealers, Christine Keelers" (split release with S*M*A*S*H) (1993)
- "Speed King" (1994) - UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#95 - "You're Not My Babylon" (1994) - UK #77
- "This is the Sound of Youth" (1994) - UK #72
- "Life Support Machine" (1997) - UK #62
- "Light Emitting Electrical Wave" (1997) - UK #72
Band members
- Alexander Boag - vocals, guitar
- Julian Hewings (aka Hooligan) - backing vocals, guitar
- Patrick Murray - bass
- Steve Hussey (until 1996) - drums
- Craig Warnock (from 1996) - keyboard
- Rob Hague (from 1996) - drums