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Ash (band)

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Ash
Left to right: McMurray, Hatherley, Wheeler, Hamilton
Background information
Years active1992–present
MembersTim Wheeler
Mark Hamilton
Rick McMurray
Charlotte Hatherley (1997-2006)
Websitewww.ash-official.com

Ash is a rock band that formed in Downpatrick (Northern Ireland) in 1992. The media originally pegged Ash's music as Britpop when the band first found mainstream success, but the band's musical style in fact spans a number of genres including punk, power pop, grunge and hard rock.

Band members

The original band members were Tim Wheeler (vocals and guitar), Mark Hamilton (bass guitar) and Rick McMurray (drums). The three were joined by Charlotte Hatherley (guitar and vocals) in 1997 who, as of 2005, also began a solo career as a side-project. On the 20th January, 2006, Hatherley's record label, Double Dragon Music announced her departure from the band[1].

Initially inspired by Twisted Sister and Iron Maiden in the early 1990s, Tim and Mark formed a heavy metal band called Vietnam with a few schoolfriends. After barely two gigs they were left on their own when the others left. Requiring a drummer they had a few drinks with Rick, who was in the year above them at school and had switched from playing the guitar to drums. They then ambitiously set out to develop their own music now inspired by grunge bands such as Nirvana, Mudhoney and the Pixies.

Band history

1992

Ash officially formed. They created three demo tapes this year, "Solar Happy" in June, "Shed" in September, and the "Home Demo Tape" in November. These tapes featured their earliest material and the first recordings of some songs that would later be on their 1995 release, "Trailer", including "Intense Thing", "Get Out", "Obscure Thing," and their future single, "Jack names the Planets".

1993

In 1993, Ash made the demo tape, "Garage Girl", which featured "Jack names the Planets" and "Intense Thing" taken from Shed, as well as some new tracks including "Petrol". They released their compilation demo tape, "Pipe Smokin' Brick" later this year, which featured an assortment of their best demo songs from the other 4 demo tapes. The demo tapes had not gained much attention yet and Ash was still playing small shows at local clubs.

1994

In early 1994, Stephen Taverner came across "Garage Girl", the band's demo tape. Suitably impressed Steve put up the money so that they could press 2000 7″ copies of "Jack names the Planets" — (February 1994) on Steve's own LaLaLand record label. The band was on its way.

Ash released their first album, Trailer, in October of this year, which only included seven songs. This album would later be released in the United States in 1995 with four bonus tracks, making it have 11 songs total.

They received some priceless airplay from DJ Steve Lamacq on BBC Radio 1 and so followed up their debut single with "Petrol", (August 5 1994), and "Uncle Pat" — (October 17 1994) on their new label Infectious Records.

1995

This is the year Ash left school and released their breakthrough singles "Kung Fu", "Girl from Mars" and "Angel Interceptor".

1996

1996 saw them release the singles "Goldfinger" and "Oh Yeah" either side of 1977.

1997

February 17 had them release Live at the Wireless, as the title suggests a live album, recorded at the Triple J Studios in Australia. The UK fans could buy a limited edition CD of it on the band's own Deathstar label. The lads then recruited Charlotte Hatherley who had previously been with the band Nightnurse and she made her gig debut at a few small gigs a week before appearing at the V97 festival. The first single that she appeared on, "A Life Less Ordinary" was the soundtrack to the Ewan McGregor / Cameron Diaz film of the same name.

1998

In September 1998, Ash released "Jesus Says" the following month the second album proper, Nu-Clear Sounds, and in November "Wildsurf".

1999-2000

Things go badly for Ash. Tim Wheeler went AWOL following the commercial and critical failure of Nu-Clear Sounds. Later Ash nearly become bankrupt as they prepare to release possibly their last album. Luckily, this was not to be the case.

2001

The single "Shining Light" is released in January 2001, followed by the number one album Free All Angels in April. Subsequent singles released from Free All Angels were "Burn Baby Burn" (April), "Sometimes" (July), "Candy" (October) and "There's a Star" (December).

2002

The single 'Shining Light' wins the 'Best Contemporary Song' award at the 2002 Ivor Novello awards. A new single "Envy" is released, followed shortly afterwards by the singles collection Intergalactic Sonic 7″s. Q magazine names Ash as one of "50 Bands To See Before You Die".

2004

On June 29, Ash released Meltdown. It goes top ten in the UK. The band teams up with Lucasarts for a new Star Wars game entitled Republic Commando. "Clones", taken from the album "Meltdown" is the first music to be used in anything Star Wars related that hasn't been composed by John Williams.

Meltdown and Orpheus are featured on the popular British "romzomcom" movie, Shaun of the Dead. Also featured is a cover of the Buzzcocks song Everybody's Happy Nowadays featuring Chris Martin on backing vocals.

2005

Star Wars Republic Commando is finally released using "Clones" as title music. "Meltdown" gets a US release date of March 8, through Warner Bros imprint Record Collection.

Tim Wheeler receives a companionship (a honorary degree) from LIPA (Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts).

2006

20th January, 2006, Charlotte Hatherley leaves the band after 9 years leaving the rest with what they started with. An official statement reads: "After 9 years Ash and Charlotte Hatherley have mutually agreed to part company. The decision is completely amicable and they wish each other the very best for the future."

Discography

Albums

Singles

EP

Fan club releases

Demo tapes

References

  1. ^ News report on Hatherley's departure Drowned In Sound
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