Catherine Wheel (band)

Catherine Wheel were an English alternative rock band from Great Yarmouth. The band was active from 1990 to 2000, releasing five full-length albums in their career, embarking on many lengthy tours and experiencing fluctuating levels of commercial success.

This article is about the alternative rock band. For other uses, see Catherine wheel (disambiguation).

Catherine Wheel
L-R: Dave Hawes, Brian Futter, Neil Sims, and Rob Dickinson, 1993
Background information
OriginGreat Yarmouth, England, United Kingdom
Genres
Years active1990–2000
Labels
Past membersRob Dickinson
Brian Futter
Dave Hawes
Neil Sims
Ben Ellis

History

Catherine Wheel formed in 1990, comprising singer-guitarist Rob Dickinson (cousin of Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson), guitarist Brian Futter, bassist Dave Hawes, and drummer Neil Sims. Hawes had previously played in a Joy Division-influenced band called Eternal. They took their moniker from the firework known as the Catherine wheel, which in turn had taken its name from the medieval torture device of the same name. The band was sometimes included in the shoegazing scene, characterized by bands that made extensive use of guitar feedback and droning washes of noise, as well as their continuous interaction with extensive numbers of effects pedals on the stage floor.[1]

The band performed a Peel session in early 1991 while still unsigned; two 12" vinyl EPs were released on the Norwich-based Wilde Club Records,[2] named after the regular weekly Wilde Club gigs run by Barry Newman at Norwich Arts Centre. They signed to major-label Fontana Records after being courted by both Creation Records and the Brian Eno-run label Opal Records. The band's debut album, 1991/92's Ferment, made an immediate impression on the music press and introduced Catherine Wheel's second-biggest U.S. hit, "Black Metallic", as well as the moderate hit "I Want to Touch You".[3] The album features re-recorded versions of some of the Wilde Club-issued EPs. "Black Metallic" was later featured in the film S. Darko.

The more aggressive Chrome followed in 1993, produced by Gil Norton. With this album, the band began to shed its original shoegazing tag, while still making skillful use of atmospherics, such as on the song "Fripp".[2] In a 2007 interview, Rob Dickinson said that members of Death Cab for Cutie and Interpol told him that without this album, their bands "wouldn't exist."[4]

1995's Happy Days saw the band delving further into metallic hard rock, which alienated a portion of their fanbase, even as it increased their exposure in the United States during the post-grunge era.[5][6] The single "Waydown", and especially its plane-crash themed video, received heavy play in the U.S. A more sedate strain of rock known as Britpop was taking over in the UK, causing Catherine Wheel to continue to have greater success abroad than at home.[2]

The B-sides and outtakes collection, Like Cats and Dogs, came out the following year, revealing a quieter, more contemplative side of the band, spanning the previous five years. This carried over into Adam and Eve in 1997, wherein the band scaled back the sonic force of their sound from its Happy Days levels, with clean playing on some songs that featured extensive use of keyboards and acoustic guitars.[2] Alternately, songs like "Satellite" and "Here Comes the Fat Controller" were lush and orchestral in scope.

In 2000, Catherine Wheel re-emerged with a new record label, a new bassist (Ben Ellis); a modified name (The Catherine Wheel); and a new album, Wishville. After mixed reviews, record company turmoil[7] and lacklustre sales, the band went on a still-continuing hiatus.

In March 2010, Ferment was re-released, containing bonus tracks and extensive sleeve notes.

Post-Catherine Wheel work

Futter and Sims have an ongoing project called 50 ft Monster. Ellis was in a band called Serafin, and went on to play with Iggy Pop. After working with/ playing live with Tracy Bonham for several years, Dickinson released a solo album in 2005 called Fresh Wine for the Horses. Dickinson retired from recording and founded a Porsche restoration company called Singer Vehicle Design in 2009.[8]

Band members
Final line-up
Past members

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

  • She's My Friend (1991)
  • Painful Thing (1991) – No. 5 U.K. Indie Chart

Compilation albums

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
UK US Alt US Rock
1991 "Black Metallic" 68 9 – Ferment
1992 "Balloon" 59 – – Non-album single
"I Want to Touch You" 35 20 – Ferment
"30 Century Man" 47 – – Non-album single
1993 "Crank" 66 5 – Chrome
"Show Me Mary" 62 – –
1995 "Waydown" 67 15 24 Happy Days
"Judy Staring at the Sun" – 22 –
1997 "Delicious" 53 – – Adam and Eve
1998 "Ma Solituda" 53 – –
"Broken Nose" 48 – –
2000 "Sparks Are Gonna Fly" – 37 – Wishville
Catherine Wheel music videos
Year Song Director Notes
1992 "Black Metallic" Barry Magurie 7" version
"I Want to Touch You" Miles Aldridge Tim Palmer remix
1993 "Crank" Geoff Everson 2 versions: towards the end of the original version Rob is spinning on a spiked wheel while the censored version cuts away to shots of Brian and Dave
"Show Me Mary" Melodie McDaniel Scott Litt remix
1994 "The Nude" Elizabeth Baily Scott Litt remix
1995 "Waydown" Mark Pellington
"Eat My Dust You Insensitive Fuck" Stephen Dorff LP version; starring Summer Phoenix
"Judy Staring at the Sun" Nick Egan featuring Tanya Donelly; MTV edited the words "smacked" and "vein"
1997 "Delicious" Mark Adcock
1998 "Ma Solituda" Karen Lamond
2000 "Sparks Are Gonna Fly" Dean Karr

References
  1. Vigil, Delfín (24 July 2008). "Looking up at last". SFGate.com. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  2. Colin Larkin, ed. (2000). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 82. ISBN 0-7535-0427-8.
  3. "Catherine Wheel: Living the CWville Life". Notalot.com. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  4. Rayner, Ben (1 February 2007). "Behind the Wheel: Catherine Wheel's Rob Dickinson finds there is still air in the tires". Toronto Star. Retrieved 5 March 2007.
  5. Kellerman, Andy - "Happy Days" review from Allmusic.com; URL accessed 17 February 2006
  6. "Catherine Wheel: It's How High You Fly". Chart Attack, September 1995 by David S. Faris
  7. "The Wheels Are Falling Off The Catherine Wheel's Momentum". Chart. 11 July 2000. Archived from the original on 7 June 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
  8. "Singer Vehicle Design | Restored. Reimagined. Reborn". Singervehicledesign.com.
  9. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 98. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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