Rialto (band)

Rialto were an English rock band formed in London in 1997. They released their self-titled debut album in 1998, followed by their second and final album, Night on Earth, in 2001. Their single "Untouchable" reached the top 20 in the UK Singles Chart.[2][3] In the summer of 1998, Rialto became the first ever UK chart band to release a single exclusively through the internet.[4][5][6]

Rialto
OriginLondon, England
GenresAlternative rock, Britpop[1]
Years active1997–2002
LabelsEastWest
China Records
Eagle Records
Koch Records (US)
Associated actsKinky Machine
Past membersLouis Eliot
Jonny Bull
Julian Taylor
Pete Cuthbert
Toby Hounsham
Anthony Christmas

Despite finding favour with music critics, with Melody Maker anticipating "a fairytale future of Oasis-like proportions", the band were famously dropped by their label East West, a Warner Music Group imprint, a month before the release of their heavily promoted eponymous debut album, denting the group's chances of major commercial success. Neil McCormick noted that Rialto were "among the most critically acclaimed and highly touted new groups to emerge" of the late 1990s, making "carefully crafted, Beatlesque pop, with an epic, cinematic sound and slightly sinister lyrics". The group gained a following in East Asia, particularly in South Korea where their debut reached the number one spot in the album charts.[7][8]

Band members
  • Louis Eliot – lead vocalist, guitar, songwriter
  • Jonny Bull – guitar, programming, backing vocals, producer
  • Julian Taylor – bass, backing vocals and trumpet
  • Pete Cuthbert – drums
  • Toby Hounsham – keyboards (1997–2000)
  • Anthony Christmas – drums (1997–2000)

Biography

Rialto grew from the remains of the band Kinky Machine, which featured singer Louis Eliot and guitarist Jonny Bull.[9] Kinky Machine released two albums: their self-titled debut in 1993 (Oxygen/MCA Records) and Bent in 1995.

In 1997, Eliot and Bull rejoined and, with the addition of bassist Julian Taylor, drummer Pete Cuthbert and keyboardist Toby Hounsham, formed Rialto.[9] Later that year they released their first singles, "When We're Together" and "Untouchable."[9] The latter was re-released in January 1998 and cracked the Top 20 in the UK Singles Chart. Despite the anticipated arrival of their self-titled debut album, East West Records dropped them from their label, with China Records releasing the album on 13 July 1998 instead.[9]

In September 1998, Rialto played a gig at the University of Leeds during freshers’ week. The six-track Girl On A Train EP followed two years later, receiving accolades from NME and Q magazines. By the time Rialto gathered to make a second album, Hounsham and Christmas had left the group, leaving them as a four-piece. The band finally released their second and final album, Night on Earth, in 2001.

Post-band activities

Following the band's split, Eliot released his solo debut, the Everybody Loves You When You're Dead EP, in 2002, followed by his full-length debut, Long Way Round, on Iodine Records in 2004.

Bull co-wrote the song "Friday Night" with Lily Allen at his studio in southwest Portugal. The song ended up on her debut album Alright, Still. In 2011, he wrote and sang the song for the "Ph. Diddy" video produced by Invitrogen to illustrate life in a biotechnology laboratory.

Discography

Albums
  • Rialto (1998) – UK No. 21
  • Night on Earth (2001)

EP
  • Girl on a Train (2000)

Singles
  • "When We're Together" (1997)
  • "Monday Morning 5.19" (1997) – UK No. 37
  • "Untouchable" (1998) – UK No. 20
  • "Dream Another Dream" (1998) – UK No. 39
  • "Summer's Over" (1998) – UK No. 60 [2]
  • "Anything Could Happen" (2001) - UK No. 85
  • "London Crawling" (2001)

References
  1. Alice Jones, "Laugh at Britpop if you will, but it was the unforgettable and glorious sound of my youth", Independent, 25 April 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  2. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 460. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. "RIALTO | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com.
  4. "Rialto become a house band". NME. 26 April 2000. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  5. "Caught in a musical web". BBC News. 6 July 1998. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  6. "Pulp fiction". Lancashire Telegraph. 4 July 1998. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  7. "Dropped from a great height". The Daily Telegraph. 11 July 1998. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  8. "Interview with Louis Eliot of Rialto". PopMatters. 27 April 2002. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  9. Colin Larkin, ed. (2000). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 330/1. ISBN 0-7535-0427-8.
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