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British Sea Power Information
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'British Sea Power' (BSP) are a five-man band based in Brighton, England. They are an indie rock band who have a sweeping, often epic, guitar pop sound, often compared to that of Echo & the Bunnymen and The Smiths. The vocals owe much to David Bowie and on some songs the post-punk influence of Joy Division is clear.
Members
British Sea Power use only one-word stage names. They are:
*Yan (Scott Wilkinson) - Vocals, guitar
*Noble (Martin Noble) - Guitar
*Hamilton (Neil Wilkinson) - Bass, vocals, guitar
*Woody (Matthew Wood) - Drums
*Eamon (Eamon Hamilton) - Keyboards, marching drum
History
The band formed around 2000 when Yan recruited his brother Hamilton and friend Woody (all attended Kirkbie Kendal School, Kendal, Cumbria) and convinced them to move to join him and his friend Noble in Reading, where they were studying at the University. They played some gigs in Reading before relocating to Brighton in search of a more vibrant music scene. In Brighton BSP amassed a strong local following, due mainly to their own club night called Club Sea Power which was most frequently hosted at the Freebutt and a now deceased club called Lift. In September 2001 BSP signed to Rough Trade Records. Eamon was recruited to play live keyboards in Autumn 2002, when the band were on tour supporting Gene. They released their debut album, The Decline of British Sea Power in June 2003 to critical acclaim. However, the album only charted in the lower reaches of the UK Top 75 Album Chart but turned out to be a word of mouth success, shipping well over 60,000 copies over the following two years and allowing them to play sellout UK tours to venues of over 1,000 people. The follow-up, Open Season, was released in early April 2005, and also enjoyed wide critical praise as well as charting at #13 in the UK Albums Chart. It showcased a more accessible, produced sound. Lead single "It Ended on an Oily Stage" charted at #18 in the UK Singles Chart a week earlier.
British Sea Power have a reputation for elaborate live shows and won the 2004 Time Out London Live Band of the Year award. The stage is often decorated with foliage and plastic birds and sets generally finish with a semi-improvised song called Rock in A, which can generally last for over 10 minutes. Various members often climb riggings and tear down the foilage, Eamon walks around the audience beating his marching drum and a ten-foot bear, Ursine Ultra, occasionally makes an appearance - often taking a beating from various band members. This has become one of the signatures of the band. Their tours often include unusual venues such as the Scillonian club on the Isles of Scilly, Grasmere Village Hall and the St. John Boste Social Club in Kendal.
The band have built up an eccentric image in interviews and press releases; some based on fact, other times merely whimsical building of outward personas. These include giving journalists grid references with which to meet them, and expressing obsessions with Field Marshal Montgomery and birdwatching.
The band are currently believed to be working on a new material, and are preparing a DVD. In November 2005 it was rumoured that they had parted company with manager Roy Wilkinson, former Gene manager, some-time journalist, and brother of Yan and Hamilton.
UK Discography
Albums
*The Decline of British Sea Power (UK 2003)
*Open Season (UK 2005)
Singles & EPs
* "Fear of Drowning" (UK 2001)
* "Remember Me" (UK 2001)
* "The Lonely" (UK 2002)
* "Childhood Memories" (UK 2002)
* "Carrion/Apologies to Insect Life" (UK 2003)
* "Remember Me" (UK 2003, re-release)
* "A Lovely Day Tomorrow" (UK 2004)
* "It Ended on an Oily Stage" (UK 2005)
* "Please Stand Up" (UK 2005)
* "Remember Me/I Am a Cider Drinker" (with The Wurzels) (UK 2005)
References to people, places and things
The band is noted for referencing often obscure things in their lyrics.
* Charles Lindbergh, in "The Spirit of St. Louis".
* The assassination of Reinhard Heydrich in "A Lovely Day Tomorrow"
* Larsen B ice shelf in "Oh Larsen B"
* Lullington Church in "The Smallest Church in Sussex"
* Fyodor Dostoevsky in "Apologies to Insect Life"
* Field Marshal Montgomery in "Favours in the Beetroot Fields"
* Kattegat (a bay bordered by Sweden and Denmark) and L. P. Hartley's novel The Go-Between in "Lately"
* The Trojan Horse in "A Wooden Horse"
* The Shining Levels and William Shakespeare in "Something Wicked"
* Geoff Goddard (writer of the Tornados song "Telstar") in "The Lonely"
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