Chapterhouse

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the religious buildings, see Chapter house

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2009)

Chapterhouse are a British shoegazing band of the early 1990s, originally from Reading, Berkshire, England. Formed in 1987 by Andrew Sherriff and Stephen Patman, the band began performing alongside Spacemen 3. After the band split, Sheriff later formed Biocom.^[1]

[edit] Career

The band comprised Andrew Sherriff (born 16 May 1969, Wokingham, England; guitar/vocals), Stephen Patman (born 8 November 1968, Windsor, Berkshire, England; guitar/vocals), Simon Rowe (born 23 June 1969, Reading, Berkshire; guitar), Jon Curtis (bass) and Ashley Bates (born 2 November 1971, Reading; drums).

Chapterhouse took the unusual step of rehearsing and gigging for well over a year before recording even a demo tape. They were initially compared to the British acid rock scene, a mistake hardly rectified by the band's early performances supporting the rather laid-back Spacemen 3. Chapterhouse eventually found themselves associated with the shoegazer groups of 1991 (with the likes of Lush, Ride, Moose and Slowdive), so called because of the bands' static live shows and insular music.

Bassist Jon Curtis left early on to study, being replaced by Russell Barrett (born 7 November 1968, Vermont, United States) who also fronted his own garage band, the Bikinis. Chapterhouse eventually signed to the newly formed Dedicated label, releasing a series of acclaimed singles, including "Pearl," which featured guest vocals by Rachel Goswell of Slowdive and reached the Top 75 of the UK Singles Chart, and which reveled in distorted melodies and attracted a healthy following.

Their first LP Whirlpool, released in 1991, has been cited as one of the genre's high points, but failed to capture a wider market. In the same year, Chapterhouse also appeared in their home town Reading Festival immediately following Nirvana's performance.

Blood Music, stylistically different, was released in 1993. Two singles from this album, "She's a Vision" and "We Are the Beautiful", were relatively successful, but the album was withdrawn due to a sampling lawsuit. Global Communication reworked Blood Music for a remix album Pentamerous Metamorphosis.

The band released no further new material other than a double CD "Rownderbout" compiling their singles, various B-sides, rarities and unreleased demos which featured Slowdive drummer Simon Scott. Sherriff went on to form Bio.com and Rowe went on to play guitar for Mojave 3. Bates formed Cuba and now plays in the British folktronica band Tunng.

The music of Chapterhouse was mostly out of print on CD until March 2006 when Cherry Red Records reissued the album Whirlpool with bonus tracks, and for the first time, lyrics.

The band played a version of "Love Forever" with Ulrich Schnauss on the Barn Stage at the 2008 edition of Truck Festival.

In response to numerous requests over the years, Chapterhouse played live at Club AC30's Reverence show at the ICA on Thursday the 26th of November 2009 along with Ulrich Schnauss and Kirsty Hawkshaw. This was preceded on 23 November by a warm up show at the Luminaire in Kilburn. The band will also be playing a show at The Scala in London, on the 18 March 2010 and have announced a short tour in Japan.^[2]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

• Whirlpool (1991, reissued in 2006)
• Blood Music (1993)

[edit] Compilations

• Rownderbowt (1996)
• The Best of Chapterhouse (2007)

[edit] EPs

• Freefall (1990)
• Sunburst (1990)

[edit] Singles

• "Pearl" (1991)
• "Mesmerise" (1991)
• "Mesmerise (remix)" (1991)
• "She's A Vision" / "Don't Look Now" (1993)
• "We Are The Beautiful" (1993)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• http://www.comeheaven.com
• http://www.comeheaven.com/forum