Senseless Things

Senseless Things were a indie punk band who were active on the UK festival circuit in the late 80s and early 1990s.

History

Senseless Things formed around the musical partnership of songwriter Mark Keds (vocals, guitar) and Morgan Nicholls (bass, originally guitar), who as 11-year-old schoolboys in Twickenham, Middlesex put together Wild Division in the early 1980s. With the addition of drummer Cass Browne (also occasionally known as Cass Cade and Cass Traitor) they became the Psychotics, playing various venues in their local area despite still being at school. Their first gig together as the Senseless Things followed at the subsequently demolished Clarendon in Hammersmith, London, in October 1986. Auxiliary members at this stage included a keyboard player, Ben, then a guitarist, Gerry, who deputized for Nicholls while the latter was studying for his 'O' Levels.

The definitive Senseless Things line-up finally evolved in summer 1987 when Nicholls returned to take over bass, with the new recruit, former BBC clerk Ben Harding, acquiring the vacant guitarist's role. Taking their musical cue from The Ramones and The Dickies, and their spiritual lead from fellow guitar outfit Mega City Four, the quartet embarked upon a hectic touring schedule, often playing on the same bill as Mega City Four, Snuff (band) and Perfect Daze.

The band's first release was on a 7-inch compilation single given away with issue 6 of London fanzine Sniffin' Rock. By March 1988 the band had attracted the attention of BBC disc jockey John Peel, who invited them to record the first of two sessions for his programme. Following another fanzine release, three tracks headed by 'I'm Moving', a friend offered to finance a 'proper' release. The 'Up And Coming' 12-inch followed, then 'Girlfriend'/'Standing In The Rain', for Way Cool Records.

Their first album followed, the aptly titled 'Postcard CV', which captured the energy and brevity of their early live shows by packing 10 tracks into around 22 minutes. The album was rounded off by 'Too Much Kissing', which was released as a single and was to become their signature track. The band joined What Goes On Records just as it collapsed, then signed to Vinyl Solution subsidiary Decoy Records, who released the four-track EP 'Is It Too Late?', in May 1990.

The group stayed with Decoy for 'Can't Do Anything', which prefaced an appearance at the Reading Festival, and they signed to Epic Records at the start of 1991. The subsequent full-length album 'The First Of Too Many' saw the band experimenting with other styles including some acoustic songs, and the single 'Got It At The Delmar' entered the Top 50 of the UK Singles Chart. Two further Top 20 singles followed in 1992 - 'Easy To Smile' and 'Hold It Down'. The band toured the USA, supporting Blur, and went to Japan for the first time, appearing on talent show 'Ika-Ten'.

Cover art for 'Postcard CV' and 'The First of Too Many' was provided by comic artist Jamie Hewlett, creator of Tank Girl and Gorillaz.

The first single from 1993's 'Empire Of The Senseless', was 'Homophobic Asshole'. Its uncompromising title and lyrical content predictably alienated radio programmers. The subsequent single from the album, 'Something to Miss' had more success. Rumours circulated in March 1995 of the band's impending collapse, having been dropped by their record label.

In 1995, the band released a final album, 'Taking Care Of Business', and a controversial single 'Christian Killer' (renamed 'Christine Keeler'). They split up after one last UK tour.

Line-up

• Mark Keds - vocals/guitar
• Ben Harding - guitar/vocals
• Morgan Nicholls - bass
• Cass Browne - drums

Where are they now?

Keds went on to form Jolt then Trip Fontaine, The Lams and Like A Bitch. He very briefly played with The Wildhearts. He also co-wrote The Libertines hit "Can't Stand Me Now" which took a line from the Jolt single "Kitten".

Harding went on to join 3 Colours Red and has since developed a career in public and media relations with diverse organisations including Help the Aged, the Eden Project and the Crown Prosecution Service. Morgan joined Vent414 with Miles Hunt from The Wonder Stuff then went on to play with The Streets. He is now part of Muse's live set-up. Cass went on to sing for Delakota and then Gorillaz. He also briefly played with Urge Overkill.

Senseless Things reformed (minus Morgan, who was touring in Japan with Muse. He was covered by Micky Wyle then of Mark Keds' current band Like a Bitch) for one short four song performance on 4 March 2007 - over 12 years after the band last performed - as part of a gig to celebrate the life of former Mega City Four frontman Darren "Wiz" Brown, who died in December 2006.

Discography

Albums

• Postcard C.V. (1989) - 12", Tape - Way Cool (WC 004 LP)
• The First of Too Many (1991) - 12", CD, Tape - Epic
• Empire of the Senseless (1992) - CD - Epic
  • Empire of the Senseless/Postcard CV (1993) - Double CD, Tape - Epic
• Peel Sessions (1994) - CD - Strange Fruit
• Taking Care of Business (1995) - CD, 12" - Epic
• Singles (1998) - CD - Epic

Singles/EPs

1988 - "Up & Coming" 12" - "Way Cool"

1988 - split 7" w/ Crazyhead - "Sniffin' Rock"

1988 - "Yo Yo Jo"

1989 - "Bootleg"

1989 - "Girlfriend" / "Standing in the Rain"

1989 - "Too Much Kissing" / "Trevor"

1990 - "Is it Too Late?"

1990 - "Can't Do Anything"

1991 - "Everybody's Gone"

1991 - "Got it at the Delmar"

1991 - "Easy to Smile"

1991 - "Gokigenyo Dudes" (Japanese release on Planet Earth/Toshiba-EMI, comprising previous singles)

1991 - "Up & Coming" (CD release)

1992 - "Hold it Down"

1992 - "Homophobic Asshole"

1993 - "Primary Instinct"

1993 - "Too Much Kissing"

1994 - "Christine Keeler"

1995 - "Something to Miss"

External links

• Senseless Things dot com
• SubOrbital
• Senseless Things MySpace site