This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(May 2009) |
Gomezare an Englishindie rockbandfromSouthport,Merseyside,comprisingIan Ball(vocals, guitar), Paul "Blackie" Blackburn (bass),Tom Gray(vocals, guitars, keyboards),Ben Ottewell(vocals, guitars) and Olly Peacock (drums, synths, computers).[3]The band has three singers and four songwriters, employing traditional andelectronic instruments.Their music covers the genres of blues, indie, alternative, rock, folk, psychedelic and experimental.
Gomez | |
|---|---|
 The band in June 2006 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Southport, Merseyside,England |
| Genres | Indie rock,post-Britpop,[1]alternative rock,art rock[2] |
| Years active | 1997–present[3] |
| Labels | ATO,MapleMusic Recordings(Canada), Eat Sleep,Independiente,Hut/Virgin[4] |
| Members | Ian Ball Ben Ottewell Tom Gray Paul Blackburn Olly Peacock |
| Website | http:// gomeztheband / |
History
editFormation (1995–1997)
editGuitaristandvocalistIan BallanddrummerOlly Peacockare long-time friends, having played in a three-piece band from the ages of 14 to 18. They metbassistPaul Blackburnandmulti-instrumentalistTom Gray at college. Ian Ball met vocalist/guitaristBen OttewellatSheffield University.
The band played its first gig together in 1996 inLeedsat the Hyde Park Social Club on Ash Grove. At the time, they did not have a formal name. The band left a sign out which read "Gomez in here", for a friend of theirs whose surname was Gomez, to indicate that it was the site of their first gig. People saw the sign and assumed that the band's name was Gomez, and it was later made official.[5]
The band started recording four-track demos in Peacock's father's garage inSouthportduring the summer of 1996. The demos were given toStephen Fellows(later their manager) who distributed them to four record labels. The band, having played only one performance, decided against playing showcases in London and instead made the record companies travel to Red Tape rehearsal studios. After several weeks of playing to over 25 labels, the band signed toHut Records(Virgin Records), in September 1997.
Bring It On(1997–1998)
editAfter signing to Hut Records in September 1997, they began recording their debut album. They entered Parr Street Studios with engineerKen Nelson,recording new songs and improving the mixes of the demos. The band self-produced, and the album was certified platinum. A season of English Festivals (including two performances atGlastonbury) followed. The band won theMercury Music Prizein September 1998.
In 1998,PhilipsElectronics chose Gomez to coverThe Beatles' song "Getting Better"for an ad campaign for Philips' new lines offlat panelandhigh-definition televisionsets.[6]The cover song was not released on an album until 2000 withAbandoned Shopping Trolley Hotline,a collection of B-sides.
Liquid Skin(1999–2000)
editThe band's second album,Liquid Skin,was released in 1999, leading Gomez to success on the British and Australian albums charts.[3]The band also made the Billboard Heatseeker chart for the first time. After winning the Mercury Prize, the band went back to Parr Street Studios, recording as much material as they could between tours. Ken Nelson engineered once again and the band self-produced. The album wentplatinumand touring followed, including a performance atGlastonbury Festivalon the second stage.[7]
In Our Gun(2000–2003)
editThe group's third album,In Our Gun,was released in 2002. It made the top 10 on the UK charts and the top 50 on the Australian charts. The single "Shot Shot" charted in the UK top 40, the Portugal top 20, and the Billboard Heatseeker chart. The band produced and recorded the record in Batsford Manor, Gloucestershire, with additional recordings in Studio 2 atAbbey Road Studios.Giving the album a perfect score in his review forPopMatters,Matt Cibula wrote "everyone who doesn’t like this record is insane in a bad way. ScrewWilco;In Our Gunis sounding very much like the Album of the Year. "[8]
Split the Difference(2004–2005)
editWhile Gomez's first three albums were self-produced, the band worked withTchad Blakeas producer for their fourth record. The band were fans of his compressed sounds as heard onLos LobosandLatin Playboysrecordings. The album was met with mixed critical response, withAllmusicrating it as four stars out of five andBBC Internet Music Reviewsdescribing it as "one of the finest releases of the year so far. If you were one of those people who wrote them off two years ago, it's time to get listening again."[9]However, the album received less favourable reviews from a number of other sources, includingPitchfork MediaandNME.
The band built a studio in Portslade, just outside Brighton, England (where most of them were residing). They worked independently for months recording, until they developed a record with Tchad Blake atReal World Studios.In 2007, Gomez recorded a cover ofThe Band's hit "Up On Cripple Creek"for the tribute albumEndless Highway: The Music of The Band.Their song "How We Operate" was played in the final scene of the filmThe Hitcher.Gomez continued to tour, including a co-headlining 2007 US tour with label-mateBen Kweller.The band toured Australia and New Zealand before going back to the United States for a second headlining leg of their US tour. On 2 March 2007, Gomez recorded a concert at theVic TheaterinChicago,Illinois, that was streamed via MSN Music.[10]Ian Ball released a solo project, an album entitledWho Goes There.[11][12]In 2008, Gomez opened several shows forDave Matthews Band.Their album reached the top 40 in the UK and Australia. The first single "Catch Me Up" entered the UK top 40 in March 2004 and "Silence" was released as the second single.
Virgin/EMI then closed downHut Recordings;the band asked to be released from their contract and Virgin agreed.
How We Operate(2006–2007)
editGomez's fifth studio record,How We Operate,was produced byGil Nortonand released on 2 May 2006. The record was developed in the band's studio and later recorded in 6 weeks atRAK Studios,London. The album's title track was featured in theGrey's Anatomyepisode "Deterioration of the Fight or Flight Response",and later covered byKevin McKiddin the season seven episode "Song Beneath the Song". On 14 February 2006, their song "Get Miles" was featured in theHouseepisode "Distractions",and on 6 March 2007, their song" See the World "was featured in theHouseepisode "Half-Wit". "See the World" was also featured in theBonesepisode "Widow's Son in the Windshield".
In 2005, Gomez signed a deal with Dave Matthews'ATO Records.Under the new label, the band released their first live album,Out West,in June 2005. The double disc CD was compiled from shows recorded at San Francisco's Fillmore Theater in January 2005. In January 2006, the band performed on Jam Cruise before returning to the studio to put the final touches onHow We Operate.After playing theSxSWmusic festival inAustin,they debuted material from the upcoming release in several US cities. The band's 2006 spring tour included stops in Asheville, Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Denver, San Francisco, and Portland. They also performed at several large outdoor festivals, including the Beale Street andBonnaroo Festivalsin Tennessee, the Jazzfest in New Orleans and Sasquatch Festival in George, WA.
A collection titledFive Men in a Hutwas released on 17 October 2006. The two-disc album consists of released and unreleased tracks recorded under the Hut/Virgin label from 1998–2004. A DVD with music videos and interviews from their time with Hut was also released. They were also one of the bands featured on aJohn Lennontribute aired on BBC Radio 2 to mark the 25th anniversary of the musician's death. Gomez performed "Hey Bulldog"byThe Beatles,and "Instant Karma!"by Lennon." How We Operate "is also the ending song to the 2007 remake of the horror filmThe Hitcher,and acts as the title music for the pilot episode ofThe Riches.
A New Tide(2008–2010)
editA wide range of styles were incorporated into Gomez's sound for their next recordA New Tide,including blues, Krautrock and psychedelia. The record saw Gomez accompanied by a number of guest musicians, including vocalistAmy Millan,bassistJosh Abrams,cellist Oliver Krauss, and multi-instrumentalistStuart Bogie.
A New Tidewas released on 31 March in the US, in the UK and Europe on 30 March, and in Australia on 28 March 2009.[13]Gomez recordedA New Tidein Chicago, and played festivals includingLollapaloozathat year. The album marked a return to their more experimental roots, in particular with songs such as "Win Park Slope" and "Airstream Driver". With this album, the band wanted to create a collection of songs that would work well at live gigs.[5]With the band members scattered across two continents, early tracks were written and recorded individually and then merged online. The material took on its ultimate shape when Gomez convened in studios in Chicago and Charlottesville with producerBrian Deck.
In early 2004, Ian Ball and Olly Peacock were involved in a project calledOperation Alohawith 14 other musicians including members fromPhantom PlanetandMaroon 5.They produced an album over the course of 30 days in Maui, Hawaii. A self-titled album was released on 12 May 2009.[14]
In April 2009, the band's song "Little Pieces" was used in the 19th episode ofGrey's Anatomyseason 5. It played at the start of the episode in a montage scene. In June 2009, Gomez opened forPearl Jamon theEuropean legof the Backspacer Tour.[15]
Whatever's on Your Mind(2011–2020)
editGomez released their seventh studio album,Whatever's on Your Mind,on 21 June 2011. As with their last album, production onWhatever's on Your Mindwas overseen by the band as well asBrian Deck.
Current activities (2020-present)
editSince 2020, Tom Gray has been lobbying the British government to regulate music streaming with the Broken Record campaign group.[16][17][18][19]He stood as aLabour Partycandidate forBrighton Pavilionin the2024 general election,but failed to win the seat.[20]
Members
edit
- Ian Ball(vocals, guitar)
- Ben Ottewell(vocals, guitar)
- Paul Blackburn (bass)
- Tom Gray(vocals, guitar, keyboards, programming)
- Olly Peacock (drums, percussion)
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [21] |
AUS [22] |
CAN [23] |
NZ [24] |
NOR [25] |
US [26] |
US Heat | US Indie | |||
| 1998 | Bring It On | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1999 | Liquid Skin
|
2 | 9 | 49 | 40 | 19 | — | 30 | — | |
| 2002 | In Our Gun
|
8 | 5 | — | 13 | — | — | 37 | — |
|
| 2004 | Split the Difference
|
35 | 24 | — | 39 | — | 191 | 11 | — | |
| 2006 | How We Operate
|
69 | 37 | — | — | — | 106 | 1 | 7 | |
| 2009 | A New Tide
|
63 | 40 | — | — | — | 60 | — | 5 | |
| 2011 | Whatever's on Your Mind
|
65 | 63 | — | — | — | 81 | — | 11 | |
Live albums
edit| Year | Title | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK [31] |
US Heat | ||
| 2005 | Out West
|
145 | 46 |
Compilations
edit| Year | Title | Chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [21] |
AUS [22] |
US Heat | |||
| 2000 | Abandoned Shopping Trolley Hotline
|
10 | 75 | 44 |
|
| 2006 | Five Men in a Hut
|
— | 77 | — | |
EPs
edit| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Machismo E.P. |
| 2002 | Detroit Swing '66/Ping One Down
|
| 2006 | See the World E.P.
|
| 2006 | Girlshapedlovedrug E.P.
|
Singles
edit| Year | Title | UK [31][21] |
US AAA [33] |
Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 30 March | "78 Stone Wobble" | 44 | — | Bring It On |
| 1 June | "Get Myself Arrested" | 45 | — | ||
| 31 August | "Whippin' Piccadilly" | 35 | — | ||
| 1999 | 28 June | "Bring It On" | 21 | — | Liquid Skin |
| 30 August | "Rhythm & Blues Alibi" | 18 | — | ||
| 15 November | "We Haven't Turned Around" | 38 | — | ||
| 2002 | 4 March | "Shot Shot" | 28 | — | In Our Gun |
| 3 June | "Sound of Sounds" / "Ping One Down" | 48 | — | ||
| 2004 | 8 March | "Catch Me Up" | 36 | — | Split the Difference |
| 2005 | 10 May | "Silence" | 41 | — | |
| 30 August | "Sweet Virginia" | 42 (UK Indie) | — | ||
| 2006 | 17 April | "How We Operate" | (US-only single) | 8 | How We Operate |
| 29 May | "Girlshapedlovedrug" | 66 | — | ||
| 4 September | "See the World" | 107 | 1 | ||
| 2009 | 13 April | "Airstream Driver" | — | 7 | A New Tide |
| 17 August | "Little Pieces" | — | — | ||
| 2011 | 30 May | "Options" | 76 | 10 | Whatever's on Your Mind |
Videos
edit| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2006 | Five Men in a Hut: Singles 1998–2004
|
Other songs
edit- The Saturday Sessions: The Dermot O'Leary Show(2007) – "Wichita Lineman"
- Dermot O'Leary Presents the Saturday Sessions(2011) – "The Only Living Boy in New York"
- Triple J Like a Version, Vol. 3– "Breakfast in America"
- Endless Highway: The Music of The Band– "Up On Cripple Creek"
- The Lone Ranger: Wanted(2013) – "Butch's Ballad"
References
edit- ^Petridis, Alexis (25 April 2018)."Gomez review – reformed post-Britpoppers prove prescient".Theguardian.
- ^Blashill, Pete (2 September 1999)."Gomez's Galactic Soul Party".Rolling Stone.Retrieved12 August2024.
- ^abcStrong, Martin C. (2000).The Great Rock Discography(5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 389–90.ISBN1-84195-017-3.
- ^"Gomez JPEG".27 October 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 27 October 2009.Retrieved31 March2012.
- ^abMulvey, Nick."A Night With Gomez".Craccum.Archived fromthe originalon 22 May 2010.Retrieved27 April2010.
- ^"Gomez Get Fabulous for Philips Advertisement".Rollingstone. Archived fromthe originalon 14 January 2009.Retrieved18 April2014.
- ^"Live Reviews: The Glastonbury FestivalJune 25-27, 1999"[usurped].Chart Attack,Richard Beland, June 25–27, 1999.
- ^Cibula, Matt (2 May 2002)."Gomez: In Our Gun".PopMatters.
- ^Jones, Chris."BBC - Music - Review of Gomez - Split The Difference".bbc.co.uk.Retrieved13 January2024.
- ^[1]Archived16 April 2008 at theWayback Machine
- ^"News".Gomez.Archived fromthe originalon 17 December 2008.
- ^"| Live Nation Store".Shop.musictoday. Archived fromthe originalon 19 March 2008.Retrieved15 May2012.
- ^"GomezJournal: New Album!".Gomeztheband.blogspot.Retrieved18 April2014.
- ^"Operation Aloha: An Experiment in Rock 'n' Roll".Laist. Archived fromthe originalon 16 May 2009.Retrieved28 May2009.
- ^"Gomez Opening for Pearl Jam in Europe".PearlJam.Archived fromthe originalon 5 July 2009.Retrieved13 June2009.
- ^"How a new campaign aims to fix a broken music industry".11 February 2021.
- ^"'Odds are against you': The problem with the music streaming boom ".TheGuardian.2 October 2021.
- ^"Announcing the #BrokenRecord Appeal and Festival".
- ^"Nadine Shah: 'I can't pay the rent on unfair music streaming revenues'".TheGuardian.24 November 2020.
- ^"Results - General Election 4 July 2024".Brighton and Hove City Council.5 July 2024.Retrieved5 July2024.
- ^abc"The Official Charts Company".Official Charts Company.Retrieved24 May2022.
- ^abcPeaks in Australia:
- All except noted:"Australian album positions".australian-charts.Retrieved14 January2009.
- Abandoned Shopping Trolley HotlineandFive Men in a Hut:Ryan, Gavin (2011).Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010.Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- ^"Canadian album positions".RPM.Archived fromthe originalon 23 October 2012.Retrieved14 January2009.
- ^"New Zealand album positions".charts.nz.Retrieved14 January2009.
- ^"Norwegian album positions".norwegiancharts. Archived fromthe originalon 4 November 2012.Retrieved14 January2009.
- ^"US Positions".allmusic.Retrieved12 January2009.
- ^"Bring It OnBritish sales certification ".British Phonographic Industry.Archived fromthe originalon 20 February 2008.Retrieved18 January2009.
- ^"Liquid SkinBritish sales certification ".British Phonographic Industry.Archived fromthe originalon 20 February 2008.Retrieved18 January2009.
- ^"ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Albums"(PDF).Australian Recording Industry Association.Retrieved27 December2021.
- ^"In Our GunBritish sales certification ".British Phonographic Industry.Archived fromthe originalon 20 February 2008.Retrieved18 January2009.
- ^abc"UK Chartlog".Zobbel.de.Retrieved12 January2009.
- ^"Abandoned Shopping Trolley HotlineBritish sales certification ".British Phonographic Industry.Archived fromthe originalon 20 February 2008.Retrieved18 January2009.
- ^"Gomez Chart History".Billboard.Retrieved6 February2018.
