14 Iced Bears
| Company type | Indie pop band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | Robert Sekula, Nick Emery |
| Headquarters | Brighton , England |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
| Website | 14icedbears |
14 Iced Bears is an indie pop ensemble originating from Brighton, England, established in 1985 by Robert Sekula and Nick Emery. The group revolved around lead vocalist and songwriter Rob Sekula alongside guitarist and co-songwriter Kevin Canham, with its membership evolving throughout a seven-year period. Their sound, characterized by jangly indie pop infused with a distorted guitar tone influenced by protopunk, garnered moderate praise from critics and resulted in appearances on BBC Radio sessions hosted by John Peel. Their discography includes multiple singles such as "Come Get Me," released under the notable Sarah label, as well as two studio albums: 14 Iced Bears (1988) and Wonder (1991).
After disbanding, the band reunited in 2010, embarking on tours across both the eastern and western United States and performing in London, including a tribute event dedicated to John Peel. In July 2013, they released a comprehensive two-CD anthology titled Hold on Inside through Cherry Red Records. Their song "Balloon Song" was featured on the 1980s indie compilation Scared to Get Happy, alongside artists like The Stone Roses and Primal Scream. Additionally, Robert Sekula issued a solo single named "Not Santa Claus" in December 2019.
Influence
In 2003, the band 14 Iced Bears was mentioned in Tullycraft’s track "Twee." Moreover, their composition "Balloon Song" was interpreted by The Aislers Set on their 2001 record The Last Match.
Albums and EPs
- 14 Iced Bears (Thunderball Records, 1988)
- Precision (Thunderball Records, 1990) – a collection of singles
- Wonder (Borderline Records, 1991)
- Let the Breeze Open Our Hearts (Overground Records, 1998) – compilation combining singles and debut album
- In the Beginning (Slumberland Records, 2001) – compilation featuring released tracks and live performances
- Hold on Inside (Cherry Red, 2013) – an extensive anthology covering all their releases
Singles
14 Iced Bears
- "Inside" / "Bluesuit" / "Cut" (Frank Records, 1986)
- "Balloon Song" / "Like a Dolphin" (Frank Records, 1987)
- "Balloon Song (live)" (7" flexi, shared with the Hermit Crabs)
- "Lie To Choose" (Penetration, 1987) (7" flexi, split with Splendour in the Grass)
- "Come Get Me" (Sarah Records, 1988)
- "World I Love" (Thunderball Records, 1989)
- "Mother Sleep" (Thunderball Records, 1989)
- "Falling Backwards"/"World I Love" (Surfacer, 1989) (split EP with Crocodile Ride)
- "Hold On" (Borderline Records, 1991)
- "Inside" / "Balloon Song" (Slumberland Records, 2001)
Solo
- Robert Sekula – "Not Santa Claus" (Bandcamp.com, 2019)
Various compilations
- CD86 (Sanctuary Records Group, 2006)
- Scared to Get Happy (Cherry Red, 2013)