3 Colours Red
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Headquarters | London , England, United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums, singles, live performances |
3 Colours Red was a rock group originating from London, England, formed in 1994. They gained notable chart recognition during the late 1990s, alongside fellow British rock bands like Ash, Stereophonics, and Feeder. Their band name was inspired by a chance glance at a London listings magazine, Time Out, which featured an advertisement for the concluding film in Krzysztof Kieślowski's Three Colors trilogy. Throughout their career, they released two albums that reached the UK Top 20 and six singles that entered the Top 40.
Early history
In 1994, bassist and vocalist Pete Vuckovic was encouraged to reach out to guitarist Chris McCormack, formerly of Forgodsake and Gunslinger, as both had recently parted ways with their previous groups. They collaborated by swapping four-track demos before recording a three-track demo with drummer Keith Baxter, previously associated with Skyclad. Their manager and producer Terry Thomas assisted in producing demos that featured guitarist Ben Harding, which ultimately helped them secure a recording deal.
Chris McCormack is the younger sibling of Danny McCormack, bassist for the commercially successful Wildhearts, a band with whom 3 Colours Red performed early shows. Ben Harding had been an original member of Senseless Things, while Vuckovic’s songwriting drew influence from his time with Diamond Head.
Their debut single, "This Is My Hollywood," was released through Fierce Panda Records and published by Warner Chappell Music. Subsequently, the band signed with Creation Records after its founder Alan McGee praised them as "the second best band in Britain" following Oasis.
Creation Records period
During their tenure with Creation Records, 3 Colours Red released two albums. The debut album, Pure (1997), was produced by Terry Thomas. The track "Sixty Mile Smile" stirred controversy because its lyrics referenced frontman Vuckovic’s hospitalization due to ecstasy use.
Their follow-up album, Revolt (1999), produced by Dave Eringa, arrived after their peak success marked by the popular single "Beautiful Day". They toured the United States alongside acts such as Marilyn Manson, Aerosmith, and Silverchair. The group disbanded following their performance at the 1999 Reading and Leeds Festivals, citing creative and personal conflicts.
Afterward, Vuckovic signed with Sony Records and Sanctuary Management but spent two years working on an unreleased album titled Elevation. Meanwhile, McCormack joined forces with Rich Battersby and producer Ralph Jezzard in Grand Theft Audio, touring extensively across the US before being dropped from their label.
Reformation
In 2002, Vuckovic and McCormack reconciled and reassembled 3 Colours Red with original drummer Keith Baxter. Since Ben Harding had transitioned into public relations, he was replaced by guitarist Paul Grant, formerly of Pornstar.
This lineup signed contracts with Mighty Atom Records and Sanctuary Management, releasing The Union of Souls in 2004. The album was produced by Joe Gibb, known for his work with Funeral for a Friend and Million Dead. Although it received favorable critical reviews, commercial performance was modest. Singles such as "Repeat To Fade" and "The World is Yours" supported tours throughout Europe and Japan alongside German bands like Die Toten Hosen and The Donots, as well as appearances at UK festivals including the inaugural edition of the Download festival.
In 2005, Sanctuary Records released a double compilation album titled If You Ain't Got a Weapon..., featuring singles and b-sides from their time at Creation Records, accompanied by liner notes penned by Vuckovic. A live DVD and album called Nuclear Holiday, documenting their 2004 show at Islington Academy, followed shortly after. Later that year in September, the band parted ways once more after completing a UK farewell tour with The Yo-Yos, due to being dropped by Sanctuary, disappointing sales figures, and persistent personal disagreements.
Band members
- Pete Vuckovic (lead vocals, bass)
- Chris McCormack (guitar, backing vocals)
- Ben Harding (guitar, backing vocals, 1996–1999)
- Paul Grant (guitar, backing vocals, 2002–2005)
- Keith Baxter (drums)
Originating from Tiverton, Devon, Vučković initially gravitated towards hard rock and heavy metal. In 1993, he became the bassist for the reassembled N.W.O.B.H.M. group Diamond Head, contributing to the albums 'Death and Progress' and 'Evil Live' prior to their disbandment.
McCormack first gained recognition with Newcastle's metal outfit Forgodsake. After relocating to London with plans to join Honeycrack, he instead co-founded 3 Colours Red alongside Vučković. Subsequently, he was part of Grand Theft Audio and toured across the United States before being dropped. Additionally, he has toured with Gary Numan and co-wrote tracks for Adam Ant's 2013 release Adam Ant Is the Blueblack Hussar in Marrying the Gunner's Daughter.
Following the initial disbandment of the group, Harding moved into a career in public relations.
Grant collaborated with Vučković in forming Bassknives and later joined CJ & the Satellites in 2006 alongside CJ from the Wildhearts.
Baxter was a founding member of folk metal innovators Skyclad, recording five albums before joining 3 Colours Red in 1995. After their 1999 breakup, he and Vučković established Elevation under Sony but were dropped within a year. He briefly played with Northern Irish band Therapy? in 2002 and later with Lancaster-based Baby Judas. Baxter passed away in 2008 at age 36 due to a gastrointestinal haemorrhage.
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| UK | ||
| 1997 | Pure
|
16 |
| 1999 | Revolt
|
17 |
| 2004 | The Union of Souls
|
188 |
Compilation albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| If You Ain't Got a Weapon... |
|
Live albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Nuclear Holiday |
|
Singles and EPs
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | |||
| 1996 | "This Is My Hollywood" | 162 | Pure |
| 1997 | "Nuclear Holiday" | 22 | |
| 1997 | "Sixty Mile Smile" | 20 | |
| 1997 | "Pure" | 28 | |
| 1997 | "Copper Girl" | 30 | |
| 1997 | "This Is My Hollywood" (re-release) | 48 | |
| 1998 | Paralyse EP (Non-eligible for UK Chart) | — | |
| 1999 | "Beautiful Day" | 11 | Revolt |
| 1999 | "This Is My Time" | 36 | |
| 2003 | "Repeat To Fade" | 97 | The Union of Souls |
| 2004 | "The World Is Yours" | — |
In April 1999, "Beautiful Day" attained position No. 40 on the Radio and Records Alternative chart in the United States.
DVDs
- Live at the Islington Academy (Secret, 2005)