Cable (British band)
| Company type | Indie rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | Matt Bagguley, Darius Hinks |
| Defunct | 1999 (brief reunion in 2012) |
| Headquarters | Derby , England, United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
Cable was an English indie rock group originating from Derby, known for releasing three studio albums: Down-Lift the Up-Trodden (1996), When Animals Attack (1997), and Sub-Lingual (1999), all under the Infectious Records label. The band disbanded in 1999 but briefly reunited in 2012.
1992–94: Formation and early years
Established in 1992 by Matt Bagguley and Darius Hinks while studying at the University of Derby, Cable's sound was influenced by indie labels such as Touch and Go Records, Dischord, Blast First, and Southern Records, as well as UK bands like Spacemen 3 and My Bloody Valentine. The original members were Bagguley (vocals/guitar), Hinks (guitar), Pete Darrington (bass), and Neil Cooper on drums. Throughout 1993, they toured alongside underground American bands including Medicine, Polvo, Truman's Water, and Rocket From The Crypt.
Their debut single, "Sale of the Century," was released in early 1994 through Derby’s independent label Krunch! Records. The band gained support from BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, who invited them to record four sessions for his show.
1995: Down-Lift the Up-Trodden
Cable’s inaugural album with Infectious Records, titled Down-Lift the Up-Trodden, was produced by John Robb, former frontman of the Membranes. The entire album was showcased on John Peel’s radio program during its release week. In 1995, the band performed at the Reading Festival and toured across the UK alongside Glasgow’s AC Acoustics. Following a severe bus accident caused by a drunk driver, drummer Neil Cooper departed to pursue other projects, with Richie Mills stepping in as his replacement.
1996–97: When Animals Attack
In 1996, Cable played over 100 gigs supporting acts such as The Wedding Present, China Drum, Reef, and Garageland from Flying Nun Records. They recorded another session for Radio 1, toured Germany, and appeared at The Phoenix Festival. The following year, they performed at Brixton Prison—a show later issued as a live EP—and then traveled to New York to record their second album with producer Kramer, formerly of Butthole Surfers and owner of Shimmy Disc. Recorded within three weeks at Noise New Jersey, When Animals Attack was released the next spring. The track "Freeze The Atlantic" gained widespread recognition by featuring in a Sprite advertisement and was subsequently issued as a single.
1998–99: Sub-Lingual and dissolution
In March 1998, Cable sold out a performance at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas before returning to the UK to record their third album with producer Paul Tipler, noted for his work with Elastica and Stereolab. That year, they earned a nomination for 'Best New British Band' at the Kerrang! Awards. During the 1998 Sound City festival in Oxford, John Peel joined them onstage for a live broadcast on Steve Lamacq’s Radio 1 show. Despite this momentum, legal complications interrupted their progress in spring 1999; on 19 May, Cable held a farewell concert at London’s Dingwalls before officially disbanding. Their final album, Sub-Lingual, received favorable reviews from indie and rock media after their breakup.
2006–present
In 2006, Signature Tune issued Souvenir: A Tribute to Cable, a compilation of cover tracks featuring 15 freshly recorded versions of Cable songs performed by artists such as Tom Vek, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, Gordon Moakes, and Tellison.
Cable declared their reunion in June 2012, scheduling three performances for November at venues including Manchester Academy, London Forum, and a hometown concert at Derby's The Venue.
Matt Bagguley currently lives in Oslo and is a member of Je Suis Animal. Other former members have joined bands like The Lucky Nine, which includes drummer Richie Mills, who also leads MiLLS as the vocalist and guitarist. Since 2002, Neil Cooper has been the drummer for the alternative metal group Therapy?.
Albums
- Down-Lift the Up-Trodden (1996)
- When Animals Attack (1997)
- Sub-Lingual (1999)
Singles
- "Sale of the Century" (1994, Krunch! Records)
- "Seventy/Oubliette" (1995, Krunch! Records)
- "Seventy" (1995)
- "Blindman" (1995)
- "Whisper Firing Line" (1996)
- "Blue Birds Are Blue" (1997)
- "Freeze the Atlantic" (1997)
- "God Gave Me Gravity" (1997)
- "Arthur Walker" (1998)
EPs and promotional releases
- Soundbites (1997, promotional release for When Animals Attack)
- Live at Brixton Prison (1997, live EP)
- Demos and Unreleased Songs (2012, available at reunion concerts)
Music videos
- "Whisper Firing Line" (1996)
- "Blue Birds Are Blue" (1997)
- "Freeze the Atlantic" (1997)
- "God Gave Me Gravity" (1997)
- "Arthur Walker" (1998)