Catch (band)

Catch

Company type	Music group
Industry	Music
Founded	1997
Defunct	1999
Headquarters	London , England
Products	Indie pop music
Owner	Virgin Records

Catch was an English indie pop group featuring vocalist and keyboard player Toby Slater, bassist Wayne Murray, and guitarist Ben Etchells. The band was signed to Virgin Records and issued two singles: "Bingo," which climbed to No. 23 on the UK Singles Chart, and "Dive In," reaching No. 44. Their eponymous album saw release solely in Indonesia.

History

Catch originated from Toby Slater's previous ensemble Brattish (1994–95), which extensively rehearsed material that would later become Catch songs but never performed publicly. Slater played a significant role in the Romo scene, DJing at Soho hotspots such as Arcadia at L'Equippe Anglais and Madame Jojo's during 1995. A Brattish demo comprising eleven synth/electro tracks was circulated privately within industry circles.

Their initial single "Bingo" earned them spots on television programs including Top of the Pops, Light Lunch, The Paul Ross Show (where they performed three live songs), The Jack Docherty Show, alongside various UK Saturday morning broadcasts. Notably, "Bingo" was featured on the ITV Chart Show when ITN interrupted with the breaking news of Diana, Princess of Wales' passing in 1997. Concurrently, Slater also hosted several shows on MTV.

Following unexpected success in Indonesia, the band's album was swiftly launched there, supported by a promotional tour and unplugged sessions in Jakarta. The UK release was postponed as Slater expressed dissatisfaction with the album, and the group dissolved prior to its domestic debut. The album’s tentative title was reportedly Victim Support.

Post-split

Subsequent to Catch’s breakup, Slater relocated to Los Angeles to develop a solo career. Returning to London, he assembled a new band with former Salamanda members, performing under his own name. The Toby Slater Band released the single "Consumption" and shared additional tracks online through Slater’s website and early file-sharing service Napster, where he was spotlighted as a featured artist in August 2000.

Slater also produced music with bands initially called Kunta Kinte and later Tough Love. Moreover, he contributed creatively to the White Mischief series of steampunk events based in London.

Wayne Murray went on to become a touring guitarist for the Manic Street Preachers and leads the project Boy Cried Wolf. Ben Etchells is currently engaged as a sound engineer at Live Sound Training.

Toby Slater died on 13 December 2021 at the age of 42.

Albums

• Catch (released exclusively in Indonesia, 1997; now out of print)

Singles

• "Bingo" (September 1997) - UK chart peak: #23
• "Dive In" (February 1998) - UK chart peak: #44

List of Catch songs

• "Bingo"
• "Dive In"
• "Half the World Away"
• "A New Soul"
• "Don't Wait Up"
• "Pity the Man"
• "My Burst Balloon"
• "Expensive Kiss"
• "Goodbye"
• "Start of Something"
• "Over Again"
• "Maybe Tonight"

B-sides

• "Boys Will Be Boys"
• "Bitten by You"
• "The Better Me"
• "Simon Says"
• "Pullover Boy"
• "No-One Knows"
• "The Possibilities"
• "Morning Sun"

See also

• Toby Slater

References

https://www.riotactpodcast.com/70-the-anal-timekeeper/