Children on Stun
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Neil Ash, Simon Manning, Peter Finnemore, Simon Treen |
| Headquarters | England |
| Products | Music albums, EPs, singles |
Children on Stun is a gothic rock group from England, established in 1991 by Neil Ash, Simon Manning, Peter Finnemore, and Simon Treen.
Biography
Originating in August 1991 and taking their name from a track by The March Violets, the band experienced an early lineup change when Treen departed within the first year. Their inaugural performance took place at "The Crypt" in Hastings, and that same year they produced their initial demo, Elegance. In 1992, they toured the UK supporting goth rock act Rosetta Stone and released their follow-up demo titled Choices.
Throughout 1993, Children on Stun issued two additional demos, Monochrome I and Monochrome II, using the proceeds to finance their debut single, "Hollow". The following year, they signed with Cleopatra Records and launched their album Tourniquets of Love's Desire, which significantly raised their standing within the UK goth community. Later in 1994, they released the Overland EP under the label M&A.
After bassist Pete Finnemore exited in 1994, Kyle Whipp—previously with Soul Inside—joined the band. This refreshed lineup made its debut at London's Camden Underworld in 1995. That year saw the release of the Celebration Drug EP featuring "Whiskey a-go-go", a tour across Scandinavia, and the Celibacy and Anadin EP containing remixes by Rosetta Stone. Subsequently, the band parted ways with Cleopatra Records.
Work on their 1997 album Mondo Weird commenced following the 1996 single "Pin ups, Soap Operas and Natural Disasters". In 1998, label M&A issued the remix collection Outrageous, Outlawed, Outspoken. The group announced their disbandment later that year and performed their farewell concert at Camden Underworld on 24 May. Resurrection Records then released a live album from this event entitled Seven Year Itch.
In 2005, M&A compiled b-sides, alternate takes, and demos into a collection called Rough Trade on a Cheap Promotion.
On 15 May 2015, Children on Stun reunited for a show at London’s o2 Academy2 and soon after declared a full comeback. Following the unexpected passing of Simon Manning in July 2015, the band organized charity events honoring his memory, raising money for both the British Heart Foundation and Sophie Lancaster Foundation. These efforts were supported by limited edition releases such as Dancing with Mr Punch and This Sideshow Burlesque.
Guitarist Stuart Harper became a permanent member. After headlining Germany’s Gotham Sounds Festival in 2017 and recording new material, the band briefly disbanded again but returned unexpectedly in May 2018 with a performance at Hope & Anchor in London. They recorded two new songs—"All the Pain of Love" and "Echoes"—at Savage Sounds Studio. Harper departed later that year; Gordon Young (formerly of Dream Disciples) joined in September. By December 2018, Children on Stun had signed with Armalyte Industries.
March 2019 saw the release of their five-track EP Echoes, produced by Young. The song "Another Love, Another Beginning" was derived from Whipp and Ash’s collaboration on an unrecorded second Stripper Project album.
In February (year unspecified), Whipp and Ash recorded "Living Fractures" and "Made for You" at Ford Lane Studio with producer Porl Young.
Post-breakup activities
In 1999, Simon Manning teamed up with Alison Gann to establish Spares, while Kyle Whipp and Neil Ash collaborated with Hannah Neech in 2007 to launch The Stripper Project.
The band issued Bootleg Television in 2008, a limited-run DVD containing three hours of historic material. This collection included their final performance in Camden, a 45-minute rockumentary titled 'Mondo Tour', previously unreleased songs accompanied by unseen footage, an uncommon Norwegian television interview, and enhanced video content. The release was capped at 100 copies, each personally autographed by the band members.
In 2009, Manning became a member of Grooving in Green.
Spares
From the group's formation, Simon Manning and Alison Gann have produced several albums and EPs, working alongside artists like Jamie Smith (Libitina) and Kyle Whipp (Children on Stun/Stripper Project).
Discography
- Tired & Bizarre CD album, 2000, M&A Music Art
- End of the Line EP, 2001, M&A Music Art
- Download CD, 2003, Black Planet
- Suffering Fools Gladly CD, 2004, Black Planet
- Half Light Zone CD, 2006, Signet Records
- After-Life digital three-track EP, 2008
- Beautiful Liar, 2009
The Stripper Project
Established in late 2007 by Whipp and Ash alongside Hannah Neech, The Stripper Project released two singles in 2008: "Reasons Not to Go to Work" and "Filthy Wonderful," both recorded at Pilot Sounds studio with producer Porl Young. The track "Filthy Wonderful" honors pioneering transsexual artist Lili Elbe.
Neech left the group in 2009. Their first album, Brilliant Life, was released on 29 October 2010 and earned recognition from music journalist Mick Mercer as one of his albums of the year. In 2013, Danny Tartaglia joined as bassist.
Following Children on Stun’s reunion in May 2015, The Stripper Project has remained inactive; although a second album has been composed, it has yet to be recorded.
Band members
- Simon Manning – bass guitar and guitars (1991–1998, 2015)
- Simon Treen – drums (1991)
- Kyle Whipp – bass guitar and guitars (1995–1998, 2015–present)
- Neil Ash – vocals, keyboards, drums (1991–1998, 2015–present)
- Pete Finnemore – guitar (1991–1994)
- Stuart Harper – guitar (2015–2018)
- Gordon Young – guitar (2018–2024)
Discography
- Elegance (1991) Demo Tape
- Choices (1992) Demo Tape
- Monochrome I (1993) Demo Tape
- Monochrome II (1993) Demo Tape
- Hollow (1993) Vinyl EP
- Tourniquets of Loves Desire (1994) CD Album
- Overland EP (1994) CD Album
- Celibacy & Anadin (1995) CD EP
- Celebration Drug (1995) CD Single
- Mondo Weird (1997) CD Album
- Pin Ups, Soap Operas and Natural Disasters (1997) CD Single
- Outrageous, Outlawed, Outspoken (1998) Vinyl Picture Disc Remix Album
- Seven Year Itch (1998) Live CD Album capturing The Stuns' final performance
- Rough Trade on a Cheap Promotion - Rare Stuff (2006) CD Album
- Bootleg Television (2008) Limited Edition DVD with only 100 copies produced
- Dancing with Mr Punch, Limited Edition CD (2015)
- This Sideshow Burlesque, Limited Edition CD (2016)
- Echoes, five-track EP (2019)