Earl Brutus

Earl Brutus

Company type	Indie rock group
Industry	Music
Founded	1993
Founder	Nick Sanderson, Rob Marche, Jamie Fry, Stuart Boreman
Defunct	2004
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Products	Music albums and singles

Earl Brutus was an indie rock group from the United Kingdom, established in 1993 by Nick Sanderson, Rob Marche (previously associated with JoBoxers and If?), Jamie Fry (brother of Martin Fry and former member of World of Twist), along with Stuart Boreman. After the release of their debut single "Life's Too Long," Boreman departed and was succeeded by Gordon King, who also had ties to World of Twist.

History

Earl Brutus became notable for their energetic and visually captivating stage performances, which incorporated distinctive props such as rotating garage forecourt signs and luminous neon messages. Their sound combined elements reminiscent of early 1970s UK glam rock, electronic influences akin to Kraftwerk, and the gritty edge characteristic of the Fall. The band's songwriting delved into the ordinary yet often bleak aspects of contemporary British existence.

Although their live shows and recorded output received favorable critical attention, Earl Brutus maintained a cult status without achieving mainstream commercial success. To augment their concerts, Shinya Hayashida joined the lineup, adding dynamic headbanging and audience interaction. On 4 January 1998, they performed a live session for Jeff Cooper at Hallam FM.

Following a period of dormancy, the band briefly reunited on 7 April 2004 for a special performance at London's Hammersmith Working Men's Club in support of Ken Livingstone’s campaign for mayor. This event included an appearance by Mani from Primal Scream and was marked by an incident where Frank Sidebottom (Chris Sievey) fell off the stage.

Nick Sanderson passed away from lung cancer on 9 June 2008 at the age of 47.

In June 2010, Fry, King, Boreman, and Hayashida regrouped as part of the Pre New, joined by Laurence Bray, George Phillips, and Vincent Gibson. This new ensemble performed material from both World of Twist and Earl Brutus alongside fresh compositions. They were featured at the Glastonbury Festival in 2010. The Pre New released two studio albums titled Music for People Who Hate Themselves (2012) and The Male Eunuch (2015), as well as a remix collection named Music for Homeowners (2013).

Studio albums

• Your Majesty… We Are Here (1996, Deceptive Records)
• Tonight You Are the Special One (1998, Fruition)

Singles

• "Life's Too Long" (1993), Icerink
• "Bonjour Monsieur" (1995), Royal Mint
• "Navyhead" (1996), Deceptive Records
• "Life's Too Long" (1996), Deceptive Records
• "I'm New" (1996), Deceptive Records
• "The SAS and the Glam that Goes with It" (1997), Fruition/Island – UK No. 136
• "Come Taste My Mind" (1998), Fruition/Island – UK No. 88
• "Universal Plan" (1998), Fruition/Island – UK No. 91
• "Larky" (1999), Fruition – UK No. 166