Jump to content

Felt (band)

From Alfawiki
Felt
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1979 in Water Orton, Warwickshire, England
FounderLawrence
Defunct1989
Headquarters
Water Orton
,
England
ProductsMusic albums and singles

Felt was an English jangle pop group established in 1979 in Water Orton, Warwickshire, with the band fronted by the singularly named musician Lawrence. Their activity spanned the 1980s, during which they produced ten singles and ten albums, although none managed to enter the UK singles chart or UK Albums Chart. The band's name was derived from Tom Verlaine’s emphasis on the word "felt" in the Television track "Venus".

Origins

In 1979, Lawrence initiated Felt with the release of a self-produced single titled "Index," a raw solo recording that later earned the distinction of single of the week from Dave McCullough in Sounds.

By 1980, the lineup was solidified with school friend Nick Gilbert on drums and local guitarist Maurice Deebank, whose classical-inspired jangly guitar became a defining characteristic of their early sound.

Starting as a trio, the band expanded when Gilbert transitioned to bass guitar and Tony Race joined as drummer. Race was soon succeeded by Gary Ainge, who became the sole consistent member alongside Lawrence and contributed to all ten studio albums.

Record Deal

Felt secured a contract with Cherry Red Records and debuted with the single "Something Sends Me to Sleep" in 1981. Their first album, Crumbling the Antiseptic Beauty, was released in 1982. Following internal disagreements with Lawrence, bassist Gilbert departed and Mick Lloyd took over bass duties. Deebank stepped away temporarily to produce a solo instrumental record, Inner Thought Zone, before returning for their sophomore album, The Splendour of Fear. This lineup persisted through their third release, The Strange Idols Pattern and Other Short Stories, which marked a transition toward a more pop-centric style. In 1982, their song "My Face Is on Fire" was included on the acclaimed compilation Pillows & Prayers.

In 1985, keyboardist Martin Duffy joined the ensemble, with Marco Thomas assuming bass responsibilities for their fourth album, Ignite the Seven Cannons, produced by Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins. The single "Primitive Painters," featuring Elizabeth Fraser, reached number one on the UK independent singles chart. After Deebank's exit, Felt's sound shifted as Duffy’s keyboards came to the forefront; meanwhile, lead guitar roles saw frequent changes.

The group transitioned to Creation Records in 1986 and released two instrumental albums beginning with Let the Snakes Crinkle Their Heads to Death. Their subsequent album, Forever Breathes the Lonely Word, garnered critical praise and is often regarded as their finest work, despite limited commercial breakthrough.

Released in 1987, Poem of the River returned to a quieter style reminiscent of their earlier material. The experimental The Pictorial Jackson Review followed in 1988, combining melodic pop songs with solo piano compositions by Duffy. Later that year came Train Above the City, highlighting Lawrence’s studio direction alongside cool jazz-inspired instrumentals performed by Duffy and Ainge.

Disbandment and Subsequent Developments

In 1989, Lawrence declared that his objective of issuing ten singles and ten albums within a decade had been fulfilled, signaling the conclusion of Felt. Following the release of their last album, Me and a Monkey on the Moon, which showcased a more intricate, layered sound alongside introspective lyrics penned by Lawrence, the group embarked on a short tour before parting ways. Subsequently, Lawrence established Denim, later progressing to Go Kart Mozart and Mozart Estate. Meanwhile, Duffy became a member of Primal Scream, and Ainge collaborated with Vic Godard. The band experienced the loss of Mick Lloyd in 2016, bassist Mick Bund in 2017, and Martin Duffy in 2022.

In 2018, Cherry Red undertook a reissue of all ten Felt albums on both CD and vinyl formats, featuring remixed tracks, altered track sequences, and refreshed packaging.

Legacy

Lawrence has reflected that Felt might have attained a higher level of success, partially attributing their modest exposure to the absence of support from John Peel.

The band has served as an inspiration for musicians such as Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian, Tim Burgess from the Charlatans, as well as groups like Manic Street Preachers, Girls, and the Tyde.

Band Members

  • Lawrence – vocals, guitar (1979–1989)
  • Maurice Deebank – guitar (1980–1981, 1983–1985)
  • Nick Gilbert – bass, drums (1980–1981)
  • Tony Race – drums (1980–1981)
  • Gary Ainge – drums, percussion (1981–1989)
  • Martin Duffy – keyboards (1985–1989; deceased 2022)
  • Mick Lloyd – bass (1982–1984; deceased 2016)
  • Marco Thomas – bass, guitar (1985–1987)
  • Phil King – bass (1986–1987)
  • Mick Bund – bass (1988; deceased 2017)
Timeline
<timeline>

ImageSize = width:990 height:300 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:60 top:0 right:50 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1979 till:12/31/1989 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Colors = 

 id:Vocals           value:red         legend:Vocals
 id:Guitar           value:green       legend:Guitar
 id:Keyboards        value:purple      legend:Keyboards
 id:Bass             value:blue        legend:Bass
 id:Drums            value:orange      legend:Drums
 id:bar              value:black       legend:Studio_albums

Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom

ScaleMajor = increment:1 start:01/01/1979 ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:01/01/1979

LineData = 

 at:02/01/1982 color:black layer:back 
 at:02/01/1984
 at:10/26/1984
 at:09/20/1985
 at:06/01/1986
 at:09/01/1986
 at:06/01/1987
 at:03/01/1988
 at:07/01/1988
 at:11/13/1989

BarData = 

 bar:Lawrence text:"Lawrence"
 bar:Deebank  text:"Maurice Deebank"
 bar:Duffy    text:"Martin Duffy"
 bar:Lloyd    text:"Mick Lloyd"
 bar:Thomas   text:"Marco Thomas"
 bar:King     text:"Phil King"
 bar:Bund     text:"Mick Bund"
 bar:Gilbert  text:"Nick Gilbert"
 bar:Race     text:"Tony Race"
 bar:Ainge    text:"Gary Ainge"

PlotData= 

 width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
 bar:Lawrence   from:start till:03/01/1988 color:guitar width:3
 bar:Lawrence from:start till:end color:vocals
 bar:Deebank  from:01/01/1980 till:01/01/1986 color:Guitar
 bar:Gilbert  from:01/01/1980 till:08/01/1980 color:Drums
 bar:Gilbert  from:08/01/1980 till:01/01/1982 color:Bass
 bar:Race     from:08/01/1980 till:01/01/1981 color:Drums
 bar:Ainge    from:01/01/1981 till:end color:Drums
 bar:Lloyd    from:01/01/1982 till:01/01/1985 color:bass
 bar:Thomas   from:01/01/1985 till:06/01/1987 color:bass
 bar:King     from:10/01/1986 till:05/01/1987 color:bass
 bar:Thomas   from:01/01/1986 till:10/01/1986 color:guitar width:3
 bar:Thomas   from:10/01/1986 till:03/01/1988 color:guitar
 bar:Bund     from:05/01/1987 till:03/01/1988 color:bass
 bar:Duffy    from:01/01/1985 till:end color:keyboards

</timeline>

Discography

Further reading

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=Felt_(band)&oldid=80963"