Hurricane No. 1
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1996 in Oxford, England |
| Founder | Andy Bell, Alex Lowe, Will Pepper, Gareth "Gaz" Farmer |
| Headquarters | Oxford , England |
| Products | Studio albums |
Hurricane #1 is a British rock group that originated in Oxford in 1996, founded by ex-Ride guitarist Andy Bell alongside vocalist/guitarist Alex Lowe, bassist Will Pepper, and drummer Gareth "Gaz" Farmer. They produced two studio albums, Hurricane #1 (1997) and Only the Strongest Will Survive (1999), before their initial split.
In 2014, Lowe spearheaded a reformation with a refreshed lineup, resulting in the release of four more albums.
Origins, Debut Album and Sophomore Release (1996–99)
Andy Bell established Hurricane #1 to evolve the sound he had developed with Ride's later work. The band secured a contract with Creation Records, notable for signing Oasis and Primal Scream, and launched their first album, Hurricane #1, in 1997. This debut included the track "Step into My World", which climbed to number 29 on the UK Singles Chart; its remix by Paul Oakenfold achieved a higher position at number 19. Additional singles from the album were "Just Another Illusion" and "Chain Reaction".
Their second album, released in 1999, Only the Strongest Will Survive, featured the title song as a single that reached number 19 on the charts.
Disbandment Period (1999–2014)
In 1999, Bell departed from Hurricane #1, briefly joining Gay Dad before taking on the role of bassist for Oasis.
A comprehensive double-disc collection titled Step into My World was issued in 2004.
Alex Lowe continued his musical journey as a solo artist with three albums and initiated new ventures including Garage Flowers in 2007 and Gun Club Cemetery in 2013.
Band Reunion and Later Work (2014–present)
November 2014 saw Alex Lowe reviving Hurricane #1 with a newly assembled group featuring Carlo and Lucas Mariani on guitar and bass respectively, alongside drummer Chris Campbell.
The third studio album, Find What You Love and Let It Kill You, was released on 26 November 2015 via German label Tapete, with Andy Bell contributing guest guitar on "Think of the Sunshine". Lowe composed this record while undergoing cancer treatment, striving to maintain an optimistic atmosphere despite his health struggles.
Their fourth album, Melodic Rainbows, initially launched in Japan on 12 October 2016 before its UK release in November 2017. The band appeared at festivals including Beano on the Sea and Shiine On Weekender towards the end of 2017. Subsequently, Lucas Mariani exited the lineup and was succeeded by Chris Mullin; later, former The Seahorses bassist Stuart Fletcher took over bass duties in October 2018.
Throughout early 2018, Hurricane #1 toured extensively and issued singles monthly from September 2017 into part of that year. Early in 2019, guitarist Carlo Mariani left the band and was replaced by Jon Roberts. Their fifth album, Buddah at the Gas Pump, came out on 12 July 2019, followed by their sixth release, Backstage Waiting To Go On, on 16 June 2023.
Discography
- Studio Albums
- Hurricane #1 (1997)
- Only the Strongest Will Survive (1999)
- Find What You Love and Let It Kill You (2015)
- Melodic Rainbows (2016)
- Buddah At The Gas Pump (2019)
- Backstage Waiting To Go On (2023)
Current
- Alex Lowe: vocals (lead), guitar (1996–1999, 2014–present)
- Chris Campbell: drums (2014–present)
- Stuart Fletcher: bass guitar (2018–present)
- Jon Roberts: guitar (2019–present)
Former
- Andy Bell: guitar, vocals, keyboards (1996–1999)
- Will Pepper: bass guitar (1996–1999)
- Gareth "Gaz" Farmer: drums (1996–1999)
- Carlo Mariani: guitar (2014–2019)
- Lucas Mariani: bass guitar (2014–2016)
- Chris Mullin: bass guitar (2016–2018)
References
- Citations
- Sources