King of the Slums
| Company type | Independent band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1986 in Greater Manchester, England |
| Founder | Charley Keigher, Sarah Curtis |
| Defunct | 2021 |
| Headquarters | Greater Manchester , England |
Area served | United Kingdom |
| Products | Alternative rock music |
| Website | kingoftheslums |
King of the Slums was a British alternative rock group that originated in Greater Manchester during the mid-1980s. Renowned for their distinctive blend of electric violin and guitar, they launched their first single in 1986. Although they garnered praise from UK music critics, widespread commercial success remained out of reach, culminating in their breakup in the early 1990s following the release of their sophomore album, Blowzy Weirdos (1991). In 2009, an album combining both new compositions and earlier recordings appeared under the names King of the Slums and their initial moniker, Slum Cathedral User. Subsequently, they issued three additional albums: Manco Diablo (2017), Artgod Dogs (2018), and Encrypted Contemporary Narratives (2020), before the death of lead vocalist Charley Keigher in 2021.
History
The band King of the Slums was established in Manchester, England by songwriter Charley Keigher (vocals, guitar) alongside Sarah Curtis (electric violin), originally performing under the name Slum Cathedral User. Curtis, who had attended the Royal Northern College of Music but did not complete her studies, departed early on. Bassist John Eccles joined them in early 1985, and together they produced a demo at Crimson Studios located in Urmston, Manchester. Their stage presence was marked by an unusual use of a plastic dustbin and tambourine as percussion instruments, reinforcing their gritty 'slum' persona. Winning Muze magazine's Band of the Year contest earned them a recording opportunity in Gorton, Manchester, where they created a second demo tape; a third demo was recorded later at a studio in Uppermill on Saddleworth Moor.
Their first vinyl release was the single "Spider Psychiatry" in 1986 on their independent SLR Records label. Operating as a trio and featuring their signature dustbin drum setup, the single attracted positive critical attention but achieved only modest sales. Eccles left the group midway through 1987.
The band continued releasing music throughout 1988 and 1989 under the Play Hard label with new members bassist Jon Chandler and drummer Ged O'Brien. Numerous tracks were compiled on the Barbarous English Fayre collection (1989). They recorded a session for John Peel’s BBC Radio 1 show in 1988. A live appearance on Snub TV expanded their national profile, resulting in stronger indie chart performance; notably, "Bombs Away on Harpurhey" climbed to No. 8.
After signing with Midnight Music, their debut album Dandelions (1989) was released to favorable critical reception. With an updated rhythm section, King of the Slums secured a deal with Cherry Red Records and delivered Blowzy Weirdos in 1991, which sustained acclaim for Keigher’s raw depictions of British life. Despite performing nearly 200 shows, the band dissolved later that year without achieving commercial success; numerous unofficial bootleg recordings circulated but were not endorsed by the members.
The group reunited in 2009 to release The Orphaned Files, an album mostly comprising fresh material alongside rare remixes, issued through SLR Records. This was followed by Manco Diablo (2017) and Artgod Dogs (2018), which saw Clarissa Trees join on violin and viola. They appeared live at Manchester’s Night and Day café in June 2018. In February 2019, they released a limited edition four-track EP titled Peak Human Experience, timed with tour dates—some performances were canceled due to illness. Their final album, Encrypted Contemporary Narratives, was unveiled on 14 September 2020.
Lead singer Charley Keigher died on 28 November 2021.
Studio albums
- Barbarous English Fayre (Play Hard, 1989) (UK Indie Chart peak: #4)
- Dandelions (Midnight Music, 1989)
- Blowzy Weirdos (Cherry Red, 1991)
- The Orphaned Files (SLR Records, 2009)
- Manco Diablo (SLR Records, 2017)
- Artgod Dogs (SLR Records, 2018)
- Encrypted Contemporary Narratives (SLR Records, 2020)
EPs
- England's Finest Hopes EP (Play Hard, 1988)
- Vicious British Boyfriend EP (Play Hard, 1989)
- "Peak Human Experience" EP (SLR, 2019)
Singles
- "Spider Psychiatry" (SLR, 1986)
- "Haemophiliacs on Tacks" (Debris, 1987) – split flexi-disc shared with Moist
- "Bombs Away on Harpurhey" (Play Hard, 1989) (UK Indie Chart peak: #8)
- "Trouble at Mill" (Getout Fanzine Flexi Disc, 1989)
- "Once A Prefect" (Midnight Music, 1989)
- "It's Dead Smart" (Midnight Music, 1990)
- "Bear Wiv Me" (Fluorescent Mix) (Midnight Music, 1990)
- "Joy" (Cherry Red, 1991)