Kingmaker (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Headquarters | Kingston upon Hull , England, United Kingdom |
| Products | Indie rock music, albums, EPs, singles |
Kingmaker was an indie rock band originating from Kingston upon Hull, established in 1990.
The group was created during a gap year by longtime schoolmates Loz Hardy and Myles Howell, who later brought drummer John Andrew on board after finding him through an advertisement.
Early recording career
Before releasing any records, the band embarked on tours. Their initial offering was the The Celebrated Working Man EP. Following this, they signed a contract with Chrysalis Records and launched the Waterproof EP in 1991.
Their first full-length album, Eat Yourself Whole, was released on 7 October 1991. It achieved a peak position of No. 29 on the UK Albums Chart and remained charted for three weeks. Although the single "Eat Yourself Whole" reached the top twenty of the UK Singles Chart, it was notably absent from the original UK album edition.
In 1992, Kingmaker toured alongside rising bands such as Radiohead and Suede. On 29 August of that year, they appeared at Belgium's Pukkelpop festival, sharing the stage with groups like Babes in Toyland, Beastie Boys, and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.
They secured a U.S. recording agreement with Chrysalis, leading to the release of their sophomore album, Sleepwalking, on 17 May 1993.
Animosity with record label
In an interview conducted in 2000, Hardy disclosed that following the failure of the single "Armchair Anarchist" from Sleepwalking to break into the UK Top 40, executives at Chrysalis enforced modifications that he believed stifled the band’s artistic freedom. These changes included altering Sleepwalking to appeal more commercially and transferring promotional duties internally.
Hardy expressed dissatisfaction with the label's strategy of releasing multiple versions of singles featuring different b-sides to increase sales. This approach required producing nearly 40 tracks across various formats, which strained resources, compromised quality, and alienated fans. Numerous strong songs were relegated to b-sides on less visible releases, limiting their reach.
Band's split up
Momentum waned swiftly for Kingmaker. Their third album, To Hell with Humdrum, contained few new compositions; half of its content comprised BBC session recordings from Sleepwalking.
Hardy attributed part of the underperformance of their fourth and final album, In the Best Possible Taste, to their recording method and evolving musical trends.
"By our last album’s production, we had written all 40 songs beforehand and then chose the best ones—a process that spanned eighteen months. Meanwhile, Britpop gained prominence and eclipsed us. Upon releasing In The Best Possible Taste, it was clear our era had ended, and I was reluctant to continue performing in smaller venues—it felt disheartening."
Released on 17 April 1995, In the Best Possible Taste displayed a subtle shift towards urban rockabilly, but following its supporting tour later that year, the band dissolved.
Reformation
In 2010, Kingmaker reassembled under the name Kingmaker MMX without Hardy. They re-recorded their popular track "Armchair Anarchist" for the politically themed compilation Electio Pop issued by Helen Llewelyn Product 19 Records. This new formation featured Hull-based musicians Michael Wright (vocals), Jonee Kemp (lead guitar), and Phil Keech (keyboards).
Band members
- Loz Hardy (full name Lawrence Paul Hardy, born 14 September 1970 in Manchester) — lead vocals, guitar
- Myles Howell (born 23 January 1971 in Rugby, Warwickshire) — bass guitar
- John Andrew (John Richard Andrew, born 27 May 1963 in Kingston upon Hull) — drums
Albums
- Studio releases
- Eat Yourself Whole (1991) – reached Number 29 on the UK
- Sleepwalking (1993) – peaked at UK Number 15
- In the Best Possible Taste (1995) – attained UK Number 79
- Compilation albums
- To Hell with Humdrum (1993)
- Bloodshot and Fancy Free: The Best And Rest Of (1997)
- Piss Up A Rope (1999)
- Coming Up For Air (2000)
- Ersatz Love (2000)
- Missing In Action (2000)
- Everything Changed 1991 - 1995 (2020) – comprehensive 5-CD collection featuring studio albums plus singles and b-sides
Singles and EPs
- "The Celebrated Working Man" (1991) EP
- "Waterproof EP" (1991) EP
- "Two Headed EP" (1991) EP
- "Idiots at the Wheel" (1992) EP – reached UK Number 30
- "The Killjoy Was Here EP" (1992) EP – peaked at UK Number 15
- "Armchair Anarchist" (1992) – attained UK Number 47
- "10 Years Asleep" (1993) – reached UK Number 15
- "Queen Jane" (1993) – peaked at UK Number 29
- "Saturday's Not What It Used to Be" (1993) – reached UK Number 63
- "You and I Will Never See Things Eye to Eye" (1995) – attained UK Number 33
- "In the Best Possible Taste (Part 2)" (1995) – peaked at UK Number 41
External links
- [ Kingmaker biography – AMG website]