Loop (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1986 in Croydon, England |
| Founder | Robert Hampson |
| Defunct | 1991 (initial disbandment) |
| Fate | Disbanded in 1991; reformed in 2013 |
| Headquarters | Croydon , England |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
Loop is a rock band from England, established in 1986 by Robert Hampson in Croydon. Their albums Fade Out (1989) and A Gilded Eternity (1990) both reached the summit of the UK independent charts. Their distinctive "trance-rock" style, characterized by dissonance, was inspired by bands such as the Stooges and Can, contributing to the resurgence of space rock during the late 1980s.
The band disbanded in 1991, with Hampson going on to create the experimental project Main alongside guitarist Scott Dowson, while Mackay and Wills formed The Hair and Skin Trading Company. In 2013, the lineup from 1989–90 reunited briefly for several performances, followed by Hampson launching a new version of Loop with himself as the only original member.
Career
Loop came together in 1986 under the leadership of Robert Hampson (vocals, guitar), initially featuring Becky Stewart on drums. Stewart was soon replaced by John Wills (The Servants) and Glen Ray, with James Endeacott joining on guitar. Their sound, heavily influenced by Krautrock and No Wave, centered around repetitive three-chord riffs. They debuted on Jeff Barrett's Head label with the 1987 single "16 Dreams," followed by their first album Heaven's End later that same year. Subsequently, they signed to Chapter 22 Records.
In 1988, Loop returned with a refined approach on the single "Collision." Their sophomore album Fade Out (1989) climbed to number 51 on the UK albums chart. After Endeacott's departure in 1988, Scott Dowson joined the group in 1989. The band moved to Beggars Banquet's subsidiary label Situation Two, releasing the "Arc-Lite" single in 1989 and their final studio album A Gilded Eternity in 1990. They also performed at the prestigious Reading Festival that year.
Following their breakup in 1991, Hampson briefly played with Godflesh before forming Main with Dowson. Main ceased activity in 2006 but was revived as a collaborative endeavor in 2010. Meanwhile, Wills and Mackay established The Hair and Skin Trading Company, which remained active until their last release in 1995; Wills now records under the name Pumajaw.
Loop recorded three sessions for John Peel between 1987 and 1990. A compilation titled Wolf Flow was issued in 1992. After splitting up, Loop’s official studio albums were reissued through their Reactor label, some editions including cover versions of songs originally by Suicide, The Pop Group, and Can. Due to continued fan interest, these reissues were made available again in November 2008 via Reactor.
Reformation
In 2013 and 2014, Loop reassembled as announced by Robert Hampson. This reunion featured members from the Gilded Eternity period—Hampson, John Wills, Neil Mackay, and Scott Dowson. Their first comeback performance took place in November 2013 when they also co-curated the last holiday camp edition of the All Tomorrow's Parties festival at Camber Sands, England. John Wills departed to pursue other projects and was succeeded by Wayne Maskell. Loop headlined the Roadburn Festival in April 2014 and completed over twenty shows across the United States, including opening for Milwaukee Psych Fest 2014; their tour concluded at Primavera Sound in Barcelona that May.
By November 2014, a refreshed lineup led by Hampson featured Hugo Morgan on bass, Maskell on drums (both from The Heads), and Dan Boyd on guitar. They performed at London’s Garage venue and toured in the Netherlands, premiering a new track titled "Precession" and announcing their participation at ATP Iceland 2015.
On 22 June 2015, Loop released a four-track EP named Array 1 through ATP Recordings.
In June 2018, the band appeared as part of Robert Smith’s curated Meltdown Festival lineup.
Their first full-length studio release in over three decades, Sonancy, was launched on 25 March 2022, followed by a UK tour in May 2023.
Musical style
The band’s sound is defined by elements of space rock, psychedelic rock, drone rock, and noise rock.
Members
Current
- Robert Hampson – vocals, guitar (1986–1991, 2013–present)
- Hugo Morgan – bass guitar (2014–present)
- Dan Boyd – guitar (2014–present)
- Wayne Maskel – drums (2014–present)
Former
- Becky "Bex" Stewart – drums (1986–1987)
- Glen Ray – bass guitar (1986–1987)
- James Endeacott – guitar (1987–1988)
- John Wills – drums (1987–1990, 2013–2014)
- Neil Mackay – bass guitar (1987–1990, 2013–2014)
- Mathew Frith – guitar (1988–1989)
- Scott Dowson – guitar (1989–1990, 2013–2014)
Albums
| Release Year | Album Title | Position on UK Indie Chart | UK Albums Chart Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Heaven's End | 4 | - |
| 1989 | Fade Out | 1 | 51 |
| 1990 | A Gilded Eternity | 1 | 39 |
| 2015 | Array 1 EP | - | - |
| 2022 | Sonancy | 7 | 89 |
Compilation albums
| Month | Year | Compilation Title | UK Indie Chart Position | UK Albums Chart Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 1988 | The World in Your Eyes | 4 | - |
| September | 1989 | Eternal: The Singles | - | - |
| 1991 | Wolf Flow (Peel Sessions 1987-1990) | - | - | |
| 1992 | Dual | - | - |
Singles
| Month | Year | Single Title | Release Format | UK Indie Chart Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February | 1987 | "16 Dreams" | 12" | 35 |
| July | 1987 | "Spinning" | 7" 12" | 7 |
| May | 1988 | "Collision" | 7" 12" | 4 |
| December | 1988 | "Black Sun" | 12" | 5 |
| December | 1989 | "Arc-lite" | "7" 12" CD" | 6 |
| May | 1991 | "Loopflesh / Fleshloop" | "7"" |