Reef (band)
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1993 in Glastonbury, England |
| Founder | Gary Stringer, Jack Bessant, Kenwyn House, Dominic Greensmith |
| Headquarters | Glastonbury , England |
Area served | United Kingdom, international |
Key people | Gary Stringer (lead vocals), Amy Newton (guitar), Jack Bessant (bass guitar), Luke Bullen (drums) |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
Reef is a rock group from Glastonbury, England, composed of Gary Stringer (lead vocals), Amy Newton (guitar), Jack Bessant (bass guitar), and Luke Bullen (drums).
Career
In 1993, Bessant and Stringer began recruiting musicians, while Kenwyn House introduced Dominic Greensmith to the lineup, leading to the formation of the band and the creation of the scarce "Purple Tape" demo.
Throughout 1994, Reef embarked on extensive tours to grow their audience before securing a contract with S2, a Sony subsidiary. Their debut single, "Good Feeling," was initially self-released but financially backed by Sony. This was followed by "Naked," which gained recognition through a Sony MiniDisc commercial that emphasized the durability of the format.
Commercial success (1994–1999)
From 1994 to 1995, Reef supported prominent artists such as Paul Weller, the Rolling Stones, and Soundgarden. Their first album, Replenish (1995), recorded at Cornwall’s Sawmills studio and in Bath, earned gold certification. The singles "Good Feeling" and "Naked" were featured on this record.
In mid-1995, they issued the four-track single "Weird," targeting their dedicated fanbase; its B-side "Sunrise Shakers" was included in the snowboarding film Day Tripper. Christian Stevenson later directed the music video for their 1999 single "Sweety."
Their sophomore album, Glow (1997), produced by George Drakoulious in Los Angeles, incorporated a variety of instruments and spawned successful singles such as "Place Your Hands", which reached number six on the UK Singles Chart. Glow debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart. In late 1996, Reef toured with Feeder as their opening act.
In early 1999, the band released their third album, Rides, recorded at Ocean Way Studios in Los Angeles. Experimenting with instrument swaps among members and collaborating with arranger David Campbell and backing vocalist Rose Stone, they crafted a more sophisticated sound featuring slide guitars and cinematic influences. Although critics praised Rides, it did not achieve the commercial heights of Glow.
Getaway (2000–2003)
Released in 2000 by Sony, their fourth album, Getaway, marked their most commercially oriented effort. Produced by Al Clay—renowned for his work with the Pixies and Stereophonics—the album included "Set The Record Straight," which was used as the theme tune for the BBC drama series Red Cap.
The single "Superhero" featured a video capturing a spontaneous performance at Bessant's Hoxton Square apartment attended by industry figures such as Andrea Corr and representatives from BBC Radio 1, Kerrang!, and NME. The last single from the album, "All I Want," a ballad receiving airplay on BBC Radio 2, peaked at number 51 on UK charts. Its video depicted band members adrift in a lifeboat.
Late in 2000, Reef encountered legal proceedings initiated by South Cone Inc., a U.S. company alleging trademark infringement concerning merchandising rights. The lawsuit was unsuccessful since South Cone's trademark REEF BRAZIL was primarily associated with footwear, whereas Reef's merchandise promoted only the band. Reef was awarded £1000 in damages.
In 2001, following a modest tour supporting Texas, Reef retreated to North Devon during summer to compose new material independently from their label, aiming to revive their earlier heavier sound. Despite generating significant new content, Sony restricted releases to a greatest hits collection titled Together – The Best of Reef (January 2003). Band members openly criticized Sony’s lack of support; Jack Bessant condemned it outright while Kenwyn House described it as "a kiss of death." Fans regarded much of the unreleased material as some of their finest work.
Reef performed at the Surfers Against Sewage Christmas Ball in Bournemouth in late 2001, having previously appeared at the SAS summer ball in 1995. In January 2003, drummer Dominic Greensmith departed just before a major UK tour aligned with the greatest hits release; he was succeeded by Nathan Curran, noted for collaborations with Basement Jaxx among others. This tour included recording a live DVD at Bristol's Carling Academy. Around this period, Reef covered Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" for the BBC's re:covered project; it was released as a B-side to their final single "Waster" on Snapper Music.
Their headline set at Falmouth Regatta Week on 15 August 2003 marked their last live performance prior to disbandment. Over their career span, Reef secured seven UK Top 20 singles.
The track "Place Your Hands" remains widely recognized as a popular party anthem and compilation inclusion. The band once parodied this song on Chris Evans' TFI Friday, though they later clarified that they did not wish to be defined solely by this hit. Additionally, they performed at major festivals including Reading (1999) and multiple appearances at Glastonbury alongside its local Pilton Party event.
Shift in focus (2004–2015)
Reef took a break from their extensive live performances, with Stringer making a guest DJ appearance at Bristol Academy on 28 February 2004.
On 3 April 2006, Martin Gilks, former manager of Reef and drummer for The Wonder Stuff, tragically passed away at 41 in a motorcycle accident. Gilks had co-managed Reef through Furtive Mass Transit Systems. The original members briefly reunited in April 2006 for a tribute show in his honor.
Stringer and Bessant went on to create the band Them Is Me, alongside Jonas Jalhay on guitar and Nathan "Tugg" Curran on drums. Continuing as vocalist and bassist respectively, they premiered live in Cornwall in September 2007 and recorded demo tracks in Monmouth. Their acoustic endeavor, StringerBessant, released the album Yard via Xtra Mile Recordings on 12 July 2010.
In April 2010, Reef regrouped for a six-date tour across the UK, featuring performances at the Isle of Wight Festival, Cornbury Festival, and Glastonbury Festival, with support from Irish group Young Aviators. On 7 August 2011, they played before the Community Shield match between Manchester City and Manchester United.
The band appeared at Lakefest in May 2012 and took the headline slot at Steelhouse Festival in Ebbw Vale on 29 July. Guitarist Kenwyn House departed in April 2014 to concentrate on his project Goldray; Jesse Wood, son of Ronnie Wood, joined as his replacement in May.
In 2014, Stringer and Bessant collaborated with Czech pop artist Anna K under the StringerBessant name. Between August and October, Reef completed a UK tour culminating in a sold-out show at St. Ives Guildhall, which was recorded for a live album and DVD. This tour featured backing vocals from The Academy of Music and Theatre Arts (AMATA) at Falmouth University, with producer George Drakoulias and Stringer discussing the tour on BBC Radio Cornwall.
Recent activities (2016–present)
In February 2016, Reef toured with keyboardist Andy Wallace and released the single "How I Got Over" in March, premiering it on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2. The track includes a gospel choir recorded in Los Angeles, accompanied by a music video showcasing the band surfing along Cornwall’s coast. Various backing vocalists have supported subsequent tours.
Reef served as opening act for two Coldplay concerts at Wembley Stadium in April 2016. During April and May 2018, they toured the UK while promoting their fifth studio album, Revelation. On 27 June 2018, drummer Dominic Greensmith retired; Guillaume Charreau took over drumming duties for live shows.
At the close of 2021, Reef announced a collaboration with ex-Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor on the album Shoot Me Your Ace, which was released in April 2022. That same month, they supported the album with a UK tour featuring special guests 'A'.
Looking ahead to 2025, Reef plans a winter UK tour commemorating the 30th anniversary of their album Replenish.
Festival appearances
Reef has performed multiple times at Reading Festival (1995, 1996, 1999), Glastonbury Festival (1995, 1997, 2000, 2010), and Australia's The Falls Festival in 2000.
In May 2012, they appeared at both Lakefest Festival and Triumph Live. The following year saw them play five UK summer festivals alongside a "20th Anniversary UK Tour" consisting of six shows across major cities.
In 2016, Reef performed at The Isle of Wight Festival and Vicar's Picnic in Kent before headlining Lindisfarne Festival near Holy Island.
February 2017 brought news that Reef would headline Sunday night at Amplified Festival in Gloucestershire. They also played the British Grand Prix event at Silverstone on 15 July; Ramblin Man Fair in Maidstone on 29 July; The Beano Festival at Hastings Pier on 9 September; and headlined Wheels and Fins festival in Joss Bay on 10 September. A more intimate performance followed at O'Neill's Flamingo Bar in Soho.
The band appeared at Camp Bestival on 1 August 2021 and Newbury Real Ale Festival on 11 September. At Glastonbury Festival in 2022, Reef stepped in last minute to replace The Damned due to Covid-related issues, headlining The Field of Avalon Stage.
In 2023, Reef performed at Northern Kin festival. They are scheduled to play Norfolk Gone Wild festival in 2024 before an audience of approximately 12,000 attendees.
Band members
Current lineup
- Gary Stringer – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, tambourine (1993–2003, 2010–present)
- Jack Bessant – bass guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1993–2003, 2010–present)
- Luke Bullen – drums (2020–present)
- Amy Newton – guitars (2023–present)
Touring musicians
- Andy Wallace – keyboards (2016–present)
- Guillaume Charreau – drums (2018–2019)
- Andy Taylor – lead guitar (2019–present)
- Arya Goggin – drums (2019–2020)
Previous members
- Jesse Wood – guitar (2014–2023)
- Dominic Greensmith – drums (1993–2003, 2010–2018)
- Kenwyn House – guitar (1993–2003, 2010–2014)
- Nathan "Tugg" Curran – drums (2003)
Timeline
Discography
Albums
Further reading
- Neil Jeffries, "The Story Behind the Song: Reef: Naked," Raw, July 19, 1995, pp. 64, 66