Senseless Things

Senseless Things
Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1986
Defunct	1995 (hiatus), reunited 2017
Headquarters	London, England
Products	Music albums and singles

Senseless Things was a London-based English pop punk group formed in 1986. Over their career, they produced four studio albums and scored two singles that reached the UK Top 20 before disbanding in 1995. The band reunited in 2017 for several performances, including a show at Shepherd's Bush Empire, and released new recordings. Vocalist Mark Keds passed away in early 2021.

Career

The origins of Senseless Things trace back to the collaboration between songwriter Mark Myers (known as Mark Keds) and Morgan Nicholls. Initially, they performed together under the names Wild Division and then the Psychotics before establishing Senseless Things in 1986. The classic lineup was completed in 1987 when Nicholls returned to play bass and Ben Harding joined as guitarist. The band frequently played live at The Clarendon venue in Hammersmith, London.

Drawing inspiration from bands such as the Ramones, Buzzcocks, and the Replacements, Senseless Things maintained an intense touring routine, often sharing stages with groups like Mega City Four and Snuff.

Their earliest releases were singles distributed alongside fanzines Yo Jo Jo and Sniffin' Rock. By 1988, they had caught the attention of BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, who invited them for recording sessions. Their first album, Postcard CV (1989), showcased their lively sound across 10 tracks totaling just 21 minutes and featured their notable single "Too Much Kissing."

After an initial EP release was thwarted due to label complications, they signed with Decoy Records and released the EP Is It Too Late?, produced by Jon Langford of the Mekons. Subsequent singles included "Can't Do Anything," and following a performance at Reading Festival, they secured a contract with Epic Records in 1991.

Their sophomore album, The First Of Too Many, incorporated acoustic elements alongside their usual style; its single "Got It At The Delmar" reached the UK Top 50. They later achieved two additional Top 20 hits with "Easy To Smile" and "Hold It Down." Expanding their reach internationally, the band toured supporting Blur in the United States and appeared on Japanese television.

Jamie Hewlett—who would later gain fame through Gorillaz—created artwork for their first two albums as well as numerous singles during this era.

The third album, Empire of the Senseless (1993), featured the politically provocative single "Homophobic Asshole," which encountered resistance from their label due to its title and failed to perform well commercially. Its follow-up single "Primary Instinct" addressed similar themes but enjoyed greater success.

In 1995, Senseless Things released their final album Taking Care of Business along with singles including "Christine Keeler" (initially named "Christian Killer") and "Something To Miss." The latter single contained B-sides such as a cover of a Replacements song and a co-written track with Lenie from Mambo Taxi. After concluding farewell tours across the UK and Japan, the band entered an indefinite hiatus.

Post-breakup

Following Senseless Things’ split, Keds briefly joined The Wildhearts before forming bands such as Jolt, Trip Fontaine, The Lams, Like A Bitch, and most recently Deadcuts. He is credited as a co-writer on The Libertines' 2004 UK #2 hit "Can't Stand Me Now", which incorporates a lyric from Jolt's 1998 single "Hey! Kitten".

Harding became a member of 3 Colours Red from 1996 until 1999 before moving into public relations within media. He later returned to performing with garage rock group The Charlemagnes.

Nicholls played alongside Miles Hunt in Vent 414 until 1997, released his solo album Organized in 2000, and collaborated with The Streets. Currently, he tours with Muse and has worked with artists including Lily Allen and The Who.

Browne co-founded Delakota with Nicholls and others, releasing an album plus singles between 1998 and 2000. He became a significant contributor to Hewlett and Damon Albarn’s virtual band Gorillaz, performing live drums from 2001 through 2010 and playing a major role as a writer for the band's animated personas—including authoring much of the 2005 book Rise of the Ogre. Browne also had brief stints with Urge Overkill, The Lams, and Deadcuts. In 2019, he established alternative rock supergroup Loup GarouX alongside Mercury-nominated songwriter Ed Harcourt and Richard Jones of The Feeling. Their single "I Know the Truth About You" received airplay on both BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music.

Reunions

Senseless Things regrouped—excluding Nicholls, who was replaced by Micky Wyle from Hitechjet—for a confidential four-song set at London's Islington Academy on 4 March 2007. This event took place more than twelve years after their previous performance and was held in tribute to Darren "Wiz" Brown, former frontman of Mega City Four. The identical lineup came together once more in June 2016 to perform alongside fans of Beach Slang in London, joining them onstage for a rendition of "Too Much Kissing."

In December 2016, the band announced a complete reunion concert scheduled for 25 March 2017, preceded by a warm-up gig in Hull on 19 March. To commemorate these appearances, Senseless Things issued a one-sided 7-inch single featuring "Lost Honey," their first new composition in over two decades.

Lead vocalist Mark Keds passed away on 10 January 2021 at the age of 50.

Members

Mark Keds – vocals and guitar
Ben Harding – guitar and backing vocals
Morgan Nicholls – bass guitar
Cass Browne – drums

Albums

Postcard C.V. (1989) – LP, cassette, CD – Way Cool (WC 004 LP)
The First of Too Many (1991) – LP (black and purple vinyl), CD, cassette – Epic – reached UK chart position No. 66
Empire of the Senseless (1992) – CD – Epic – peaked at UK No. 37
- Empire of the Senseless/Postcard C.V. (1993) – double LP, double CD, cassette – Epic
Peel Sessions (1994) – CD – Strange Fruit
Taking Care of Business (1995) – CD, LP – Epic
The Singles (1998) – CD – Epic
Postcard C.V. (2010) – CD – Cherry Red (reissued with additional tracks from the "Up and Coming" 12-inch and "Girlfriend" 7-inch)
The First of Too Many (2022) - 3CD/2LP - Cherry Red (reissue including remixed album and Live at Camden Palace)
Last One Out The Window (CD/LP) (features remastered Andy in a Karmann and previously unreleased Gallery Tapes)

Singles/EPs

1988 – "I'm Moving" 7-inch flexi disc
1988 – Up & Coming EP, 12-inch (reissued in 1991)
1989 – "Senseless Things" rehearsals bootleg 7-inch
1989 – "Girlfriend" 7-inch
1989 – "Too Much Kissing" 7-inch UK chart position No. 167
1990 – Andi In A Karmann EP, 12-inch (promotional release only)
1990 – "Is it Too Late?" UK chart position No. 134
1990 – "Can't Do Anything" UK chart position No. 146
1991 – "Everybody's Gone" UK chart position No. 73
1991 – "Got it at the Delmar" UK chart position No. 50
1991 – "Easy to Smile" UK chart position No. 18
1992 – "Hold it Down" UK chart position No. 19
1992 – "Homophobic Asshole" UK chart position No. 52
1993 – "Primary Instinct" UK chart position No. 41
1993 – "Too Much Kissing" UK chart position No. 69 [remixed version]
1994 – "Christine Keeler" UK chart position No. 56
1995 – "Something to Miss" UK chart position No. 57
2017 – "Lost Honey"

Selected compilation appearances

1988 – "Sniffin' Rock #6," split 7-inch with Crazyhead, The Birdhouse
1989 – "Pssst" EP, split 7-inch with Snuff, Sink, Perfect Daze
1989 – "The Shape Of Things to Humm," split 7-inch with Perfect Daze, Playground, Exit Condition
1989 – Underground Rockers Volume 2 LP (reissued on CD in 1992), featuring Manic Street Preachers, HDQ, The Price, among others
1991 – "Submerge #3," split flexi 7-inch with Bugeyes

External links