Shack (band)

Shack
Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1987
Headquarters	Liverpool, England
Products	Music albums, singles

Shack is a Liverpool-based English band established in 1987 by siblings Mick and John Head. Originating after the dissolution of the influential 1980s group The Pale Fountains, Shack encountered various personnel shifts and challenges, including the destruction of their early recordings in a studio fire. Their discography includes notable albums like Zilch (1988), Waterpistol (1995), and the critically well-received H.M.S. Fable (1999). Following several breaks and reunions, they joined forces with Noel Gallagher's Sour Mash label during the 2000s, releasing ...The Corner of Miles and Gil (2006). In 2008, they briefly revived The Pale Fountains and continued performing until the passing of drummer Iain Templeton in 2022. Subsequently, Mick Head concentrated on Michael Head & the Red Elastic Band, achieving his highest chart position with the 2022 album Dear Scott.

The Pale Fountains

Prior to Shack, brothers Michael and John Head performed in the cult-favorite 1980s band the Pale Fountains, which produced two albums: Pacific Street (March 1984) and ...From Across the Kitchen Table (March 1985). Despite receiving critical praise, these records attained modest chart success, peaking at numbers 85 and 94 on the UK Albums Chart. The group dissolved around 1986 as they moved back to Liverpool from London. Founding bassist Chris "Biffa" McCaffrey passed away in 1989 due to a brain tumour, several years after the band's breakup.

1987–1996: Zilch, Waterpistol and hiatus

The Head brothers reassembled as Shack and signed with the Ghetto Recording Company, known for housing producer Ian Broudie’s The Lightning Seeds and soul act Distant Cousins. Their debut album Zilch (1988) did not achieve commercial or critical success initially but was reissued with additional tracks in 2007.

Their second album, Waterpistol, was recorded in 1991 at London’s Star Street Studio and Chapel Studios in Lincolnshire. Shortly after completion, a fire destroyed most of the tapes at Star Street Studio. The only surviving DAT tape was with producer Chris Allison, who inadvertently left it in a rental car in Los Angeles; it was recovered weeks later. By that time, Ghetto had ceased operations, leaving the album without distribution. Shack subsequently disbanded; bassist Peter Wilkinson joined John Power (formerly of The La's) to form Britpop band Cast. The Head brothers briefly toured with Love in 1992.

Eventually released in 1995 by German independent label Marina, Waterpistol earned praise from NME, which described Mick Head as "a lost genius and among the most gifted British songwriters of his generation." The album received a re-release featuring updated artwork from Red Flag Recording Company in 2007. Meanwhile, Michael Head created Michael Head & The Strands with John, garnering acclaim for their album The Magical World of The Strands (1996).

1998–2019: Re-formation and new albums

In 1998, Shack reformed with the Head brothers joined by drummer Iain Templeton and bassist Ren Parry, producing H.M.S. Fable (1999), which reached the UK top 25 charts. For their next release, ...here's tom with the weather (2003), Guy Rigby replaced Parry on bass. Peter Wilkinson returned to replace Rigby in 2005.

Shack signed to Noel Gallagher's Sour Mash label and issued ...The Corner of Miles and Gil in 2006, an homage to jazz legends Miles Davis and Gil Evans.

October 2007 saw the release of their greatest hits album Time Machine, which included two new songs. They followed this with a brief UK tour featuring Martyn Campbell on bass; one performance at Liverpool Academy was recorded for a potential live album or DVD.

In February 2008, Shack revived The Pale Fountains for well-received concerts in Liverpool and London, featuring Michael and John Head alongside Martyn Campbell, Andy Diagram, Thomas 'Jock' Whelan, and Iain Templeton. Afterward, John Head embarked on a solo career with The Streams while Michael Head established Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band under his Violette Records label.

Shack reunited once more for a charity gig held in Winsford in June 2010.

2020–present

As of 6 June 2022, Mick Head fronts Michael Head & the Red Elastic Band, with their album Dear Scott issued under Modern Sky UK, the label associated with The Coral. This release earned a four-star rating from The Guardian and marked Head's most successful UK chart entry, reaching the number four spot on the Official Charts midweek update.

Drummer Iain Templeton passed away on 19 December 2022.

Current

Michael Head – vocals, guitar (1987–1992, 1998–present)
John Head – guitar (1987–1992, 1998–present)
Martyn Campbell – bass (1992, 2007–present)

Former

Justin Smith – bass (1987–1990)
Michael Hurst – drums (1987–1990)
Dave Butcher – keyboards (1987–1990)
Ken Moss – bass (Zilch) (1987–1988)
Peter Wilkinson – bass (1990–1991, 2005–2006)
Alan Wills – drums (1990–1991) (deceased 2014)
Ren Parry – bass (1998–2002)
Guy Rigby – bass (2002–2004)
Johnnie Baxter – drums
Iain Templeton – drums (1991–1992, 1998–2022; deceased 2022)

Timeline

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Studio albums

Year	Album	Highest UK chart position
1988	Zilch Issued: March 1988 Record label: Ghetto	–
1995	Waterpistol Issued: 1995 Record label: Marina	–
1999	H.M.S. Fable Issued: 21 June 1999 Record label: London	25
2003	... Here's Tom with the Weather Issued: 11 August 2003 Record label: North Country	55
2006	...The Corner of Miles and Gil Issued: 15 May 2006 Record label: Sour Mash	55

Additional albums

Arthur Lee & Shack Live in Liverpool (2000)
The Fable Sessions (2003)
Time Machine: The Best of Shack (2007)

Singles

Year	Title	Highest UK chart position	Album
1988	"Emergency"	–	Zilch
1988	"High Rise Low Life"	–	Zilch
1990	"I Know You Well"	–	Standalone single
1991	"Al's Vacation"	–	Standalone single
1999	"Comedy"	44	H.M.S. Fable
1999	"Natalie's Party"	63	H.M.S. Fable
2000	"Oscar"	67	Standalone single
2003	"Byrds Turn to Stone"	63	...Here's Tom with the Weather
2006	"Tie Me Down"	114	...The Corner of Miles and Gil
2006	"Cup of Tea"	126	...The Corner of Miles and Gil