Six by Seven
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1992 in Nottingham, England |
| Founder | Chris Olley, Sam Hempton, Chris Davis, Paul Douglas, James Flower |
| Defunct | 2008 (first disbandment) |
| Fate | Disbanded in 2008 and 2012; reformed in 2012 |
| Headquarters | Nottingham , England |
| Products | Indie rock music albums and singles |
Six by Seven (also presented as SIX.BY SEVEN or six.byseven) is an English indie rock ensemble established in 1992 in Nottingham. The original core members consisted of vocalist and guitarist Chris Olley, guitarist Sam Hempton, drummer Chris Davis, bassist Paul Douglas, and keyboardist James Flower. Although the group dissolved in 2008, it reunited in 2012 with Olley and Flower returning as founding members.
Formation
The band initially performed under the name "Friends Of..." and made their first appearance at Nottingham’s Old Angel pub towards the end of 1992. Bassist Paul Douglas became part of the lineup later that same year. They increased their visibility by supporting bands such as Rocket from the Crypt and Girls Against Boys, before adopting the name Six by Seven in 1996. Their chosen name is inspired by research associated with the Hubble Space Telescope.
Early releases
Six by Seven launched their debut single, European Me, in 1997, which led to securing a contract for five albums. Their inaugural album, The Things We Make, was released in 1998, resulting in headline tours as well as support performances alongside Ash, Manic Street Preachers, The Dandy Warhols, and Placebo. Between 1998 and 2002, they recorded five sessions for the John Peel Show.
Their sophomore album, The Closer You Get (2000), was followed by Hempton’s exit from the band. After releasing their third album, The Way I Feel Today (2002), bassist Douglas departed. In 2004, their fourth studio effort, 04, was accompanied by a compilation of outtakes named Left Luggage at the Peveril Hotel, initially distributed through their website. By April 2005, they announced Artists Cannibals Poets Thieves, which they described as their first record produced as a trio.
Disbanding
Just prior to the June release of that album, Six by Seven declared they would "cease touring and effectively disband for the foreseeable future," with plans to issue a live album along with a collection of b-sides and rare tracks.
In December 2005, an "unofficial" studio album titled Club Sandwich at the Peveril Hotel was made available via the band's website on 16 January 2006, with limited physical copies reaching retailers by March. Although live performances were scheduled for early 2006, these were eventually cancelled.
August 2006 featured an unexpected performance at Nottingham’s Social venue, showcasing a revamped lineup including collaborators Tony Doggen Foster, Ady Fletcher, and newly added drummer Ian Bissett.
In September 2006, a compilation comprising rarities, live recordings, and demos was released through the band's website.
On 12 December 2006, Six by Seven returned to perform at the Social in Nottingham with a lineup consisting of Chris Olley, James Flower, Doggen, Ady Fletcher, and Ian Bissett.
Side projects
Chris Olley continues to pursue his solo endeavor known as Twelve, having discontinued his electro clash project Fuck Me USA. His initial solo album was released in November 2009, followed by several more primarily distributed via his personal website.
Following Six by Seven's split in 2005, drummer Chris Davis concentrated full-time on Spotlight Kid, which he had formed in 2004 with Nottingham vocalist Katty Heath. Spotlight Kid’s second album features Davis as both leader and songwriter alongside Heath’s vocal contributions.
Reformation
In February 2007, Six by Seven reunited with founding members Chris Olley, Sam Hempton, James Flower, and Christian Davis; Pete Stevenson took over bass duties from Paul Douglas.
In July 2007, the band released If Symptoms Persist, Kill Your Doctor exclusively online. This album, created solely by Olley and Flower, was limited to 1,000 copies and drew lyrical inspiration from an episode of a BBC television show. Live performances accompanied the album's debut.
Following this, a fan-curated compilation featuring remixes and a DVD containing promotional videos was issued.
The band disbanded again after Chris Olley's departure in November 2008.
August 2012 marked the announcement by Olley that he and James Flower had revived Six by Seven, collaborating with former Placebo drummer Steve Hewitt on new recordings. Their album Love And Peace And Sympathy was subsequently released on 8 July 2013.
A Facebook-driven campaign in late 2015 propelled "Eat Junk Become Junk" to the top spot on the Christmas Rock Download Chart. This success led Beggars Banquet to re-release the band's second album on vinyl, supplemented with additional B-sides and Peel Sessions. Additionally, a Greatest Hits CD was issued. The original lineup reunited for two special concerts at Nottingham's Maze and London's Garage venues; notably, at Maze they performed the entire The Closer You Get album live.
With plans for another performance in October 2017, Olley aimed to re-establish Six by Seven as an active touring band. The group later appeared on the Glade stage at Glastonbury Festival in 2019.
Studio albums
- The Things We Make (1998)
- The Closer You Get (2000)
- The Way I Feel Today (2002) UK #69
- 04 (2004)
- Artists Cannibals Poets Thieves (2005)
- If Symptoms Persist, Kill Your Doctor (2007)
- Love and Peace and Sympathy (2013)
- The World Hates Me and the Feeling Is Mutual (2019)
VINYL ONLY
- six by seven I - also known as Blood Drips Album (2015)
- six by seven II - also known as Hollywood Splatter Album (2016)
- EXII (2017)
Compilations
- Left Luggage at the Peveril Hotel (2004)
- Club Sandwich at the Peveril Hotel (2006)
- Any Colour So Long as It's Black (All the Way from Forest Fields and Back...) (2008)
- Greatest Hits (2016)
Singles and EPs
- "European Me" (1997)
- "88-92-96" (1997)
- "Candlelight" (1998) UK #70
- "For You" (1998) UK #87
- "European Me ep" (1998)
- "Two and a Half Days in Love with You EP" (1999)
- "Ten Places to Die" (1999)
- "New Year" (2000)
- "Eat Junk Become Junk" (2000)
- "So Close" (2002)
- "I O U Love" (2002) UK #48
- "All My New Best Friends" (2002)
- "Bochum (Light Up My Life)" (2003)
- "Bring Down the Government" (2003)
- "Ready for You Now" (2004)
- "Catch the Rain" (2004)
- "Ocean/Clouds" (2004)
Live, demo, or unofficial albums
- B-Sides & Rarities 1
- B-Sides & Rarities 2
- Live in Ashton-Under-Lyne 08/09/99
- Live in USA, Oslo, Newcastle
- Live in Amsterdam/Paris
- Live at La Route Du Rock 1998
- Live at Eden Project 11 August 2001
- Live at Manchester Hop and Grape 15-04-02
- Live at Nottingham Boatclub 31/10/02
- Live Sessions 1999-2001
- Alternative Versions, Remixes and Cover Versions
- Demo's 1997-99
- Live at the Peveril Hotel
- Demos Volume II
- Live at Glastonbury 2008