Sleeper (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Headquarters | London , England |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Sleeper is a rock band originating from London, England, established in 1992. Throughout the 1990s, they secured eight singles within the UK top 40 and released three albums that reached the UK top 10. Their tracks were featured on the soundtrack of the iconic film Trainspotting. The group disbanded in 1998 but later reunited in 2017.
Initial three albums (1992–1998)
Jon Stewart and Louise Wener first crossed paths at Manchester University in 1987. After completing their studies in 1988, they relocated to London to focus on their musical ambitions. While their early influences included bands like the Sundays, their style gradually incorporated elements from American acts such as Hole, Nirvana, and the Pixies. Following an advertisement in Melody Maker seeking band members, Diid Osman and Andy Maclure joined the lineup. To attract label attention, Wener creatively distributed a fabricated review purportedly from NME as a promotional strategy.
Originally called Surrender Dorothy, the band adopted the name "Sleeper," inspired by Woody Allen's film Sleeper, a title chosen for its layered connotations including the idea of an unexpected success. In 1993, Sleeper signed with Indolent Records, an imprint of RCA Records, releasing three EPs and singles before breaking through with "Inbetweener", whose music video featured UK television figure Dale Winton. Prior to this single’s release, Sleeper supported Blur during their Parklife tour, cementing their association with the Britpop genre.
Their debut album, Smart, earned a gold certification from the BPI for sales exceeding 100,000 copies. This was succeeded by The It Girl, which achieved platinum status and spawned four singles that reached the UK top 20: "What Do I Do Now?", "Nice Guy Eddie", "Sale of the Century", and "Statuesque". Sleeper also recorded a cover of Blondie’s "Atomic" for the Trainspotting soundtrack after obtaining rights to re-record it due to unavailability of the original; additionally, "Statuesque" was included on that soundtrack. Their third studio effort, Pleased to Meet You (1997), reached the UK Top 10 and received silver certification but experienced lower sales compared to previous albums. The band dissolved in March 1998 following a tour affected by cancelled or reduced-capacity shows attributed to declining ticket sales.
After disbandment (1999–2016)
Following Sleeper’s breakup, Wener and Maclure embarked on a new project aimed at mainstream appeal, which included a guest spot by George Michael, though it ultimately remained unfinished. Wener went on to establish herself as a novelist, releasing her fourth book with Hodder & Stoughton in 2008 and appearing in John Dower’s Britpop documentary Live Forever in 2003.
Stewart moved to Los Angeles where he played with UFO Bro and contributed as a session guitarist on k.d. lang’s Invincible Summer (2000) and Melanie C’s Reason. Upon returning to the UK, he took on the role of Course Leader for the BA (Hons) Music Business program and lectured at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute in Brighton, mentoring artists such as The Kooks, James Bay, and Black Honey. Between 2002 and 2010, he authored a monthly column for Guitarist. Stewart earned a PhD in Music from the University of Southampton in 2018. In 2019, he joined The Wedding Present as guitarist for their thirtieth anniversary tour promoting Bizarro.
Osman transitioned from session work with Parlophone’s Dubstar to artist management roles, overseeing acts including My Vitriol, Hell Is For Heroes under EMI, and The Glitterati signed to Atlantic Records. He also played a part in securing a publishing deal for songwriter-producer Justin Parker with Sony Music. Maclure co-founded "Punk Rock Karaoke" alongside DJ Steve Lamacq.
A greatest hits collection personally curated and designed by Sleeper was issued by Sony/BMG in 2007. Deluxe editions of their first two albums featuring B-sides and live recordings were re-released on 29 November 2010.
By 2014, Wener and MacLure had formed another band named Huge Advance, performing locally around their Crouch End neighborhood.
Reunion (2017–present)
In 2017, Sleeper reunited for a brief series of four UK concerts as part of the Star Shaped Festival, sharing the lineup with Britpop contemporaries such as Space, Dodgy, and The Bluetones. Original members Wener, Maclure, and Stewart were joined by Kieron Pepper, who previously served as The Prodigy's live drummer, taking on bass duties. This reunion paved the way for a more extensive eleven-date UK headline tour in spring 2018.
By summer 2018, the band revealed plans for a new album produced once again by longtime collaborator Stephen Street, with a release slated for early 2019 alongside an additional UK tour. The album's lead single, "Look at You Now," debuted on BBC Radio 6 Music in December 2018. The full album was subsequently titled The Modern Age.
In December 2020, Wener and Maclure curated a collection of previously unreleased tracks—including a collaboration with George Michael—combined with fresh material to form the album This Time Tomorrow, which officially launched on 14 December 2020.
Sleeper contributed vocals to "Bad Things," an indie-pop song with R&B influences by Greater Manchester’s The Lottery Winners, featuring Louise Wener’s voice. This track was included in The Lottery Winners’ eight-song EP Start Again released in 2021.
During spring 2022, Sleeper toured the UK performing their 1996 record The It Girl in full, supported by The Lottery Winners. In 2023, they embarked on an acoustic tour across the UK named 'Sleeper unplugged'.
Image
As a prominent figurehead of Britpop's female artists and a lasting sex symbol, Louise Wener stood alongside Elastica's Justine Frischmann at the forefront of the movement. She consistently ranked highly in Melody Maker and NME polls for "Sexiest Woman" over two consecutive years. Wener received widespread media attention including an NME cover feature and appearances as a guest presenter on Top of the Pops. The band also made multiple appearances on shows like The Word (TV series) and TFI Friday. According to Billboard, Wener's candid commentary on topics such as female sexuality and censorship provided valuable content for feature editors.
The term "Sleeperbloke" emerged from music press to describe the contrast between Wener’s glamorous image and her comparatively low-profile male bandmates. This phrase was adopted humorously by Sleeper themselves; they produced a "Sleeperbloke" T-shirt alongside Wener’s "Another Female Fronted Band" T-shirt, both of which enjoyed strong sales.
Members
Current
- Louise Wener – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1993–1998, 2017–present)
- Jon Stewart – lead guitar (1993–1998, 2017–present)
- Andy Maclure – drums (1993–1998, 2017–present)
- Kieron Pepper – bass guitar (2017–present)
Former
- Diid Osman – bass guitar (1993–1997)
- Chris Giammalvo – bass guitar (1997)
- Dan Kaufmann – bass guitar (1997–1998)
Studio albums
| Album | Release Details | Peak Chart Positions | Certifications | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | |||||||||||||
| Smart |
Reissued in 2011 as an expanded two-CD edition via Cherry Red Records |
5 |
| ||||||||||
| The It Girl |
Also reissued in a two-CD expanded edition by Cherry Red Records in 2011 |
5 |
| ||||||||||
| Pleased to Meet You |
|
7 |
| ||||||||||
| The Modern Age |
|
18 | |||||||||||
| This Time Tomorrow |
|
— | |||||||||||
| "—" indicates albums that did not chart or were not released in that region. | |||||||||||||
Compilation albums
| Album Title | Information |
|---|---|
| Greatest Hits |
|
| Inbetweener – The Best of Sleeper |
|
| Live at the BBC |
|
| The It Girl – B Sides & Demos |
|
| Live It Girl – Anniversary Tour |
|
Singles
| Single Title | Release Year | Label / Catalog Code | Highest Chart Position | Album Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | ||||
| Alice EP | 1993 | Indolent (SLEEP001) | 126 | Smart |
| "Swallow" | 1994 | Indolent (SLEEP002) | 76 | |
| "Delicious" | Indolent (SLEEP003) | 75 | ||
| Bucket & Spade (mail order live EP) | Indolent (SLEEP004) | — | ||
| Georgeous and Fully Equipped (fan club sampler) | Indolent (SLEEP005) | — | ||
| "Inbetweener" | 1995 | Indolent (SLEEP006) | 16 | |
| "Vegas" | Indolent (SLEEP008) | 33 | ||
| "What Do I Do Now?" | Indolent (SLEEP009) / (SLEEP010) | 14 | The It Girl | |
| "Sale of the Century" | 1996 | Indolent (SLEEP011) | 10 | |
| "Nice Guy Eddie" | Indolent (SLEEP013) | 10 | ||
| "Statuesque" | Indolent (SLEEP014) | 17 | ||
| "She's a Good Girl" | 1997 | Indolent (SLEEP015) | 28 | Pleased to Meet You |
| "Romeo Me" | Indolent (SLEEP017) | 39 | ||
| "Look at You Now" | 2018 | Gorsky Records (SLEEP018) | — | The Modern Age |
| "The Sun Also Rises" | 2019 | Gorsky Records (SLEEP020) | — | |
| "More Than I Do" (digital only) | Gorsky Records | — | ||
| "Live at the Ritz" | Gorsky Records (SLEEP021) | — | ||
| "Vegas 2020" (digital only) | 2020 | Gorsky Records | — | |
| "We Should Be Together" (digital only) | 2021 | Gorsky Records |
— |
This Time Tomorrow |
Additional Appearances
| Track | Release Year | Compilation or Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Pyrotechnician (I Think I Love You)" (demo) | 1995 | Sharks Patrol These Waters: The Best of Volume, Pt. II |
| "Bedside Manners" (live at London Astoria) | Home Truths | |
| "Disco Duncan" (Peel session) | ...Hold On (BBC Radio 1FM Sessions) | |
| "Atomic" | 1996 | Trainspotting: Music from the Motion Picture |
| "Sale of the Century" (live at BBC Sound City) | Radio One Sound City Leeds 1996 | |
| "The Other End of the Telescope" | "All This Useless Beauty" single | |
| "Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" (with David Gedge) | 2020 | Not from Where I'm Standing |
| "Bad Things" (collaboration with The Lottery Winners) | 2021 | Something to Leave the House For |
Video Releases
| Song Title | Year Released | Video Director |
|---|---|---|
| "Delicious" | 1994 | unknown |
| "Inbetweener" (UK Version) | 1995 | Nick Egan |
| "Inbetweener" (US Version) | unknown | |
| "Vegas" | ||
| "What Do I Do Now?" | Lindy Heymann | |
| "Sale of the Century" | 1996 | Nic Goffey and Dominic Hawley |
| "Nice Guy Eddie" | Garth Jennings | |
| "Statuesque" | unknown | |
| "She's a Good Girl" | 1997 | |
| "Romeo Me" | ||
| "Look at You Now" | 2019 | |
| "The Sun Also Rises" | ||
| "More Than I Do" | ||
| "Tell Me Where You're Going" | 2021 | Keith Davey |