Symposium (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 in London, England |
| Defunct | 2000; reunited in 2022 |
| Headquarters | London , England |
| Products | Music albums, singles, live performances |
Symposium is a rock group from England, established in 1994 in London, recognized for their dynamic stage presence. Their name is inspired by the Greek word for a drinking gathering as well as Plato's philosophical dialogue. The band remained active until 2000 and reunited in 2022.
History
Originating as a school band in Shepherd's Bush, London, the members comprised Ross Cummins (lead vocals), Hagop Tchaparian (guitar and backing vocals), Joe Birch (drums), William McGonagle (guitar), and Wojtek Godzisz (vocals and songwriter). They debuted live at the Emerald Hut in Hammersmith in July 1994 and performed at multiple venues across London during 1995 before securing a contract with Infectious Records in 1996.
Their initial single, "Drink the Sunshine" (1996), received favorable attention from NME, which helped them join the "Bratbus Tour" touring UK universities. In March 1997, Melody Maker named them Britain's "best live band." Their track "Farewell to Twilight" reached number 25 on the UK singles chart, subsequently leading to a headline tour and television appearances.
October 1997 saw the release of their mini album One Day at a Time, serving as a lead-up to their full-length debut. Their album On the Outside was released in May 1998, featuring singles such as "Fairweather Friend," which earned them a spot on Top of the Pops. They opened for prominent bands including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, and No Doubt, and took part in the US Warped Tour alongside punk groups like Bad Religion and Rancid.
By late 1999, Symposium ended their association with Infectious Records. After supporting Metallica at Milton Keynes Bowl, they released "Killing Position," which marked a transition towards post-hardcore but peaked only at number 176 on the charts. Due to creative disagreements, the band dissolved in early 2000. Subsequently, McGonagle and Birch formed the post-hardcore outfit Hell Is for Heroes.
Following the split, Wojtek Godzisz embarked on a solo path with Tigertrap Records, launching his first album in 2009. Hagop Tchaparian joined Hot Chip and became involved as a music industry consultant; his debut solo album Bolts was released in October 2022.
2022 onwards
On 22 April 2022, Symposium revealed via their Facebook page that both One Day at a Time and On the Outside were accessible on all streaming services. A compilation titled Do You Remember How It Was? was slated for release on 11 November 2022. On 19 May 2022, Ross, Wojtek, Will, and Joe took part in a Q&A session at Signature Brew in Haggerston, hosted by Phil Alexander of Kerrang!. They also announced a one-off live performance at Islington Assembly Hall scheduled for November 2022.
In 2023, Symposium performed two sold-out concerts: one at Manchester Academy on 16 November and another at London's Electric Ballroom on 18 November.
Members
- Ross Cummins – lead vocals
- Wojtek Godzisz – vocals and bass guitar
- Hagop Tchaparian – guitarist and occasional backing vocals
- William McGonagle – guitarist
- Joe Birch – drummer
Albums and EPs
| Information | Song List |
|---|---|
| One Day at a Time 8-track mini-album Release Year: 1997 Available formats: CD / 12" Record Label: Infectious Records Peak Position on UK Albums Chart: 29
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| On the Outside Release Year: 1998 Formats: CD / 12" / Cassette Label: Infectious Chart Peak in UK Albums Chart: 32
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| On the BBC Live Compilation Album Year Released: 1999 Format Available: CD Label: Strange Fruit Records
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Singles
| Year | Title | Album | UK Singles Chart |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | "Drink the Sunshine" | One Day at a Time | 94 |
| 1997 | "Farewell to Twilight" | 25 | |
| "The Answer to Why I Hate You" | On the Outside | 32 | |
| "Fairweather Friend" | One Day at a Time | 25 | |
| "Drink the Sunshine" / "Fizzy" (Limited Edition) | 89 | ||
| 1998 | "Average Man" | — | 45 |
| "Bury You" | On the Outside | 41 | |
| "Blue" | 48 | ||
| 1999 | "Killing Position" | — | 176 |