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That Petrol Emotion

From Alfawiki
That Petrol Emotion
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1984
Headquarters
London
,
United Kingdom
ProductsMusic albums, singles

That Petrol Emotion was a rock group originating from London, established in 1984 by musicians from Northern Ireland alongside an American lead singer. Between 1986 and 1994, they issued five albums that fused elements of indie rock, post-punk, garage rock, and dance-punk. Their musical style foreshadowed both the dance-pop wave of the early 1990s and the post-punk revival movement of the early 2000s. Rolling Stone characterized them as a blend of "The Clash with Creedence", while the New York Times likened them to "a young Rolling Stones combined with an energized Television." After a fourteen-year break, the band reunited for touring and festival performances from 2008 until 2010, before entering another period of inactivity.

Origins and first single

Following the dissolution of the pop-punk outfit the Undertones, former guitarist and chief songwriter John O'Neill relocated to Derry and collaborated with guitarist Raymond Gorman (previously with Bam Bam and the Calling) to DJ at the Left Bank club. Motivated by the music they spun, they initiated a songwriting venture that gradually transformed into a full band, initially utilizing a drum machine and featuring Gorman’s then-partner as vocalist. Drummer Ciaran McLaughlin, who had a brief tenure with the Undertones, soon joined. In late 1984, the trio shifted base to London, where John's brother Damian O'Neill, formerly lead guitarist for the Undertones, joined and took on bass duties. The lineup was finalized after recruiting Seattle-born American vocalist Steve Mack, who was then employed at a London pizzeria. In 2020, comedian Paul Whitehouse disclosed that he had unsuccessfully tried out for the group during this time.

The band signed with independent label Pink Label and launched their debut single, "Keen", in July 1985. Drawing inspiration from artists ranging from the Beatles to Afrika Bambaataa and Can, That Petrol Emotion crafted a sound that was darker and more intense than that of the Undertones. Their lyrics were notably more politically charged, addressing themes connected to the Troubles, with Irish members using their original Gaelic names on album artwork. Gorman described their music as "the Undertones after discovering literature, politics, and drugs, with many more dancing fans." While John O'Neill remained the main songwriter, contributions came from all members.

Manic Pop Thrill and Babble

Throughout 1985, That Petrol Emotion built their reputation by playing small venues and gaining traction in pubs while releasing a second single, "V2", through their own short-lived label Noiseanoise. Upon signing with Demon Records, they released their first album, Manic Pop Thrill, in 1986; it reached number one on the UK indie chart and received enthusiastic critical acclaim, especially from Undertones supporter John Peel.

In 1987, they debuted on a major label via Polydor Records with their sophomore album, Babble. This release broke into the mainstream UK albums chart, garnered widespread praise, was selected as one of Rolling Stone’s albums of the year, and earned an A-minus rating from critic Robert Christgau. The track "Big Decision" became their highest-charting single at number 42 in the UK. The back cover of this single included text condemning the use of Diplock courts in Northern Ireland, reflecting an intensified political message within their work. Gorman later explained that their lyrical focus centered on civil rights issues related to Northern Ireland's conflict, prioritizing political concerns over purely musical ones.

Their 1987 non-album release "Genius Move" was banned by the BBC due to its sleeve artwork referencing Sinn Féin politician Gerry Adams, a contentious figure in UK media at that time. Gorman acknowledged that this reference was unintentional and expressed regret over its negative effect on the band's exposure.

By then, That Petrol Emotion had gained admiration from prominent alternative rock artists like Robert Smith of the Cure and Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins. However, a lack of further chart success led to strained relations with Polydor following changes in management. Taking advantage of a contractual loophole, the band exited Polydor and swiftly secured a deal with Virgin Records.

Lineup changes: End of the Millennium Psychosis Blues and Chemicrazy

Prior to beginning their third studio album, John O'Neill declared his intention to leave the band. Although he remained to finalize the recording sessions, the atmosphere was strained. Gorman later described O'Neill's departure as "a total shock," admitting that the group should have moved forward without him earlier due to the increasingly unhealthy environment.

Issued in 1988, End of the Millennium Psychosis Blues perplexed both critics and listeners with its wide-ranging styles, incorporating dance tracks ("Groove Check", "Tension"), alternative rock ("Goggle Box"), Celtic-inspired ballads ("Cellophane"), and indie tunes ("Sooner or Later"). This stylistic variety impeded its ability to break into the mainstream at the time. Nevertheless, it has retrospectively been acknowledged as pioneering, influencing the Madchester indie-dance movement by fusing elements of indie rock with dance and funk.

Following a tour supporting this album, O'Neill officially exited in October 1988, triggering a reorganization of band members. McLaughlin and Gorman assumed primary songwriting responsibilities, while John Marchini joined on bass, enabling Damian O'Neill to focus on guitar alongside Gorman. This revamped lineup produced 1990’s Chemicrazy, with production by Scott Litt. The album showcased a more direct rock approach with pop sensibilities evident in singles such as "Sensitize", "Hey Venus", and "Tingle". Despite hopes for greater success, Chemicrazy reached only number 62 on UK charts, resulting in Virgin Records dropping the band.

Autonomy: Fireproof and dissolution

Following the Chemicrazy tour, That Petrol Emotion parted company with Marchini and recruited Belfast native Brendan Kelly on bass. The group established their own label, Koogat, under which they released their fifth album, Fireproof, in 1993. Mirroring their debut's success, Fireproof topped the UK Indie Chart. Despite favorable reviews and a devoted fanbase cultivated over ten years, TPE found it difficult to match the commercial achievements of peers like My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth. As a result, they amicably disbanded in 1994. A documentary capturing their final performances in London and Dublin was released posthumously in 2000 titled Final Flame (Fire, Detonation and Sublime Chaos).

After the breakup, McLaughlin briefly explored jazz before embarking on a solo career as a singer-songwriter. Mack returned to Seattle, joining Cantona as bassist before forming Anodyne with Harris Thurmond; their album Tensor was released in 1998. Due to naming conflicts in Europe, Anodyne was renamed Marfa Lights for those markets. Gorman, Kelly, and Damian O'Neill created Wavewalkers in 1996, performing six shows before disbanding; Gorman later revived this name for his solo projects. In 2000, Damian O'Neill issued the single "Higher Grace" under the moniker X-Valdez and later signed with Alan McGee’s Poptones label to release experimental electronic music as A Quiet Revolution. John O'Neill had initiated Northern Irish trip hop group Rare in 1990, scoring a hit with "Something Wild" in 1996 and releasing their album Peoplefreak in 1998.

In November 1999, the O'Neill brothers reunited within a new iteration of the Undertones (absent original vocalist Feargal Sharkey), continuing to perform live and record new material.

Reunion

On 26 March 2008, Mack revealed that That Petrol Emotion would reunite with the Fireproof lineup for live shows scheduled later that year. In August 2008, they appeared at The Boston Arms in London and the Spirit Store in Dundalk, followed by a performance at the Electric Picnic festival held in Stradbally, Ireland.

By March 2009, the group had played at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, and announced a UK tour for July. This included appearances at the Hop Farm Festival in Kent, Oxegen Festival in Ireland, and T in the Park in Scotland. They concluded 2009 with a show at All Tomorrow's Parties' Nightmare Before Christmas festival, curated by My Bloody Valentine, and proceeded with additional dates across the UK and US.

Hiatus (2010-present) and spinoff band The Everlasting Yeah (2012-present)

That Petrol Emotion entered an indefinite hiatus starting in 2010 as Mack stayed in Seattle to prioritize family responsibilities. Meanwhile, Gorman, Kelly, McLaughlin, and Damian O'Neill initially planned to keep the band active but instead formed The Everlasting Yeah in 2012, exploring Krautrock-inspired sounds. Their first performance supported The June Brides in London, and their album Anima Rising was released through their own label Infinite Thrill in 2014.

Damian O'Neill also launched a new project, Damian O'Neill and the Monotones, releasing Refit Revise Reprise in 2018 via crowdfunding efforts.

In 2022, Edsel, a sublabel of Demon, issued a comprehensive box set titled "Every Beginning Has a Future: An Anthology 1984–1994," which compiles all studio albums along with most b-sides and remixes as bonus content.

Legacy

The band's output continues to receive high praise from music critics. Despite not securing significant chart positions or commercial sales, That Petrol Emotion played a pivotal role influencing the Madchester and Britpop scenes. Their impact is evident on artists such as The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Manic Street Preachers, Andrew Bird, Spoon, Blur, and Radiohead. They have been recognized for mastering "the art of the scuzzed up alternative pop song" throughout the 1980s.

Albums

Singles and EPs

  • "Keen" (The Pink Label - July 1985)
  • "V2" (Noiseanoise - September 1985)
  • "It's a Good Thing" (Demon Records - April 1986) UK No. 160
  • "Natural Kind of Joy" (Demon Records - August 1986)
  • "Big Decision" (Polydor Records - April 1987) UK No. 43
  • "Swamp" (Polydor Records - July 1987) UK No. 64
  • "Genius Move" (Virgin Records - October 1987) UK No. 65
  • "Cellophane" (Virgin Records - September 1988) UK No. 98
  • "Groove Check" (Virgin Records - 1989) UK No. 95
  • "Abandon" (Virgin Records - March 1990) UK No. 73
  • "Hey Venus" (Virgin Records - September 1990) UK No. 49 US Modern Rock No. 9
  • "Tingle" (Virgin Records - February 1991) UK No. 49
  • "Everybody's Goin' Triple Bad Acid Yeah!"/"Big Decision (Slight Return)" (Clawfist Records - March 1991) – split single with the Membranes
  • "Sensitize" (Virgin Records - April 1991) UK No. 55
  • "Detonate My Dreams" (Koogat - 1993)
  • Catch a Fire E.P. (Koogat - 1993)

Boxed Collections

  • Every Beginning Has a Future: An Anthology 1984-1994 (Edsel - 2022)

External links

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