The Starlings
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Defunct | 1994 |
| Headquarters | England |
| Products | Alternative rock music |
The Starlings were an English alternative rock ensemble formed in 1989, primarily centered around New Zealand-born vocalist and guitarist Chris Sheehan. The band dissolved around the time their final EP was released. Subsequently, Sheehan produced two solo LPs under the Starlings moniker, overseeing both production and engineering independently.
History
Chris Sheehan (26 June 1965 – 18 December 2014), originally from Palmerston North, was a prominent figure within alternative rock circles. His musical journey began with New Zealand's new wave outfit The Dance Exponents, where he played from 1983 until the late 1980s. Following that band’s dissolution, Sheehan relocated to Los Angeles, contributing guitar work to Jane Wiedlin’s self-titled debut album and Curve’s inaugural EP released in 1990.
Initially formed as a quintet, Sheehan reconfigured The Starlings by maintaining drummer Barry Blackler and bringing in bassist Matt Parkin. The band's sound elicited comparisons to The Jesus and Mary Chain, and they supported Curve during their 1991 tour across the UK and Ireland. After issuing their first EP, the group secured a contract with Dave Stewart's Anxious Records. Their debut album Valid (1992) conveyed themes linked to Sheehan’s heroin detoxification experience, followed by Too Many Dogs (1994), which saw US distribution via Atlantic Records. Despite praise for its brooding and intense compositions, commercial recognition remained limited. Disputes over contracts contributed to the band's breakup in 1991 prior to completing Valid. Notably, Parkin and Blackler also served as the rhythm section for The Jesus and Mary Chain between 1991 and 1992.
After The Starlings disbanded, Sheehan worked with Babylon Zoo and The Mutton Birds before releasing solo projects Planet Painkiller (2000) and Sounds like... Chris Starling (2002). In 2002, he briefly joined The Sisters of Mercy as their rhythm guitarist.
In July 2013, Sheehan revealed his diagnosis of incurable Stage 4 metastatic nodular melanoma through Fundrazr. He passed away on 18 December 2014.
Singles
- A Letter From Heaven EP (1990), Bad Girl
- "Try" (1991), Anxious
- Safe in Heaven Dead EP (1991), Anxious
- "The Last One" (1991), Anxious
- Loch Angeles Monster EP (1994), Anxious
- "Tears Before Bedtime" (1994), Anxious/Atlantic
Chris Starling
- "Rawhide Baby" (1999), EX34
- "The Word" (1999), EX34
Albums
- Valid (1992), Anxious
- Too Many Dogs (1994), Anxious/Atlantic
- Out of the Woods (1995) – unreleased; later re-recorded and reissued by Chris Sheehan
Chris Starling
- Planet Painkiller (2000), EX34
- Sounds Like... (2002), EX34
Links