This Heat
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1976 in Camberwell, London, England |
| Founder | Charles Bullen, Charles Hayward, Gareth Williams |
| Headquarters | London , England |
| Products | Experimental rock music, albums, EPs |
This Heat was an English experimental rock group established in 1976 in Camberwell, London by multi-instrumentalists Charles Bullen (guitar, clarinet, viola, vocals, tapes), Charles Hayward (drums, keyboards, vocals, tapes), and Gareth Williams (keyboard, guitar, bass, vocals, tapes).
Emerging during the British punk rock surge, This Heat set themselves apart through a bold and avant-garde approach. Although their commercial impact was modest, their original output consisted of two albums and an EP. Their work significantly influenced genres including post-punk, industrial music, and post-rock.
Williams passed away from cancer in 2001. Between 2016 and 2019, Bullen and Hayward reunited under the name This Is Not This Heat.
History
The formation of This Heat occurred in 1976 when Charles Hayward and Charles Bullen—who had previously collaborated in several London improvisational ensembles and toured with Quiet Sun—opted to continue their partnership after Quiet Sun disbanded. They were soon joined by Gareth Williams, a visual artist whose natural sensitivity to sound complemented the band despite his lack of formal musical training. Initially performing under the name Friendly Rifles, they played their debut show in February 1976 before changing their name to This Heat, inspired by the intense British heatwave of that year.
Their first radio broadcast came in early 1977 through DJ John Peel, following a demo recorded at Hayward’s parents’ residence. The band then transformed an old meat pie factory cold storage facility in Brixton into a recording studio. Their self-titled debut album, recorded between 1976 and 1978 at various locations, was released in August 1979. It featured complex tape manipulation and looping techniques combined with live recordings to produce layered electronic soundscapes. Choosing to preserve artistic independence, they declined offers from major labels and instead released the album via David Cunningham’s independent label Piano. The following EP Health and Efficiency suggested a shift toward a more rock-based sound.
After signing with Rough Trade Records, This Heat released their sophomore album Deceit in 1981. While maintaining experimental aspects, this record introduced more defined song structures alongside dub and world music influences, benefiting from production input by reggae mixer Martin Frederick. Although initially underperforming commercially, Deceit has since been recognized as a seminal post-punk work. By this stage, Williams had departed to study kathakali in India.
The group dissolved in 1982 following their last European tour, which included new members Trefor Goronwy (bass/vocals) and Ian Hill (keyboards). After the split, Hayward formed Camberwell Now and continued his musical pursuits; Bullen engaged in Lifetones collaborations and solo projects under Circadian Rhythms; Williams founded Flaming Tunes.
In 1993, previously unreleased ambient recordings were issued on Repeat. In 2006, the box set Out of Cold Storage compiled their official catalogue on This is!, a Recommended Records imprint created by Hayward and Bullen.
Williams’s death in December 2001 ended preliminary reunion discussions. However, in 2016 Bullen and Hayward reassembled as This Is Not This Heat for critically praised performances featuring guest musicians such as Thurston Moore and Alexis Taylor. These activities extended until 2019 with concerts held in London, New York, and Los Angeles.
In August 2020, This Heat made portions of their catalogue available digitally on streaming services including Bandcamp.
Impact
Numerous musicians and bands have acknowledged This Heat as a significant influence or one of their preferred groups, including Steve Albini, Alexis Taylor, Dan Snaith, Avey Tare, Amen Dunes, Women, Preoccupations, Nurse With Wound, Palm, Squid, Mark Stewart, The Dead C, Daniel O'Sullivan, Dean Blunt, Disco Inferno, Elias Rønnenfelt, Marc Hollander, Family Fodder, Matt Johnson, 23 Skidoo, David Grubbs, Volcano the Bear, Dazzling Killmen, Nisennenmondai, Korekyojinn, Steven Wilson, The Sound of Animals Fighting, Yoshida Tatsuya, 75 Dollar Bill, Horse Lords, Mika Taanila, FRIGS, Warm Ghost, Justin Pearson, Bo Ningen, Pinkish Black, Young Knives, AIDS Wolf, Controlled Bleeding, These New Puritans, Eyeless in Gaza, Six Finger Satellite, Trans Am, Dave Kerman, Guapo, Chrome Hoof, Ut, and Heiner Goebbels.
Music critics have also highlighted This Heat’s role in shaping the sound of influential artists such as Sonic Youth, Glenn Branca, Public Image Ltd., Radiohead, Swans, Black Dice, Stereolab, Gang Gang Dance, Lightning Bolt, C. Spencer Yeh, and bands like Liars and modern experimental or post-rock groups including the likes of Black Midi.
Studio albums
EPs
- Health and Efficiency (1980)
- The Peel Sessions (1988)
Live recordings
- This Heat Live (1986; cassette-only release featuring the 1980 concert in Krefeld)
- Scala (2006; bootleg capturing a 1979 London performance)
- Final Revelations (2007; includes the last 1982 concert plus individual solo works from band members)
- Live at I.C.A. Club 1980 (2007; bootleg documenting a show at London's Institute of Contemporary Arts)
Compilation albums
- Made Available: John Peel Sessions (1996; reissued version of The Peel Sessions with additional tracks)
- Out of Cold Storage (2006; comprehensive 6-CD collection)
Appearances on various artist compilations
- Recommended Records Sampler (1982)
Additional releases
- This Heat with Mario Boyer Diekuuroh (1982; split cassette shared with Albert Marcoeur)
- Repeat (1993)
- John Peel Shows (2005; bootleg featuring 1977 demos that previewed their debut album)
- Face Hand Shy: Rarities (2006; collection including Peel demos, "Health & Efficiency," tracks with Mario Boyer Diekuuroh, and various undated live performances)