Ultra (British band)
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | mid-1990s |
| Founder | James Hearn, Michael Harwood, Jon O'Mahony, James Rose (later replaced by Nick Keynes) |
| Defunct | 2001 (initial disbandment), 2006 (final disbandment) |
| Successor | Rider (some members formed this group) |
| Headquarters | Buckinghamshire , United Kingdom |
Key people | James Hearn, Michael Harwood, Jon O'Mahony, Nick Keynes |
| Products | Pop music albums and singles |
| Parent | Goldust Productions (for second album) |
Ultra—also recognized as Rider—was a British pop ensemble that reached the height of its popularity during the late 1990s. The founding members consisted of James Hearn (lead vocals), Michael Harwood (guitar and vocals), Jon O'Mahony (drums and vocals), and Nick Keynes (bass guitar and vocals).
Formation and Beginnings
Originating in the mid-1990s, Ultra was established by school friends James Hearn, James Rose, Michael Harwood, and Jon O'Mahony from Buckinghamshire. Following their school years, they performed under various band names such as Stepping Stoned, Decade, and Suburban Surfers before settling on Ultra, a name inspired by the Depeche Mode album. Nick Keynes later joined the group as bassist, replacing Rose; his introduction came through mutual acquaintance Neil Cowley of the Brand New Heavies.
Commercial Breakthrough
Their demo attracted the attention of Ian Stanley (formerly of Tears for Fears), resulting in a contract with Warner's EastWest label. In 1998, they launched their debut single, "Say You Do," penned by Hearn, which climbed to number 11 on the UK charts. Subsequent singles "Say It Once" and "The Right Time" reached positions 16 and 28 respectively. Their fourth release, "Rescue Me," became their sole UK top 10 entry, peaking at number 8. Their self-titled debut album debuted at number 37 on the UK Albums Chart in February 1999.
Ultra cultivated a devoted young female fanbase but emphasized that their achievements were rooted in their music rather than image alone. They toured extensively, supporting acts such as Irish boyband Boyzone, former Eternal member Louise Nurding at Wembley, and boyband 911. Their popularity also extended internationally to regions including Southeast Asia and Italy, where they drew thousands to events like a record signing in Milan.
In 1999, Ultra performed "Say It Once" live on Italian television alongside singer Laura Pausini.
Disbandment
Before completing a follow-up album, Ultra lost their recording contract after the departure of the A&R team responsible for signing them; the incoming management opted not to continue with the group. The band dissolved in 2001 when James Hearn grew disenchanted with the music industry and decided to leave. Reflecting on his experience with Ultra, Hearn described it as "great fun," highlighting it as a venture among university friends aiming for musical success.
By 2015, James Hearn had moved into a career in investment banking.
Reunion
The original four members reunited in 2005 to compose and record their second studio album, The Sun Shines Brighter, which included songwriting and vocal contributions from Alistair Griffin. Production was handled by Ian Stanley (who produced their debut), Claudio Guidetti (known for work with Laura Pausini and Eros Ramazzotti), and Ash Howes (associated with Texas and Blue). This album was released on 2 October 2006 under the Goldust label.
Rider
After Ultra's initial disbandment, some members formed a new group called Rider that featured various temporary singers such as Ryan Molloy. Vocalists including Alistair Griffin and James Fox also participated briefly.
In 2002, several former Ultra members collaborated with football personality Terry Venables to produce "England Crazy," a one-time World Cup single released under the name 'Rider'. Signed once again to East West Records, the single peaked at number 46 on the UK charts but suffered from minimal promotional support by the label. Since then, it has been included in numerous football-themed compilation albums.
Goldust Productions
Goldust Productions was established by O'Mahony, Harwood, and Keynes, specializing in songwriting and production for artists including Bryan Adams, Kylie Minogue, Natasha Bedingfield, Phixx, and Liberty X. Their work also encompasses creating title songs for movies such as Modigliani and The Magic Roundabout.
Albums
| Album Title | Release Information | Highest Chart Positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | AUS | ||
| Ultra |
|
37 | 34 |
| The Sun Shines Brighter |
|
— | — |
Singles
| Single Title | Release Year | Highest Chart Positions | Certification | Associated Album | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | AUS | NZ | |||||||||||||||||
| "Say You Do" | 1998 | 11 | 58 | 18 | Ultra | ||||||||||||||
| "Say It Once" | 16 | 4 | 8 |
| |||||||||||||||
| "The Right Time" | 28 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| "Rescue Me" | 1999 | 8 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| "Blind to the Groove" | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| "—" indicates singles that either did not chart or were not officially released. | |||||||||||||||||||