Whiteout (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1991 in Greenock, Scotland |
| Defunct | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Greenock , Scotland |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
Whiteout was a rock band originating from Greenock, Scotland, recognized primarily for their popular track "Jackie's Racing". The band's definitive lineup included Andrew Caldwell on vocals, Paul Carroll handling bass duties, Eric Lindsay on guitar, and Stuart Smith playing drums. Their name alludes to the blurred vision caused by excessive alcohol consumption.
Recording
Whiteout holds the distinction of being the first guitar-driven group signed by Silvertone following the label’s breakthrough with the Stone Roses. Their principal albums consist of Bite It released in 1995 and Big Wow which came out in 1998. Their musical style combined elements of early 1970s country rock and glam rock, also drawing inspiration from the Stone Roses.
During the height of the UK Britpop movement, Whiteout achieved moderate recognition, sharing headline tours with Oasis and acting as support for bands such as The Charlatans and Pulp. They were featured as opening acts at the 1994 Glasgow Sound City event and the Phoenix festival. Singles like "Starrclub," "Detroit," and "Jackie's Racing" helped increase their visibility, particularly in Japan.
On 11 October 1994, Whiteout recorded a session for BBC Radio 1’s Peel Session, performing four songs: "Everyday," "Time and Again," "Get Me Through," and "Higher."
Disbandment
Following the release of Bite It, Andrew Caldwell departed in 1996 and was briefly succeeded by Warren McIntyre. The remaining members—Carroll, Lindsay, and McDermott—issued Big Wow in 1998, which met with largely lukewarm critical reception. Original drummer Mark Fairhurst, nicknamed 'Fudge', contributed to two tracks on the album. After adding Eric Russell on keyboards, the group ultimately disbanded around 1999.
Post-split
Since their dissolution, most recorded material has been produced by Eric Lindsay through his project called 'Eli', including the 2009 album Dreams Are The Foundations of Reality. Lindsay has also collaborated with Carroll and Russell in various configurations and is currently a guitarist in Linden, a band led by former Superstar frontman Joe McAlinden.
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions UK Albums Chart |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Bite It | 71 |
| 1998 | Big Wow | — |
Extended plays
| Year | Album | Chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | No Time | — |
| 1995 | Maximum Whiteout | — |
| 1995 | Young Tribe Rule | — |
| 1997 | Kickout | — |
Singles
| Year | A-side | B-side(s) | Chart positions UK Singles chart |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | "The Next Big Thing" | "Orange Overdrive" | — |
| 1994 | "No Time" | "U Drag Me" (version) · "Get Me Through" | 83 |
| 1994 | "Starrclub" | "Higher" · "And I Believe" | 80 |
| 1994 | "Detroit" | "Just Passin' Through, Kid" · "Dee Troyt" | 73 |
| 1994 | "Van Song" | "Rocks Off" (The Rolling Stones cover) | — |
| 1995 | "Jackie's Racing" | "Cousin Jane" · "So Confused" | 72 |