A Witness is a British rock band formed in 1982 in Stockport , Cheshire , England . At first, the group included only Rick Aitken ( English Rick Aitken , guitar) and Vince Hunt ( English Vince Hunt , bass), who used a drum machine. [1] Later they were joined by Alan Brown (ex- Big Flame ), Kate Curtis (vocals) and Noel Kilbride (guitar). [2]
| A witness | |
|---|---|
| Genres | postpunk alternative rock indie rock |
| Years | 1982 - 1989 |
| A country |  Great Britain |
| City | Stockport , England |
| Where from | |
| Labels | Ron johnson records Communion records Vinyl Drip Records Strange fruit records |
| Former the participants | Rick aitken Keith curtis Vince hunt Alan brown Noel Kilbride |
| Other projects | The membranes |
| www.awitness.co.uk | |
A Witness performed a post-punk , marked by the influence of Captain Beefhart , whose characteristics were (according to Sounds , “thundering, ruthless rhythms and sharp, intricate lyrics.” [3] The group was among those who formed the so-called Ron Johnson Sound - “signature” , the recognizable sound of the label Ron Johnson Records , with which they signed in 1984 .
“A Witness was one of the key underground bands of the mid-80s on the record for one of the key underground labels, Ron Johnson. Supported by John Peel (like all the bands working on this field), they created classical songs that shone brightly like stars, ”wrote John Robb in his book Death to Trad Rock (2008). [four]
Content
Group History
A Witness debuted with Loudhailer Songs EP (1984), which received a good press and rose to # 9 in the UK Indie Charts. [3] John Peel immediately invited the band to his Peel Session, and Belgian promoter Allen Bolle organized her first European concerts. Throughout 1985, the group toured extensively throughout Britain, recording also the second session with Peel [2] .
The C86 cassette, released as an application to the NME , which included the Sharpened Sticks track, also attracted general attention to the group. [five]
In October 1986, I Am John's Pancreas debuted album (# 18 UK Indie Chart), recorded in Leeds for six months and marked the group’s transition to more sophisticated music, highlighting the original sound structures of guitarist Rick Aitken. [2] The group released two more 12 "singles on Ron Johnson Records, after which it was left without a contract: the label closed. In 1988, Communion Records released the US Sacred Cow Heart .
In 1989, Rick Aitken died in the mountains; the group announced the termination of its activities. The third and fourth radio sessions recorded by A Witness for the John Peel program came out under the cover of The Peel Sessions. The final release of the team was the single "I Love You Mr. Disposable Razors ”, dedicated to the memory of the deceased guitarist; he was released in November 1989 on Vinyl Drip Records .
After the collapse
Kate Curtis joined The Membranes (where he played the guitar), then became the Goldblade bass player.
Hunt became a member of Marshall Smith , a group that also included Alan Brown ( Big Flame and Darren Garrett. He later released three critically acclaimed atmospheric rock albums: Pure Sound (Yukon, 2006), Submarine , 2007), Acts of New Noise (2008).
In 1990, Through the Looking Glass 1966 , released by Imaginary Records, introduced the Beatle cover “Tomorrow Never Knows” by A Witness. In the collection of the same series Through The Looking Glass 1967 (1990), they included their version of “Break on Through (To the Other Side),” the song The Doors . [five]
Place in History
In 2008, the work of A Witness and their like-minded people from Ron Johnson became the subject of research by journalist and musician John Robb. His book Death to Trad Rock, released by Cherry Red , focuses on the British independent underground scene of the mid-1980s, which laid the foundations for modern indie rock.
"Sharpened Sticks" became the main treasure of the "cassette" C86, which proclaimed the birth of the <new scene>. “I Am John's Pancreas” is a classic album of distinctly North English origin. And their last single “I Love You, Mr Disposable Razors” of 1989 - an example of vibrant, pop music that rises above time - could give the group a hit if it were not for the death of guitarist Rick Aitken ... Teenagers, and indeed everyone who loves music, they are simply obliged to find A Witness. They wrote inspirational and inspirational songs about real life and people who lived nearby, creating disarming melodies for which it was impossible not to dance. [4] - John Robb, Death to Trad Rock, 2008
Discography
Albums
- I Am John's Pancreas (1986, Ron Johnson, LP, ZRON 12) (2006, Euphonium, CD, EUPH001) UK Indie # 18
- The Peel Sessions (1989, Strange Fruit, LP / CD, SFPMA 206)
Collections
- Threaphurst Lane: The Best Of A Witness (2002, Overground, CD, OVERVPCD88)
Contributing to
- Sacred Cow Heart (1986, Communion, LP / C, COMM003 / C)
- Through The Looking Glass 1966 (Tomorrow Never Knows, Imaginary Records ILLUSION 023, 1990)
- Through The Looking Glass 1967 (“Break On Through”, Imaginary Records ILLUSION 010, 1990)
- Manchester, So Much To Answer For (“I Love You, Mr Disposable Razors”, Strange Fruit Records SFR 202, 1990).
EPs / Singles
- "Loudhailer Songs" (1984, Ron Johnson, 12 ", ZRON 5) UK Indie # 9
- "Red Snake" (1987, Ron Johnson, 12 ", ZRON26)
- "I Love You Mr. Disposable Razors "(1989, Vinyl Drip, 12", SUK 010) [6]
Notes
- ↑ Strong, Martin C. The Great Alternative & Indie Discography. - Canongate, 1999. - ISBN 0-86241-913-1 .
- ↑ 1 2 3 Biography (inaccessible link) . - www.euphoniumrecords.com. Date of treatment December 14, 2009. Archived May 19, 2007.
- ↑ 1 2 A> A Witness (inaccessible link) . - UK Indie Hits. www.cherryred.co.uk. Date of treatment December 14, 2009. Archived April 9, 2001.
- ↑ 1 2 John Robb. Death to Trad Rock . www.awitness.co.uk. Date of treatment December 14, 2009. Archived April 12, 2012.
- ↑ 1 2 Larkin, Colin. The Guinness Who's Who of Indie and New Wave Music. - Guinness Publishing, 1992. - ISBN 0-85112-579-4 .
- ↑ Discography . - www.awitness.co.uk. Date of treatment December 14, 2009. Archived April 12, 2012.