The Long Blondes

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The Long Blondes
The Long Blondes Live, 2007
The Long Blondes Live, 2007
Background information
Origin Sheffield, England
Genre(s) Indie rock
Indie pop
Post-punk revival
Years active 2004–2008
Label(s) Rough Trade
Website thelongblondes.co.uk
Members
Kate Jackson
Dorian Cox
Reenie Hollis
Emma Chaplin
Screech Louder

The Long Blondes were a five-piece English indie rock band from Sheffield, United Kingdom circa 2004. They released their debut album on Rough Trade Records named Someone to Drive You Home in November, 2006 after a string of critically-acclaimed singles. After an extended European tour, they entered the studio with DJ/producer Erol Alkan and started working on their second album in London. "Couples" was released in April 2008 in the UK.[1] On the 20th October 2008 the band announced their amicable split via a message on their website.[2]

  • Dorian Cox – lead guitar and keyboards
  • Reenie Hollis (real name Kathryn Hollis) – bass guitar and backing vocals
  • Emma Chaplin – rhythm guitar, keyboards and backing vocals
  • Kate Jackson – lead vocals
  • Screech Louder (real name Mark Turvey) [3] – drums

The band was formed in 2003 in Sheffield, UK. All the members were attending, or had attended university in the city. [4]. The following quote appeared on their website and served as an introduction to the Long Blondes; ”Our shared influences include The Mael Brothers, Marx Brothers and The Bewlay Brothers. We do not listen to The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors or Bob Dylan. We chose an instrument each and learnt to play it. Approximately three months after we formed, we played a victorious 25 minute set at Leeds Hi-Fi club. We inherit the aesthetics of early Roxy Music. We have a lot of influences, sometimes we sound a bit like them, sometimes we sound a lot like them. Sometimes we sound nothing like them at all" [5].

The original goal of The Long Blondes was to form a fantasy pop group: Nico, Nancy Sinatra, Diana Dors and Barbara Windsor. Sexy and literate, flippant and heartbreaking all at once.[6]

In 2004, The Long Blondes released 2 singles on Angular Recording Corporation based in New Cross, London. In late 2005, they released another single, "Separated by Motorways", which was released through Paul Epworth's Good & Evil label. These releases were met with a positive critical reaction.[7][8][9] In February 2006 they were recipients of the NME Philip Hall Radar Award (previously won by Franz Ferdinand and Kaiser Chiefs) and were named by The Guardian and Vogue as "the best unsigned band in the UK".[10]

On April 13, 2006 they signed to Rough Trade Records[11] and recorded their debut album, Someone to Drive You Home over the summer ready for its release on November 6. The album was produced by former Pulp bassist Steve Mackey. The album was preceded by their second single for the label, "Once and Never Again", which was released on October 23 and debuted at number 30 in the UK Singles Chart.[12] The song was named the 15th best track of 2006 by NME. In June 2006, they released their first single for the label, "Weekend Without Makeup", which reached number 28. The predominant theme of the album is relationships from a female perspective, although 10 of the tracks on the album were written by male guitarist Dorian Cox. Themes dealt with include competition between females, isolation, sexual exploration and deceit. Influences of Pulp, Elastica, Morrissey and Blondie have been frequently quoted when the album is discussed in the media.[13] The albums artwork is a painting by lead singer Kate Jackson; it is an image of Faye Dunaway in the film Bonnie and Clyde, with a Ford Cortina (Mark three) as her getaway car. They appeared at a number of UK festivals over summer 2006, including the Carling Weekend, Leicester's Summer Sundae and the Electric Picnic. In the summer of 2007, they played the Other Stage at Glastonbury and performed live at the Radar festival in Istanbul.

In October 2007, The Long Blondes started working on their second album with producer Erol Alkan in London. On December 19, 2007, it was announced that the new album's title would be "Couples". Before the album was released, all five members created their own cryptic promo videos "explaining" what the inspiration behind "Couples" was.[14] The album was released on April 7, 2008, preceded by the first single from the album "Century" which was released on March 24, 2008.[15] The album reached number 48 in the UK album chart. The album was well received by critics. Click Music for example gave the album a 4.5 out of 5 and said it was "a worthy contender for record of the year".[16] The next song to be taken off "Couples" was "Guilt" and it was a 7" only release. The video for "Guilt" is set in a dog show.[17] The band agreed to their suggestion to set the video in a dog show after receiving numerous literal interpretations of the lyrics.[18] It was accompanied by one b-side called "Melville Farr" which was based on Dirk Bogarde's character in the 1961 British film Victim.[19] On the 9 June, the band posted on their official website that Dorian had fallen ill and that he had to be rushed to hospital, which meant that they had to cancel all their live appearances until the end of July.[15] The band were due to play a support slot on Duran Duran's Red Carpet Massacre tour at the Birmingham NIA and the O2 Arena in London and on the John Peel stage at Glastonbury.

After "Couples", The band decided to release a compilation of their rare early 7" singles, which was titled "Singles" on October 20, 2008 on Angular Records.[20] The twelve-tracker collects all of the songs from the band's first four 7" vinyls, which were released by different labels including Thee Sheffield Phonographic Corporation, Filthy Little Angels and Angular Records. The version of "Separated By Motorways" differs from the vinyl version, as the group have opted to include the demo version instead. The compilation also featured one unreleased song - "Peterborough". "Singles" was named the 25th best album of 2008 by Artrocker Magazine.

On 20 October 2008, Guitarist Dorian Cox posted a message on their official website that the band had split-up. He said that the main reason for the split was because he was unsure about when he would be well enough to play the guitar again. He had suffered a stroke in June, resulting in a series of gig cancellations. Cox thanked fans for their support and goodwill. "We have decided to call it a day," he wrote. "The main reason for this is that I suffered from a stroke in June and unfortunately I do not know when/if I will be well enough to play the guitar again". He went on to say that the band would like to say a big thank you to anyone who ever came to one of our shows, bought one of our records or danced to one of our songs in a club. The announcement was made the same day their compilation "Singles" was released.

It was reported on 1 December 2008 that Cox is undergoing physiotherapy for his paralysis, and it seems as though he is still hoping to get back to playing guitar [21].

Front-woman Kate Jackson was featured in The Guardian's style section and the NME cool list, moving from 39 in 2005 to 7 in 2006. When questioned about her place in the first NME list by The Guardian, Jackson remarked "Probably because they didn't have enough girls. It was so overrun with boring boys, they needed someone to bring a touch of glamour."[22] Kate describes her style as "Bonnie Parker meets a Carry On girl".[23]

The Long Blondes' songs reflect a number of influences, including 60s pop, Buzzcocks, The Fall, Ramones, Suede, post-punk and new wave. Traces of work by another Sheffield band, Pulp can also be seen in their recordings, their debut album was produced by Steve Mackey, bassist of Pulp. Jackson's vocals have been compared to Ari Up of The Slits, Deborah Harry of Blondie and those of Au Pairs. Dorian Cox's backing vocals are also similar to those of former Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker. The music features angular guitars and prominent bass guitar lines. However, the band themselves claim somewhat more eclectic influences than their sound suggests, citing Burt Bacharach, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Chinn and Chapman, and Stock, Aitken and Waterman as influences [24]. In 2004, the band named some of their actual influences and favourite bands. Emma's were The Smiths, The Sweet and The Jesus and Mary Chain. Reenie's were Belle and Sebastian, ELO and The Eagles. Dorian's were Abba and The Fall. Screech's were Scott Walker, The Slits and Captain Beaky. And Kate's were The Smiths, The Fall and Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood.[25]

The Long Blondes' lyrics detail everyday life and relationships. For example, in "Once And Never Again", the lyric goes "I know how it feels to be your age / Oh how I'd love to feel a girl your age / Once and never again" which implies that she would not like to be nineteen again, due to the emotional turmoil that the late-teen years inevitably bring. Some people have interpreted these lines as alluding to homosexual feelings between the singer and the subject.[26]

The Long Blondes are known for referencing films, singers, starlets and artists in their music. Screech once said that Hitchcock was a big inspiration when it came to referencing films in their music, he said "the whole film noir thing is very important because it's stylish but there's depth to it as well".[27]

  • "You Could Have Both" namechecks American singer Scott Walker. The song also alludes to the Morrissey song "My Love Life", with the line "And who was it who sang, I know you love one, so why can't you love two?" referencing the line "I know that you love one, So why can't you love two?". [28] The song also mentions C.C. 'Bud' Baxter from The Apartment.
  • "Lust In The Movies" mentions underground actresses such as 60's art star Edie Sedgwick, American actress Arlene Dahl & French actress Anna Karina. Also the line Nag nag nag is a reference to a song by Sheffield band Cabaret Voltaire.[29]
  • "Long Blonde" mentions punk band Ramones.
  • "Appropriation (By Any Other Name)" is a homage to Hitchcock's 1958 film Vertigo. It has been said that the song is told from Judy's perspective, due to lines such as "When I met you, I never wore dresses like that" & "You can't have me, make me act the same". Lead singer Kate Jackson painted two different portraits for the CD single and 7" Vinyl, they both depicted Kim Novak's characters Madeleine Elster and Judy Barton [30].
  • "Darts" mentions british darts player Bobby George and darts commentator Sid Waddell.
  • "Only Lovers Left Alive" is a homage to the 1950's film From Here To Eternity.[31]
  • The two front covers of "Weekend Without Make-Up" are paintings of Diana Dors.[32][33]
  • "Madame Ray" is inspired by Lee Miller, the photographer and muse of avent-garde artist Man Ray.[34]
  • "Five Ways To End It" mentions Carry On star Hattie Jacques and also the producer of the Carry On films, Peter Rogers.
  • "I Liked The Boys" ends with "Not the most original sentiment I've ever heard, so what's new" which is a line from a radio show by Terry Wogan.[35] Whilst recording the second album, they found an old radio recording form the 50's in one of the old reel-to-reel tape recorders and decided to use parts of the show in some of their songs.[36]
  • "Round The Hairpin" begins with a line by British comedian Kenny Everett.
  • "I'm Going To Hell" ends with a line by Peter Sellers.
  • "Erin O'Connor" is a homage to Erin O'Connor which also mentions fellow model, Lily Cole. It begins with a line by Ronnie Corbett and David Swift from the BBC play No Sex Please, We're British.[36]

Before "Couples" was released, all five members created their own cryptic promo videos "explaining" what the inspiration behind "Couples" was. Kate explained who inspired the album cover, she found artist Richard Hamilton, videos by Abba, Lee Miller and Le Corbusier to be the main inspiration.[14]

Before "Couples" was released, The Long Blondes decided to preview the new album under the name The Dead Eyed Bitches. The name of the "band" is part of a lyric from "Giddy Stratospheres". They only played a handful of gigs across the UK.[37]

Reenie and Screech have a side band called The Bon Bon Club.[38] Their debut single features three cover versions—"Lullaby" by The Cure, "Love Is Blind" by Pulp and "Romantic Rights" by Death From Above 1979. It was released through Thee Sheffield Phonographic Corporation on 23 June 2008. The 7" single was limited to 500 copies.[39]

Year Album information Chart positions
UK UK Indie Chart
2006 Someone to Drive You Home 44 1
2008 "Couples" 48 2

Year Album information Chart positions
UK UK Indie Chart
2008 "Singles"

Date Single Backed with Record label UK Chart position Other details
July 2004 "New Idols" "Long Blonde" Thee Sheffield Phonographic Corporation Double A Side 7" single
September 30, 2004 "Autonomy Boy" "Long Blonde" Filthy Little Angels Split 7" single with The Boyfriends
November 29, 2004 "Giddy Stratospheres" "Polly", "Darts" Angular Recording Corporation 7" single
June 2005 "Giddy Stratospheres" "Polly", "Autonomy Boy", "Darts" What's Your Rupture? 12" EP
June 13, 2005 "Appropriation (By Any Other Name)" "My Heart Is Out of Bounds", "Lust in the Movies" Angular Recording Corporation 83 7" and CD single
December 12, 2005 "Separated By Motorways" "Big Infatuation" Good and Evil Records 7" single
June 26, 2006 "Weekend Without Makeup" "Fulwood Babylon", "Platitudes", "Last Night On Northgate Street" Rough Trade Records 28 2X7" and CD single
October 23, 2006 "Once And Never Again" "Five Ways To End It", "The Whippet Fancier", "Who Are You To Her?" Rough Trade Records 30 2X7" and CD single
February 5, 2007 "Giddy Stratospheres" "All Bar One Girls", "Never To Be Repeated", "I'm Coping" Rough Trade Records 37
 2X7" and CD single
March 24, 2008 "Century" "The Unbearable Lightness of Buildings" Rough Trade Records 7" single and download
June 30, 2008 "Guilt" "Melvin Farr", "Good As Gold", "Too Happy" Rough Trade Records 7" single and download

The Long Blondes were also known for their cheap and glamourous music videos. Their first proper music video was "Appropriation (By Any Other Name)" which was directed by Rupert Noble, a music video director they regularly made videos with after.

Date Video Director
July 2004 "New Idols" Reenie Hollis
September 2004 "Autonomy Boy" Reenie Hollis
September 2004 "Long Blonde" Reenie Hollis
November 2004 "Giddy Stratospheres" Reenie Hollis
June 2005 "Appropriation (By Any Other Name)" Rupert Noble
December 2005 "Separated By Motorways" Rupert Noble
June 2006 "Weekend Without Makeup" Gina Birch
October 2006 "Once And Never Again" Rupert Noble
February 2007 "Giddy Stratospheres" Rupert Noble
March 2008 "Century" Minsu Song
June 2008 "Guilt" Abby Warrilow

In 2006 The Long Blondes received the Philip Hall Radar Award at the NME Awards honouring rising talent, which in previous years has accurately predicted big things for Kaiser Chiefs and Franz Ferdinand.[40][41]

Year Award Category Result
2006 NME Awards Philip Hall Radar Award Won

  1. ^ http://www.thelongblondes.co.uk/news.php?page=2
  2. ^ http://www.nme.com/news/the-long-blondes/40521 The Long Blondes split up
  3. ^ "Drummer's year in the spotlight". Stourbridge News (2006-12-21). Retrieved on 2007-04-05.
  4. ^ The Long Blondes - they're so modern
  5. ^ [http://www.drownedinsound.com/bands/6660 Artists - The Long Blondes
  6. ^ The Long Blondes
  7. ^ The Long Blondes - Giddy Stratospheres
  8. ^ The Long Blondes - Appropriation (By Any Other Name)
  9. ^ This Is Fake DIY: Oooops
  10. ^ 'We want artistic freedom. And cash'
  11. ^ The Long Blondes sign record deal
  12. ^ The Long Blondes name debut album
  13. ^ The Long Blondes Interview
  14. ^ a b YouTube - The Long Blondes - Century & Couples Advert
  15. ^ a b Latest Long Blonde News
  16. ^ http://www.clickmusic.com/articles/7674.html
  17. ^ YouTube - The Long Blondes - Guilt
  18. ^ The Long Blondes’ Guilt by Abby Warrilow & Lewis Gourlay
  19. ^ The Long Blondes Guilt UK 7" RECORD (437983)
  20. ^ http://www.noizemakesenemies.co.uk/2008/08/long-blondes-to-release-singles.html
  21. ^ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3537352/Long-Blondes-guitarist-uses-bionic-hand-after-stroke.html Long Blondes guitarist uses 'bionic hand' after stroke - Telegraph
  22. ^ Fox, Imogen (2005-12-19). "Kate Jackson, The Long Blondes". The Guardian. Retrieved on 2006-10-25.
  23. ^ Essentials: Kate jackson, singer, The long Blondes - Regulars, The New Review - The Independent
  24. ^ The Long Blondes
  25. ^ Long Blondes Interview
  26. ^ The Long Blondes - Someone To Drive You Home | album reviews | musicOMH.com
  27. ^ Drowned in Sound - Features - 27 Minutes With... The Long Blondes
  28. ^ http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Morrissey/My-Love-Life.html
  29. ^ Sound Bites: SoundBites Best of 2006
  30. ^ Drowned in Sound - Reviews - Single - The Long Blondes
  31. ^ Someone to Drive You Home
  32. ^ Diana Dors (AKA Diana Mary Fluck)
  33. ^ http://vox2.cdn.amiestreet.com/album-art/Weekend-Without-Makeup-by-The-Long-Blondes_58393_full.jpg
  34. ^ Long Blondes, The - Madame Ray
  35. ^ http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/content/content_detail.php?id=2437&type=Interviews
  36. ^ a b The Long Blondes - they're so modern
  37. ^ Dead Eyed Bitches (aka The Long Blondes)
  38. ^ MySpace.com - The Bon Bon Club
  39. ^ Thee Sheffield Phonographic Corporation - An independent record label
  40. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NME_Awards#Shockwaves_NME_Awards_2006
  41. ^ http://www.virginmedia.com/music/pictures/nmeawards2006/pix/07_main.jpg

[edit] Video

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