Natural Life

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (December 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Natural Life were an English band of the early 1990s that are best described as a "bohemian rock collective", their music being a combination of rock influences and dancefloor beats.

They emerged from London's Balearic dance movement and were quickly caught up in a bidding war between the major labels. Their early gigs listed venues such as Danny Rampling's fledgling 'Milk Bar' and The legendary 'Eat The Worm' at the Hannover Grand, where they were supported by the then unknown Ocean Colour Scene. They were the only London based band to play 'Factory Day' at 'Cities in the park' with The Happy Mondays, Electronic and A Certain Ratio. This almost exclusively Mancunian mini-festival was a benefit for the recently deceased Martin Hannett run by Factory Records.

The band were signed to an offshoot of Hollywood Records called Tr1be Records. They toured extensively with indie dance act The Farm and provided support for English singer/songwriter Seal on his U.K. tour, also listing Ziggy Marley, The Brand New Heavies and Jamiroquai amongst their other early bed fellows.

The bands first single 'Strange World' was voted record of the week by BBC Radio 1. The second single 'Natural Life' received the same accolade two weeks running, this very rare win double seeming to underwrite their bid for success. Unfortunately, although the band enjoyed a large U.K. following and were regulars on the festival circuit playing at both the Glastonbury and Reading festivals that year, they never managed to break into the mainstream music arena. This was widely believed to be due to inexperience on the part of their record company, to whom they were the first signing. The percussionist Shovel later found fame as a member of M People.

Mark Mathews and Jon Spong, two of the bands main songwriters are currently collaborating on a new body of work. Hakan Tuna also brought out his own solo Turkish rock album in 2004.

[edit] Members

• Jon Spong
• Shovell
• Darren 'Diezel' Hunter
• Liggy Locko
• Mark Mathews
• Ray Wilson
• 'Big' Sydney Holdforth
• [Hakan Tuna]www.myspace.com/hakanatuna

[edit] Releases

Singles include:

• Strange World (Tr1be Records/Hollywood Records - 1992)
• Natural Life/As One Alone (Tr1be Records - 1992)

Albums:

• Natural Life

[edit] Trivia

The band performed on Channel 4's The Word on Friday February 28th 1992.