Senseless Things
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The Senseless Things were a successful indie punk band who were popular on the UK festival circuit in the early 1990s.
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[edit] History
The Senseless Things formed around the musical partnership of songwriter Mark Keds (vocals, guitar) and Morgan Nicholls (bass, originally guitar), who as 11-year-old schoolboys in Twickenham, Middlesex, UK, put together Wild Division in the early 80s. With the addition of drummer Cass Browne (also occasionally known as Cass Cade and Cass Traitor) they became the Psychotics, playing various venues in their local area despite still being at school. Their first gig together as the Senseless Things followed at the subsequently demolished Clarendon in Hammersmith, London, in October 1986. Auxiliary members at this stage included a keyboard player Ben, then a guitarist, Gerry, who deputized for Nicholls while the latter was studying for his 'O' Levels.
The definitive Senseless Things line-up finally evolved in summer 1987 when Nicholls returned to take over bass, with the new recruit, former BBC clerk Ben Harding, acquiring the vacant guitarist's role. Taking their musical cue from The Ramones and The Dickies, and their spiritual lead from fellow guitar outfit Mega City Four, the quartet embarked upon a hectic touring schedule.
The bands first release was on a 7-inch compilation single given away with issue 6 of London fanzine Sniffin' Rock. By March 1988 the band had attracted the attention of BBC disc jockey John Peel, who invited them to record the first of two sessions for his programme. Following another fanzine release, three tracks headed by 'I'm Moving', a friend offered to finance a 'proper' release. The impressive 'Up And Coming' 12-inch followed, then 'Girlfriend'/'Standing In The Rain', for Way Cool Records. The UK music press had noted the bands enthusiastic teenage fanbase, who they referred to as "Pop Kids"
The band's debut mini-album, entitled Postcard C.V., arrived in November 1989. It comprised 22 minutes of scratchy, boisterous punk pop. The band joined What Goes On Records just as it collapsed, then signed to Vinyl Solution subsidiary Decoy Records, who released the four-track EP Is It Too Late?, in May 1990.
The group stayed with Decoy for 'Can't Do Anything', which prefaced an appearance at the Reading Festival, but the bands live following led them to sign to Epic Records at the start of 1991. The subsequent debut album The First Of Too Many saw the band experimenting with other styles including some acoustic songs, and the single 'Got It At The Delmar' entered the Top 60 of the UK singles chart. Two further Top 20 singles followed in 1992, 'Easy To Smile' and 'Hold It Down'.
The first single from 1993's Empire Of The Senseless, 'Homophobic Asshole', was a brave statement but one that ultimately alienated radio programmers. Subsequent singles from the album had more success. Rumours circulated in March 1995 of the band's impending collapse, having been dropped by their record company.
In 1995, the band released a final album Taking Care Of Business, and a controversial single "Christian Killer" (renamed "Christine Keeler" for the album). They split up after one last UK tour.
[edit] Line-up
- Mark Keds - vocals/guitar
- Ben Harding - guitar/vocals
- Morgan Nicholls - bass
- Cass Browne - drums
[edit] Where are they now?
Keds went onto form Jolt then Trip Fontaine, The Lams and now Like A Bitch. He very briefly played with The Wildhearts. Ben went onto join 3 Colours Red and has since developed a career in public and media relations with diverse organisations including Help the Aged, the Eden Project and the Crown Prosecution Service. Morgan joined Vent with Miles Hunt from The Wonder Stuff then went on to play with The Streets. He is now part of Muse's live set-up. Cass went on to sing for Delakota and then Gorillaz. He also briefly played with Urge Overkill.
Senseless Things reformed (minus Morgan, who was unfortunately touring in Japan with Muse) for one short four song performance on 4th March 2007 - over 12 years after the band last performed - as part of a gig to celebrate the life of former Mega City Four frontman Darren 'Wiz' Brown, who died in December 2006. [1]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- The First of Too Many (1991) - 12", CD, Tape - Epic
- Empire of the Senseless (1993) - CD - Epic
- Empire of the Senseless/Postcard CV (1993) - Double CD, Tape - Epic
- Peel Sessions (1994) - CD - Strange Fruit
- Taking Care of Business (1995) - CD, 12" - Epic
- Singles (1998) - CD - Epic
[edit] Singles/EPs
1988 - Up & Coming 12" - Way Cool
1988 - split 7" w/ Crazyhead - Sniffin' Rock
1988 - Yo Yo Jo
1989 - Bootleg
1989 - Girlfriend/Standing in the Rain
1989 - Too Much Kissing/Trevor
1989 - Postcard CV
1990 - Is it Too Late?
1990 - Can't Do Anything,
1991 - Everybody's GoneEpic
1991 - Got it at the Delmer
1991 - Easy to Smile
1991 - Gokigenyo Dudes
1991 - Up & Coming
1992 - Hold it Down Epic
1992 - Homophobic Asshole
1993 - Primary Instinct
1993 - Too Much Kissing
1994 - Christine Keeler
1995 - Something to Miss
[edit] References
- ^ Senseless Things play 4 the Wiz. MySpace.
