3 Colours Red
Encyclopedia
3 Colours Red were a rock band
from the United Kingdom
. They achieved their biggest chart
success at the end of the 1990s, along with other Britrock bands such as Ash
and Feeder
. The band was named by sticking a pin in a London
listings magazine, Time Out. It landed randomly on an advertisement for the concluding part of the Polish film director
Krzysztof Kieślowski
's, Three Colors
, trilogy. They went on to record
two UK
Top 20 album
s, and six Top 40 singles
. Fox Soccer Channel
currently feature their 1997 hit "Copper Girl" as background music when announcing scores and goal summaries at half time and full time.
based singer
/bassist
Pete Vuckovic
(ex-Diamond Head
) to start a band. Both had recently left their previous bands and were looking for something new, McCormack made the call and they decided to work on some song
s together. Due to location they spent the following months trading four track recordings
and developing song ideas via post, until they had enough material to record a demo
, they soon moved to London and began putting a band together.
They were guided by producer
/manager
Terry Thomas and Gina Walters (Warner Chappell Music). Walters introduced the band to Thomas, he managed them as well as produced the demos that secured their early recording contract
s.
McCormack is the younger brother of Danny McCormack
, ex-bassist in The Wildhearts
, another British rock band who had already achieved commercial success, and with whom 3 Colours Red would play some of their first concert
. Ben Harding had been a founder member of Senseless Things
, whilst Vučković's stint with Diamond Head had galvanised his songwriting
, and Keith Baxter
's drumming with Skyclad
provided the band with backbone.
Fierce Panda Records
released their first single, "This Is My Hollywood" published by Warner Chappell Music. The band signed to Creation Records
, after Alan McGee
, Creation's founder and discoverer of Oasis
, said that 3CR were the "most exciting band since the Sex Pistols
".
(1997) was produced by Terry Thomas. There was controversy over the resulting single "Sixty Mile Smile", the lyrical
content of which referred to frontman Vučković's overnight hospitalisation after taking the drug ecstasy. Thomas was eventually fired by the band prior to the recording of the second album.
Revolt (1999) was produced by Dave Eringa
. At the peak of their success, following the band's biggest hit, "Beautiful Day", they embarked upon U.S
tours with Marilyn Manson
, Aerosmith
and Silverchair
. However, the group disbanded after the Reading and Leeds Festivals
in 1999, citing musical and personal differences.
Vučković was signed to Sony Records and Sanctuary Management and spent two years writing an album for his new project Elevation, which was never released and he was dropped by the label. McCormack joined Rich Battersby and EMF
producer Ralph Jezzard for a stint in Grand Theft Audio, who spent considerable time touring America
before also being dropped.
The new line-up signed to Mighty Atom Records
and Sanctuary Management and recorded The Union of Souls
album with producer Joe Gibb (Funeral for a Friend
/ Million Dead
) in 2004 to critical acclaim but little commercial success. "Repeat To Fade" and "The World is Yours", taken from the album, were released as singles and the band toured Europe
and Japan
with German bands Die Toten Hosen
and The Donots
as well as a handful of UK tours and festival slots including the first Download festival
.
In mid 2005, a double album
, If You Ain't Got a Weapon...
, made up of the band's singles and b-sides
from the Creation period was released by Sanctuary Records
, with accompanying sleevenotes penned by Vučković.
A live DVD
recorded at the Islington Academy in 2004 was also released, followed by a live album
, Nuclear holiday
from the same show. The band split again in September 2005 after a UK farewell tour with The Yo-Yos
, having been dropped by Sanctuary and disappointing sales of the third album, and continuing personal differences between Vučković and McCormack.
Vučković and Grant soon formed Bassknives
. McCormack is now a promoter and tours with Gary Numan
as part of his live band. Harding continues to work in public relations. Baxter played with the band Baby Judas, but died on 4 January 2008 at the age of 36 from a gastrointestinal
haemorage
.
As a youngster, Vuckovic was a keen hard rock/heavy metal fan and played in bands with his older brother throughout his teens in his hometown of Tiverton in Devon
. His first notable success came in 1993 after leaving his own band, Blackout, and moving to Birmingham
to join reformed N.W.O.B.H.M/Heavy metal
band Diamond Head
as their bassist. He recorded on the 'Death and Progress
' and 'Evil Live
' albums but they split again soon after.
McCormack's first success was as a member of Newcastle-upon-Tyne heavy metal outfit Forgodsake
, who released an album on Bleeding Heart Records before McCormack eventually left. He originally moved to London to join Honeycrack
with C.J from The Wildhearts
but ended up forming 3 Colours Red with Vuckovic instead. Afterwards, he joined electro rockers Grand Theft Audio with Rich Battersby from The Wildhearts
, and spent several months touring the U.S. with them before they were eventually dropped by the record label, forcing them to return home. He also tours as the guitarist in Gary Numan
's live band.
Harding embarked upon a career in public and media relations following the first split of 3 Colours Red in 1999.
Grant went on to form Bassknives with 3CR bandmate Pete Vuckovic, as well as joining C.J & The Satellites with C.J from The Wildhearts
in 2006.
As a teenager, Baxter became a founder member of folk metal
pioneers Skyclad
, recording five seminal albums with them before leaving in 1995 to move to London and join 3 Colours Red.
Following the split of the band in 1999 he formed the band Elevation with former bandmate from 3 Colours Red, Vuckovic. The pair signed with Sony
but were dropped a year later. He moved back to his hometown of Lancaster and briefly played with the Northern Irish
band, Therapy?
in 2002. Following 3 Colours Red's reformation and second split, Baxter played with Lancaster-based Baby Judas, but died in
January 2008 at the age of 36 as a result of a gastro-intestinal hemorrhage.
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. They achieved their biggest chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
success at the end of the 1990s, along with other Britrock bands such as Ash
Ash (band)
Ash are an alternative rock band that formed in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland in 1992. The band has sold 8 million albums worldwide.-Band beginning, Trailer and 1977 :...
and Feeder
Feeder
-Technology:* Feeder , any of several devices used in apiculture to supplement or replace natural food sources* Feeder , another name for a riser, a reservoir built into a metal casting mold to prevent cavities due to shrinkage...
. The band was named by sticking a pin in a London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
listings magazine, Time Out. It landed randomly on an advertisement for the concluding part of the Polish film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
Krzysztof Kieślowski
Krzysztof Kieslowski
Krzysztof Kieślowski was an Academy Award nominated influential Polish film director and screenwriter, known internationally for The Double Life of Veronique and his film cycles The Decalogue and Three Colors.-Early life:...
's, Three Colors
Three Colors
The Three Colours Trilogy is the collective title of three films – a trilogy – directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski, two made in French and one primarily in Polish: Trois couleurs: Bleu , Trzy kolory: Biały , and Trois couleurs: Rouge...
, trilogy. They went on to record
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
two UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Top 20 album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s, and six Top 40 singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
. Fox Soccer Channel
Fox Soccer Channel
Fox Soccer is an American television specialty channel, owned by News Corporation's Fox Entertainment Group, that specializes in soccer. It formerly broadcast rugby and Australian rules football, but is now dedicated strictly to soccer...
currently feature their 1997 hit "Copper Girl" as background music when announcing scores and goal summaries at half time and full time.
Early history
In 1995, it was suggested by a mutual friend that guitarist Chris McCormack (ex-Forgodsake/Gunslinger) should contact the BirminghamBirmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
based singer
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
/bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Pete Vuckovic
Pete Vuckovic
Pete Vuckovic is a British/ Serbian singer/songwriter born in 1971 in Devon, England.He was a keen hard rock/ heavy metal fan as a youngster, playing bass in bands with his older brother throughout his teens in his hometown of Tiverton in Devon, his first success came in 1993 after leaving his own...
(ex-Diamond Head
Diamond Head (band)
Diamond Head are an English heavy metal band formed in 1976 in Stourbridge, England. The band is recognised as one of the leading members of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and is acknowledged by later bands like Metallica and Megadeth as an important early influence.-Early history:Formed by...
) to start a band. Both had recently left their previous bands and were looking for something new, McCormack made the call and they decided to work on some song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s together. Due to location they spent the following months trading four track recordings
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
and developing song ideas via post, until they had enough material to record a demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
, they soon moved to London and began putting a band together.
They were guided by producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
/manager
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
Terry Thomas and Gina Walters (Warner Chappell Music). Walters introduced the band to Thomas, he managed them as well as produced the demos that secured their early recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
s.
McCormack is the younger brother of Danny McCormack
Danny McCormack
Danny McCormack is a British singer and bassist.-Biography:He became the bass player in The Wildhearts in 1991 and soon relocated to London with the band, enjoying success during their commercial peak, before splitting up in 1998...
, ex-bassist in The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts are a British rock group originally formed in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The band's sound is a mixture of hard rock and melodic pop music, often described in the music press as combining influences as diverse as The Beatles and 1980s-era Metallica...
, another British rock band who had already achieved commercial success, and with whom 3 Colours Red would play some of their first concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
. Ben Harding had been a founder member of Senseless Things
Senseless Things
Senseless Things were a British indie punk band, who were active on the UK festival circuit in the late 1980s and early 1990s.-Career:Senseless Things formed around the musical partnership of songwriter Mark Keds and Morgan Nicholls , who as eleven year old schoolboys in Twickenham, Middlesex put...
, whilst Vučković's stint with Diamond Head had galvanised his songwriting
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, and Keith Baxter
Keith Baxter (drummer)
Keith Baxter was an English rock drummer. He was born in Morecambe, Lancashire, England.-Biography:As a teenager he became a founder member of folk metal pioneers Skyclad, recording five albums with them before leaving in 1995, to move to London and join 3 Colours Red, with whom he recorded two UK...
's drumming with Skyclad
Skyclad (band)
Skyclad are a British heavy metal band with heavy folk influences in their music. They are considered one of the pioneers of folk metal. The etymology behind the term "skyclad" comes from a pagan/wiccan term for ritual nudity, in which rituals are performed with the participants metaphorically clad...
provided the band with backbone.
Fierce Panda Records
Fierce Panda Records
Fierce Panda Records is a London-based independent record label, with its first release in February 1994. It also produced a small number of releases that year by now famous artists such as Ash, The Bluetones, Baby Bird and Supergrass...
released their first single, "This Is My Hollywood" published by Warner Chappell Music. The band signed to Creation Records
Creation Records
Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were...
, after Alan McGee
Alan McGee
Alan McGee has been a record label owner, musician, manager, and music blogger for The Guardian.McGee is best-known for co-forming and running the independent Creation Records label from 1983–1999, and then Poptones from 1999-2007...
, Creation's founder and discoverer of Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
, said that 3CR were the "most exciting band since the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
".
Creation Records period
While with Creation, the band recorded two albums. The first, PurePure (3 Colours Red album)
Pure is the debut album from U.K. rock band 3 Colours Red.It was produced by the bands manager Terry Thomas at Livingston Studios in London in 1996 and managed to accurately encapsulate the furious assault of their renowned live performances, it reached number 15 in the U.K album charts when it was...
(1997) was produced by Terry Thomas. There was controversy over the resulting single "Sixty Mile Smile", the lyrical
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
content of which referred to frontman Vučković's overnight hospitalisation after taking the drug ecstasy. Thomas was eventually fired by the band prior to the recording of the second album.
Revolt (1999) was produced by Dave Eringa
Dave Eringa
Dave Eringa is an English record producer from Essex who has engineered, mixed, produced, and played on albums by such bands as Manic Street Preachers, Ocean Colour Scene, Idlewild, 3 Colours Red, South and Johnny Boy...
. At the peak of their success, following the band's biggest hit, "Beautiful Day", they embarked upon U.S
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
tours with Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson (band)
Marilyn Manson is an American metal band from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Formed in 1989 by Brian Warner and Scott Putesky, the group was originally named Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids with their uniquely theatrical performances gathering a local cult following in the early '90s. This attention...
, Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
and Silverchair
Silverchair
Silverchair were an Australian rock band, which formed in 1992 as Innocent Criminals in Merewether, Newcastle with the line-up of Ben Gillies on drums, Chris Joannou on bass guitar and Daniel Johns on vocals and guitars. The group got their big break in mid-1994 when they won a national demo...
. However, the group disbanded after the Reading and Leeds Festivals
Reading and Leeds Festivals
The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend, sharing the same bill. The Reading Festival is held at Little John's Farm...
in 1999, citing musical and personal differences.
Vučković was signed to Sony Records and Sanctuary Management and spent two years writing an album for his new project Elevation, which was never released and he was dropped by the label. McCormack joined Rich Battersby and EMF
EMF
- Music :* EMF , a British band** "EMF", a bonus track on EMF's album Schubert Dip* E.M.F. , a 1983 album by GG Allin* English Music Festival, a British music festival- Organizations :...
producer Ralph Jezzard for a stint in Grand Theft Audio, who spent considerable time touring America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
before also being dropped.
Reformation
Vučković and McCormack reconciled their differences and reformed the band with original drummer Keith Baxter. Ben Harding had by this time, forged a career in public relations and was replaced by Paul Grant (ex-Pornstar).The new line-up signed to Mighty Atom Records
Mighty Atom Records
Mighty Atom Records is a Welsh based record label. The company was formed in early 2000 by Dave Simpson and Roger Hopkins. It is known for having been one of a few independent record labels at the forefront of the UK emo scene in the early 2000s, due to its early involvement with Funeral for a...
and Sanctuary Management and recorded The Union of Souls
The Union of Souls
The Union of Souls is the third album from U.K. rock band 3 Colours Red. It was released on Mighty Atom Records in 2004.Eight of the ten tracks were recorded at the old BBC studios in Swansea, Wales with Joe Gibb ; the other two were recorded in London with Chris Sheldon .The album was released on...
album with producer Joe Gibb (Funeral for a Friend
Funeral for a Friend
Funeral for a Friend are a Welsh post-hardcore band, from Bridgend. Formed 2001, they have released five studio albums, seven EPs, sixteen singles, one DVD, and one compilation album.-Formation and Early Years:...
/ Million Dead
Million Dead
Million Dead were a hardcore punk band from London, UK, active between 2001 and 2005.-History:The band was founded in 2000 by Cameron Dean and Julia Ruzicka, after both came to London from Australia. They were joined by Ben Dawson, who had worked with Dean in a record shop in the city...
) in 2004 to critical acclaim but little commercial success. "Repeat To Fade" and "The World is Yours", taken from the album, were released as singles and the band toured Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
with German bands Die Toten Hosen
Die Toten Hosen
Die Toten Hosen is a German punk band from Düsseldorf. They have enjoyed decades-long mass appeal in Germany.The band's name literally means "The Dead Pants" in English, although the phrase "tote Hose" is a German expression meaning "nothing going on" or "boring"...
and The Donots
Donots
-Albums:-Compilation albums:-Split albums:-Exclusive compilation tracks:-Singles:-Videography:-Music videos:-External links:***** with Truepunk.com * with Truepunk.com * with Truepunk.com...
as well as a handful of UK tours and festival slots including the first Download festival
Download Festival
The Download Festival is a three day rock music festival held annually at Donington Park, England . It usually takes place in June...
.
In mid 2005, a double album
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
, If You Ain't Got a Weapon...
If You Ain't Got a Weapon...
If You Ain't Got a Weapon... is a double compilation CD by U.K Britrock band 3 Colours Red, covering their period with legendary independent label Creation Records. The first disc features the band's singles plus 2 live tracks, while the second consists of B-sides. Both discs were compiled by...
, made up of the band's singles and b-sides
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
from the Creation period was released by Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records Group Limited was a record label based in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Until June 2007, it was the largest independent record label in the UK and the largest independent music management company in the world...
, with accompanying sleevenotes penned by Vučković.
A live DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
recorded at the Islington Academy in 2004 was also released, followed by a live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
, Nuclear holiday
Nuclear Holiday (3 Colours Red album)
Nuclear Holiday is a live album by UK rock band 3 Colours Red.It was recorded at the Islington Academy in London, England, on February 6, 2004 for a live D.V.D. by Secret/Snapper Records...
from the same show. The band split again in September 2005 after a UK farewell tour with The Yo-Yos
The Yo-Yos
The Yo-Yos were a rock n'roll band, formed in 1998 by ex- The Wildhearts bassist, Danny McCormack and singer / guitarist Tom Spencer after the two met at a Toy Dolls recording session...
, having been dropped by Sanctuary and disappointing sales of the third album, and continuing personal differences between Vučković and McCormack.
Vučković and Grant soon formed Bassknives
Bassknives
Bassknives are a London based punk rock band featuring ex-members of 3 Colours Red and Amen. The band name is taken from the song, " In Hammersmith Palais" by The Clash...
. McCormack is now a promoter and tours with Gary Numan
Gary Numan
Gary Numan is an English singer, composer, and musician, most widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and "Cars". His signature sound consisted of heavy synthesizer hooks fed through guitar effects pedals.Numan is considered a pioneer of commercial electronic music...
as part of his live band. Harding continues to work in public relations. Baxter played with the band Baby Judas, but died on 4 January 2008 at the age of 36 from a gastrointestinal
Gastrointestinal tract
The human gastrointestinal tract refers to the stomach and intestine, and sometimes to all the structures from the mouth to the anus. ....
haemorage
Bleeding
Bleeding, technically known as hemorrhaging or haemorrhaging is the loss of blood or blood escape from the circulatory system...
.
Band members
- Pete Vuckovic (lead vocals, bass)
- Chris McCormack (guitar, vocals)
- Ben Harding (guitar, vocals, 1996–1999)
- Paul Grant (guitar, vocals, 2002–2005)
- Keith Baxter (drums).
As a youngster, Vuckovic was a keen hard rock/heavy metal fan and played in bands with his older brother throughout his teens in his hometown of Tiverton in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. His first notable success came in 1993 after leaving his own band, Blackout, and moving to Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
to join reformed N.W.O.B.H.M/Heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Diamond Head
Diamond Head (band)
Diamond Head are an English heavy metal band formed in 1976 in Stourbridge, England. The band is recognised as one of the leading members of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and is acknowledged by later bands like Metallica and Megadeth as an important early influence.-Early history:Formed by...
as their bassist. He recorded on the 'Death and Progress
Death and Progress
Death and Progress is a recording by Diamond Head and was released in 1993 under Castle Music Ltd.This was Diamond Head's first album since Canterbury, released 10 years earlier. It was mixed by Andrew Scarth, who had previously worked for bands such as Bad Company and Foreigner...
' and 'Evil Live
Evil Live
Evil Live is a live album by Diamond Head. This is Diamond Head's fifth recording, and is a double CD. The main album was recorded live at The National Bowl, Milton Keynes UK in 1993, the second CD "Evil Extras" features cover versions and previously unreleased tracks.-Track listing:Disc One "Evil...
' albums but they split again soon after.
McCormack's first success was as a member of Newcastle-upon-Tyne heavy metal outfit Forgodsake
Forgodsake
-Biography:Forgodsake formed in 1990 by Kevin Ridley, Steve Wallace, Drew Gallon, Gary Binns and Chris McCormack. They recorded a demo and signed to Bleeding Hearts Records, toured with bands such as Girlschool and The Wildhearts, then released their debut album, Blasthead, in 1993...
, who released an album on Bleeding Heart Records before McCormack eventually left. He originally moved to London to join Honeycrack
Honeycrack
Honeycrack were a short-lived British rock band, formed and fronted by former Wildhearts members Willie Dowling and Chris "CJ" Jagdhar.Having originally come to notice with the band Tattooed Love Boys, CJ had subsequently been a founder member of The Wildhearts...
with C.J from The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts are a British rock group originally formed in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The band's sound is a mixture of hard rock and melodic pop music, often described in the music press as combining influences as diverse as The Beatles and 1980s-era Metallica...
but ended up forming 3 Colours Red with Vuckovic instead. Afterwards, he joined electro rockers Grand Theft Audio with Rich Battersby from The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts are a British rock group originally formed in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The band's sound is a mixture of hard rock and melodic pop music, often described in the music press as combining influences as diverse as The Beatles and 1980s-era Metallica...
, and spent several months touring the U.S. with them before they were eventually dropped by the record label, forcing them to return home. He also tours as the guitarist in Gary Numan
Gary Numan
Gary Numan is an English singer, composer, and musician, most widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and "Cars". His signature sound consisted of heavy synthesizer hooks fed through guitar effects pedals.Numan is considered a pioneer of commercial electronic music...
's live band.
Harding embarked upon a career in public and media relations following the first split of 3 Colours Red in 1999.
Grant went on to form Bassknives with 3CR bandmate Pete Vuckovic, as well as joining C.J & The Satellites with C.J from The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts are a British rock group originally formed in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The band's sound is a mixture of hard rock and melodic pop music, often described in the music press as combining influences as diverse as The Beatles and 1980s-era Metallica...
in 2006.
As a teenager, Baxter became a founder member of folk metal
Folk metal
Folk metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that developed in Europe during the 1990s. As the name suggests, the genre is a fusion of heavy metal with traditional folk music...
pioneers Skyclad
Skyclad (band)
Skyclad are a British heavy metal band with heavy folk influences in their music. They are considered one of the pioneers of folk metal. The etymology behind the term "skyclad" comes from a pagan/wiccan term for ritual nudity, in which rituals are performed with the participants metaphorically clad...
, recording five seminal albums with them before leaving in 1995 to move to London and join 3 Colours Red.
Following the split of the band in 1999 he formed the band Elevation with former bandmate from 3 Colours Red, Vuckovic. The pair signed with Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
but were dropped a year later. He moved back to his hometown of Lancaster and briefly played with the Northern Irish
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
band, Therapy?
Therapy?
Therapy? is an alternative metal band from Northern Ireland. The band was formed in 1989 by guitarist–vocalist Andy Cairns from Ballyclare and drummer-vocalist Fyfe Ewing from Larne, Northern Ireland. The band initially recorded their first demo with Cairns filling in on bass guitar...
in 2002. Following 3 Colours Red's reformation and second split, Baxter played with Lancaster-based Baby Judas, but died in
January 2008 at the age of 36 as a result of a gastro-intestinal hemorrhage.
Albums
- PurePure (3 Colours Red album)Pure is the debut album from U.K. rock band 3 Colours Red.It was produced by the bands manager Terry Thomas at Livingston Studios in London in 1996 and managed to accurately encapsulate the furious assault of their renowned live performances, it reached number 15 in the U.K album charts when it was...
(Creation 1997) - UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#15 - Revolt (Creation 1999) - UK #17
- The Union of SoulsThe Union of SoulsThe Union of Souls is the third album from U.K. rock band 3 Colours Red. It was released on Mighty Atom Records in 2004.Eight of the ten tracks were recorded at the old BBC studios in Swansea, Wales with Joe Gibb ; the other two were recorded in London with Chris Sheldon .The album was released on...
(Mighty Atom 2004) - If You Ain't Got a Weapon...If You Ain't Got a Weapon...If You Ain't Got a Weapon... is a double compilation CD by U.K Britrock band 3 Colours Red, covering their period with legendary independent label Creation Records. The first disc features the band's singles plus 2 live tracks, while the second consists of B-sides. Both discs were compiled by...
(Sanctuary 2005) - Nuclear Holiday (Snapper 2005)
Singles/EPs
- "This Is My Hollywood" (Fierce Panda 1996)
- "Nuclear Holiday" (Creation 1997) - UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#22 - "Sixty Mile Smile" (Creation 1997) - UK #20
- "Pure" (Creation 1997) - UK #28
- "Copper Girl" (Creation 1997) - UK #30
- "This Is My Hollywood" (Re-Released) (Creation 1997) - UK #48
- "Paralyse EP" (Creation 1998): Non-eligible for UK chart
- "Beautiful DayBeautiful Day (3 Colours Red song)'Beautiful Day' was the first single from 3 Colours Reds second album, Revolt. It was released on Creation Records in 1999.The song was written by frontman/ bassist Pete Vuckovic and recorded at Westside Studios in London; it surprised many, showing a more sensitive and epic side to the band's...
" (Creation 1999) - UK #11 - "This Is My Time" (Creation 1999) - UK #36
- "Repeat To Fade" (Mighty Atom 2003)- UK #86
- "The World Is Yours" (Mighty Atom 2004) (download only)
External links
- 3 Colours Red official 'Myspace' page
- Interview in Kool MagazineKool MagazineKool Magazine was the first free full colour glossy magazine available in East Anglia UK. It was aimed at 16- to 24-year-olds and covered music, fashion, arts, as well as exclusive interviews with celebrities...