Airhead (band)
Encyclopedia
Airhead is a British
indie-pop band
that achieved some success in the early 1990s, at the tail end of the Madchester
music movement.
They are likened to The Wonder Stuff
, Flowered Up
, The Mock Turtles
and early Blur
. Forced to change their name from Jefferson Airhead due to its (deliberate) similarity to Jefferson Airplane
, Maidstone
-based band Airhead achieved minor UK Singles Chart
success with singles
"Funny How" and "Counting Sheep". After releasing one album
and a handful of singles, they were dropped by their record label
Korova
and released their final record
, the That's Enough EP on Mother Tongue. They are probably best remembered for "Funny How", which although not their highest-charting single was played heavily on BBC Radio 1
at the time of its release.
In 1996, Airhead made a brief return to the live scene, when they supported Kula Shaker
, at the Tunbridge Wells Forum.
In June 2007, the fan site Airhead Online began a petition to convince the major record label Warners, owner of Airhead's label Korova, to reissue Boing!! in expanded format with bonus tracks and liner notes from the band.
A number of single b-sides
did not appear on the band's only album; these were "Something Blue", "The Enemy", "Through My Window", "Keep The Apple", "Take My Train", 'demo
' versions of "Congratulations", "Scrap Happy", "Counting Sheep" and "Right Now", and all of the tracks on the "That's Enough" EP.
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...
indie-pop band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
that achieved some success in the early 1990s, at the tail end of the Madchester
Madchester
Madchester was a music scene that developed in Manchester, England, towards the end of the 1980s and into the early 1990s. The music that emerged from the scene mixed alternative rock, psychedelic rock and dance music...
music movement.
They are likened to The Wonder Stuff
The Wonder Stuff
The Wonder Stuff are a British alternative rock band, originally based in Stourbridge, West Midlands, in the Black Country, England.-Origins:...
, Flowered Up
Flowered Up
-Career:The band was formed in mid-1989 by singer Liam Maher, along with his younger brother Joe . After a few changes in personnel, the settled line-up included Tim Dorney , Andy Jackson , and John Tuvey , with dancer Barry Mooncult adding to their live shows...
, The Mock Turtles
The Mock Turtles
The Mock Turtles are a Manchester based indie rock band, formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester in 1985, who enjoyed some success in the early 1990s...
and early Blur
Blur (band)
Blur is an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing...
. Forced to change their name from Jefferson Airhead due to its (deliberate) similarity to Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
, Maidstone
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
-based band Airhead achieved minor UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The 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 ...
success with 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...
"Funny How" and "Counting Sheep". After releasing one 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...
and a handful of singles, they were dropped by their record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Korova
Korova (record label)
Korova is a record label, distributed by the Warner Elektra Asylum group of record companies.The imprint was founded in 1979 as an outlet for Echo & the Bunnymen, with its first album release being their debut Crocodiles...
and released their final record
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
, the That's Enough EP on Mother Tongue. They are probably best remembered for "Funny How", which although not their highest-charting single was played heavily on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
at the time of its release.
In 1996, Airhead made a brief return to the live scene, when they supported Kula Shaker
Kula Shaker
Kula Shaker are an English psychedelic rock band. Led by outspoken frontman Crispian Mills, the band came to prominence during the Post-Britpop era of the late 1990s. The band enjoyed great commercial success in the UK between 1996 and 1999, notching up a number of Top 10 hits on the UK Singles...
, at the Tunbridge Wells Forum.
In June 2007, the fan site Airhead Online began a petition to convince the major record label Warners, owner of Airhead's label Korova, to reissue Boing!! in expanded format with bonus tracks and liner notes from the band.
Singles
- "Congratulations" (as Jefferson Airhead, 1991), B-side "Something Blue"
- "Scrap Happy" (as Jefferson Airhead, 1991)
- "Funny How" (October 1991) 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 ...
#57, B-side "Keep the Apple" - "Counting Sheep" (December 1991) UK #35, B-side "Take My Train"
- "Right Now" (March 1992) UK #50, other tracks "The Enemy" & "Through my Window"
- "That's Enough" EP (1993), other tracks "They Don't Know" and "Someone Should Have Told Me "
A number of single 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...
did not appear on the band's only album; these were "Something Blue", "The Enemy", "Through My Window", "Keep The Apple", "Take My Train", '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...
' versions of "Congratulations", "Scrap Happy", "Counting Sheep" and "Right Now", and all of the tracks on the "That's Enough" EP.