Freebass
Encyclopedia
Freebass were an English band consisting of, originally, three bassists Andy Rourke
(formerly of The Smiths
), Peter Hook
(formerly of New Order
and Joy Division
) and Gary "Mani" Mounfield
(of The Stone Roses
and Primal Scream
) and singer Gary Briggs (formerly of Haven
). Rourke subsequently left the line-up.
, an instrumental
called "The Tower".
In a 2006 interview with Argentine
newspaper Página/12
, Hook expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the band, "We've already written 17 tracks and [the album]'s coming along very well. We hope to finish it soon." He also explained why he was so determined to succeed. "The reason we decided to do it was because everyone laughed in our face when we suggested the idea. So we thought, 'Fuck them! We're gonna show them.'"
After Hook delayed the album for so long, in 2010 he launched a new website, worked out a distribution arrangement with American independent record label 24 Hour Service Station
and released the debut Freebass recording Two Worlds Collide EP, as a digital download
in March 2010 and on CD
in August. A full album, titled It's A Beautiful Life, was again initially released as a digital download in April 2010, and as an expanded edition CD with three additional tracks and a bonus instrumental versions disc, on 20 September by Essential for Europe, Australia and South East Asia; and 7 December by 24 Hour Service Station for the rest of the world.
The band's official web-site confirmed in August 2010 that Rourke was no-longer part of the line-up, noting that “Andy Rourke was initially involved in the conception of the group and contributed to the EP and a few tracks on the LP. He is now living in NYC and will not be joining the band for live dates.”
In September 2010, relations between Mounfield and Hook appeared to have soured. On 6 September, Mounfield posted on his Twitter stream (@Maniscream) "Peter Hook's wallet" was "visible from space" because it was "stuffed with Ian Curtis blood money". He further posted that "he ain't got time for me now he's getting fortunes for dragging his mates cadaver round the world getting himself paid". Mounfield finally appeared to devolve himself of the 'Freebass' group by stating he "Can't be doing with talentless nostalgia fuckwit whores". Mounfield has since apologised for his remark, stating that his comments were "out of character" and that it was a "venomous, spiteful reaction to a lot of things that are going on in my life right now, and I chose to vent my frustrations and anger at one of my true friends in this filthy business, and ventured into territory which was none of my concern". Hook accepted Mounfield's apology, saying "Mani is a great friend of mine and he always will be. I have the utmost respect for him as a person and musician. Have none of you ever fallen out with somebody you love?".
Andy Rourke
Andy Rourke is a bass guitarist best known for being a former member of The Smiths.-Career:...
(formerly of The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
), Peter Hook
Peter Hook
Peter Hook is an English bass player, musician and author.He was a co-founder of the post-punk band Joy Division along with Bernard Sumner in the mid-1970s. Following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis, the band reformed as New Order, and Hook played bass with them throughout their career until...
(formerly of New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
and Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
) and Gary "Mani" Mounfield
Gary Mounfield
Gary Manny "Mani" Mounfield , is an English rock bassist of The Stone Roses and Primal Scream. He has a distinctive playing style that combines a fast moving rock style with a dance rhythm or dub groove...
(of The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
and Primal Scream
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
) and singer Gary Briggs (formerly of Haven
Haven (band)
Haven were an English indie rock band formed in Cornwall, England, in 1996, originally called Blew, their new name taken from a local holiday resort.-Career:...
). Rourke subsequently left the line-up.
History
The idea to form a band centralised around three bass players came out on a drunken night, and was started by Hook and Mani as "a reaction because our groups New Order and Primals had been stalled". In a late 2005 interview with NME Peter Hook stated that all of the songs have three basses; "Mani does the low part, Andy Rourke in the middle and I do the high bit ... it works out quite well". In 2006 the band recorded the theme song for the Channel 4 Radio program The TubeThe Tube (radio series)
"The Tube " was resurrected in 2006 by Manchester based production company UK One Productions for Channel 4 Radio and produced by Tom Smetham and Stephen Chapman, founders of GNA Trading, the company behind Versus Cancer. It ran monthly from October 2006 to March 2007 always broadcasting on the 1st...
, an instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
called "The Tower".
In a 2006 interview with Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
newspaper Página/12
Página/12
Página/12 is a newspaper based in Buenos Aires, Argentina.Página/12 was founded on May 25, 1987, by journalist Jorge Lanata in association with writer Osvaldo Soriano and investigative journalist Horacio Verbitsky...
, Hook expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the band, "We've already written 17 tracks and [the album]'s coming along very well. We hope to finish it soon." He also explained why he was so determined to succeed. "The reason we decided to do it was because everyone laughed in our face when we suggested the idea. So we thought, 'Fuck them! We're gonna show them.'"
After Hook delayed the album for so long, in 2010 he launched a new website, worked out a distribution arrangement with American independent record label 24 Hour Service Station
24 Hour Service Station
24 Hour Service Station is an independent record label founded by in Tampa, Florida in 1993.24 Hour Service Station's first signing in 1994 was Rosewater Elizabeth, an up and coming ethereal group in the Tampa Bay area music scene...
and released the debut Freebass recording Two Worlds Collide EP, as a digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
in March 2010 and on CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
in August. A full album, titled It's A Beautiful Life, was again initially released as a digital download in April 2010, and as an expanded edition CD with three additional tracks and a bonus instrumental versions disc, on 20 September by Essential for Europe, Australia and South East Asia; and 7 December by 24 Hour Service Station for the rest of the world.
The band's official web-site confirmed in August 2010 that Rourke was no-longer part of the line-up, noting that “Andy Rourke was initially involved in the conception of the group and contributed to the EP and a few tracks on the LP. He is now living in NYC and will not be joining the band for live dates.”
In September 2010, relations between Mounfield and Hook appeared to have soured. On 6 September, Mounfield posted on his Twitter stream (@Maniscream) "Peter Hook's wallet" was "visible from space" because it was "stuffed with Ian Curtis blood money". He further posted that "he ain't got time for me now he's getting fortunes for dragging his mates cadaver round the world getting himself paid". Mounfield finally appeared to devolve himself of the 'Freebass' group by stating he "Can't be doing with talentless nostalgia fuckwit whores". Mounfield has since apologised for his remark, stating that his comments were "out of character" and that it was a "venomous, spiteful reaction to a lot of things that are going on in my life right now, and I chose to vent my frustrations and anger at one of my true friends in this filthy business, and ventured into territory which was none of my concern". Hook accepted Mounfield's apology, saying "Mani is a great friend of mine and he always will be. I have the utmost respect for him as a person and musician. Have none of you ever fallen out with somebody you love?".
EPs
- Two Worlds Collide (EP) 2010 - 24 Hour Service Station
- You Don't Know This About Me - The Arthur Baker Remixes (digital EP) 2010 - 24 Hour Service Station
- Fritz von Runte vs Freebass Redesign (digital EP) 2010 - 24 Hour Service Station
- Two Worlds Collide - The Instrumental Mixes (digital EP) 2010 - 24 Hour Service Station
Albums
- It's A Beautiful Life (LP) 2010 - 24 Hour Service Station / Essential (Europe, Australia & SE Asia)