JJ72
Encyclopedia
JJ72 were an alternative rock
band
from Dublin, Ireland
. After forming in 1996, they signed to Lakota Records in 1999, releasing two hit albums before splitting in 2006.
Fergal Matthews, while studying at Belvedere College
. Greaney grew up in Dublin, where for a time he lived next door to Phil Lynott
. Matthews originated from County Meath
. The name 'JJ72' derives from a window at Belvedere College made from 72 jam jars
. They cited Nirvana
, Mudhoney
and Joy Division
as influences. After auditioning several bassists they recruited their schoolmate Garvin Smith on bass in 1996. After a few early gigs, Smith left, and Greaney and Matthews once again set about auditions for a new bassist. Two bassists had short stints with the band, but in 1997 Greaney and Matthews entered the studio as a duo to record their first demo. They sent it to local record companies and media but with little response. In 1998 they started university courses, but shortly after starting they decided to concentrate on the band; They played a concert at Behan's pub in Dublin, backed by a string quartet
, and were asked to appear on local television. They decided they needed someone who could mime and who "looked good", and recruited Hilary Woods, who Greaney had known for several years. Despite not being able to play bass, Woods became a member in January 1999. They recorded a second demo, and targeted the UK, playing several gigs there and getting a write-up in Select. This led to interest from the Dublin-based Sony
sub-label Lakota Records, who signed the band in mid-1999.
DJ Mark Radcliffe
. They were given support slots with The Dandy Warhols
and My Vitriol
. The band had their first hit with "Long Way South" in May 2000, which peaked at number 68 in the UK, and they played at festivals including Glastonbury
, Reading and Leeds
later that year.
The band released their eponymously titled debut album
in Summer 2000. A great critical and commercial success alike, the album
has sold in excess of 500,000 copies in their native Ireland and in the United Kingdom
, where it reached number 16 on the UK Albums Chart
. In Germany, a special 'tour edition' was released, including a second CD-ROM disc. The album spawned the singles "Snow", "October Swimmer", "Long Way South", and "Oxygen", and saw the band perform promotional tours in Europe
, the US
. "Oxygen" gave the band their first top 30 single in the UK, leading the band to perform on Top of the Pops
. After touring with Coldplay
and Embrace, they set out on their own headline tour. They supported Muse
on a tour of Europe, headlined the NME Brats tour, and played a few gigs in Japan
. Several performances had been cancelled after Greaney lost his voice, and there were further cancellations in 2001 after Matthews was knocked off his motorbike, with Kylie Minogue
's drummer Bob Knight standing in for a few gigs. Matthews recovered in time for the festival season and support slots with U2
. The band received an Irish Music Award for 'Best New Band' later that year.
The band's second album I To Sky
followed in October 2002. It contained the singles "Formulae" and "Always and Forever", and reached the Top 5 of the Irish album charts and the Top 20 of the UK Albums Chart
.
Greaney and Matthews recruited Canadian
born bassist Sarah Fox as her replacement. After a two-year silence, the band embarked on their first tour with Sarah Fox in May 2005, and released the download
and 7"
only single "She's Gone". A second single, "Coming Home" followed in August 2005, peaking at number 52 in the UK Singles Chart
. A tour followed in September 2005, with Greaney expressing from the stage his frustrations regarding the release of the third album. pending an ongoing dispute with then current record label
s Lakota Records/Sony
. Song
s rumoured to have been included on the new album: "Take From Me", "Radio","Everything", "Rainfalls", "Underground", "Maria", "Nothing In This World", "Some Day" (this song, as Demo version, appear as B-side on the "coming Home" 7" vinyl). A promotional CD containing "Coming Home", "Take From Me", "Radio" and "Everything" was circulated in 2005.
However, on June 22, 2006, JJ72 issued a press release announcing they were to split up after ten years together. They cited a struggle with their record label as their main reason for the split. This press release read:
, featuring himself (guitar and vocals), Gavin Fox (ex-Idlewild
/Turn/Vega4 on bass) and Binzer (ex-BellX1/Frames/Halite on drums). The band performed live throughout Ireland as part of the "2fm 2moro 2our" in November 2007, and supported Smashing Pumpkins in Belfast and Dublin in Spring 2008. Concerto for Constantine then went on to sell out headline shows in Dublin and London, and also played at the Oxegen Festival in Ireland and at T In The Park
in Scotland in July 2008. Greaney is currently making another record under a new moniker, the title and style of which is as yet unknown. He is also an artist manager.
Sarah Fox played bass for a band called Lluther
, but has since left the band and is now running a record label called "Angel, She's A Killer". The future of Fergal Matthews is as yet unclear.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
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...
from Dublin, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. After forming in 1996, they signed to Lakota Records in 1999, releasing two hit albums before splitting in 2006.
Formation & early years
The band was formed in 1996 by lead singer and songwriter Mark Greaney and drummerDrummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Fergal Matthews, while studying at Belvedere College
Belvedere College
Belvedere College SJ is a private secondary school for boys located on Great Denmark Street, Dublin, Ireland. It is also known as St. Francis Xavier's College....
. Greaney grew up in Dublin, where for a time he lived next door to Phil Lynott
Phil Lynott
Philip Parris "Phil" Lynott was an Irish musician who first came to prominence as a founding member, principal songwriter, and frontman of the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy....
. Matthews originated from County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
. The name 'JJ72' derives from a window at Belvedere College made from 72 jam jars
Jar
A jar is a rigid, approximately cylindrical container with a wide mouth or opening. Jars are typically made of glass, ceramic, or plastic. They are used for foods, cosmetics, medications, and chemicals that are relatively thick or viscous...
. They cited Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
, Mudhoney
Mudhoney
Mudhoney is an American alternative rock band. Formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1988 following the demise of Green River, Mudhoney's members are vocalist and rhythm guitarist Mark Arm, lead guitarist Steve Turner, bassist Guy Maddison, and drummer Dan Peters. Original bassist Matt Lukin left the...
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...
as influences. After auditioning several bassists they recruited their schoolmate Garvin Smith on bass in 1996. After a few early gigs, Smith left, and Greaney and Matthews once again set about auditions for a new bassist. Two bassists had short stints with the band, but in 1997 Greaney and Matthews entered the studio as a duo to record their first demo. They sent it to local record companies and media but with little response. In 1998 they started university courses, but shortly after starting they decided to concentrate on the band; They played a concert at Behan's pub in Dublin, backed by a string quartet
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
, and were asked to appear on local television. They decided they needed someone who could mime and who "looked good", and recruited Hilary Woods, who Greaney had known for several years. Despite not being able to play bass, Woods became a member in January 1999. They recorded a second demo, and targeted the UK, playing several gigs there and getting a write-up in Select. This led to interest from the Dublin-based 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....
sub-label Lakota Records, who signed the band in mid-1999.
Commercial success
Début single "October Swimmer" was released in November that year, and was named 'Single of the Week' by BBC Radio 1BBC 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...
DJ Mark Radcliffe
Mark Radcliffe
Mark Radcliffe is an English broadcaster who has worked in various roles for the BBC since the 1980s and remains one of Britain's most recognised DJs. He is currently a presenter on BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music, where he hosts an afternoon show five times a week alongside Stuart Maconie, called...
. They were given support slots with The Dandy Warhols
The Dandy Warhols
The Dandy Warhols are an American alternative rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1994. The band was founded by singer-guitarist Courtney Taylor-Taylor and guitarist Peter Holmström, with keyboardist Zia McCabe and drummer Eric Hedford later joining. Hedford left in 1998 and was replaced by...
and My Vitriol
My Vitriol
My Vitriol are an alternative rock band from London, England. The band name, which is often misinterpreted, is taken from the novel Brighton Rock by Graham Greene...
. The band had their first hit with "Long Way South" in May 2000, which peaked at number 68 in the UK, and they played at festivals including Glastonbury
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
, Reading and Leeds
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...
later that year.
The band released their eponymously titled debut album
JJ72 (album)
JJ72 is the self-titled debut album by Dublin indie rock trio JJ72. It was released on August 28, 2000.-Track listing:# "October Swimmer" – 3:21# "Undercover Angel" – 3:44# "Oxygen" – 3:42# "Willow" – 4:23# "Surrender" – 4:11# "Long Way South" – 2:51...
in Summer 2000. A great critical and commercial success alike, the 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...
has sold in excess of 500,000 copies in their native Ireland and in 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...
, where it reached number 16 on the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The 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...
. In Germany, a special 'tour edition' was released, including a second CD-ROM disc. The album spawned the singles "Snow", "October Swimmer", "Long Way South", and "Oxygen", and saw the band perform promotional tours in 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...
, the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. "Oxygen" gave the band their first top 30 single in the UK, leading the band to perform on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
. After touring with Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
and Embrace, they set out on their own headline tour. They supported Muse
Muse (band)
Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
on a tour of Europe, headlined the NME Brats tour, and played a few gigs in 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...
. Several performances had been cancelled after Greaney lost his voice, and there were further cancellations in 2001 after Matthews was knocked off his motorbike, with Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
's drummer Bob Knight standing in for a few gigs. Matthews recovered in time for the festival season and support slots with U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
. The band received an Irish Music Award for 'Best New Band' later that year.
The band's second album I To Sky
I To Sky
I To Sky was the second and last studio album from Irish indie rock band JJ72, released on Lakota Records in 2002, to much critical acclaim, but lesser commercial success.-Track listing:# "Nameless" – 2:26# "Formulae" – 4:13# "I Saw a Prayer" – 4:59...
followed in October 2002. It contained the singles "Formulae" and "Always and Forever", and reached the Top 5 of the Irish album charts and the Top 20 of the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The 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...
.
Return & split
In March 2003 bassist Hilary Woods left the band.Greaney and Matthews recruited Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
born bassist Sarah Fox as her replacement. After a two-year silence, the band embarked on their first tour with Sarah Fox in May 2005, and released the download
Uploading and downloading
In computer networks, to download means to receive data to a local system from a remote system, or to initiate such a data transfer. Examples of a remote system from which a download might be performed include a webserver, FTP server, email server, or other similar systems...
and 7"
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...
only single "She's Gone". A second single, "Coming Home" followed in August 2005, peaking at number 52 in the 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 ...
. A tour followed in September 2005, with Greaney expressing from the stage his frustrations regarding the release of the third album. pending an ongoing dispute with then current 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,...
s Lakota Records/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....
. 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 rumoured to have been included on the new album: "Take From Me", "Radio","Everything", "Rainfalls", "Underground", "Maria", "Nothing In This World", "Some Day" (this song, as Demo version, appear as B-side on the "coming Home" 7" vinyl). A promotional CD containing "Coming Home", "Take From Me", "Radio" and "Everything" was circulated in 2005.
However, on June 22, 2006, JJ72 issued a press release announcing they were to split up after ten years together. They cited a struggle with their record label as their main reason for the split. This press release read:
Post-JJ72 activities
Mark Greaney embarked upon his first tour as a solo artist in May 2007. He subsequently formed a new band called Concerto For ConstantineConcerto For Constantine
Concerto for Constantine is an unsigned Irish indie rock band formed in August 2007. The band consists of former JJ72 frontman Mark Greaney , former Turn and Idlewild bassist Gavin Fox and former The Frames and Bell X1 drummer Paul 'Binzer' Brennan .- Formation :In the summer of 2007, Mark and...
, featuring himself (guitar and vocals), Gavin Fox (ex-Idlewild
Idlewild (band)
Idlewild are a Scottish rock band, formed in Edinburgh, in 1995, comprising Roddy Woomble , Rod Jones , Colin Newton , Allan Stewart and Gareth Russell...
/Turn/Vega4 on bass) and Binzer (ex-BellX1/Frames/Halite on drums). The band performed live throughout Ireland as part of the "2fm 2moro 2our" in November 2007, and supported Smashing Pumpkins in Belfast and Dublin in Spring 2008. Concerto for Constantine then went on to sell out headline shows in Dublin and London, and also played at the Oxegen Festival in Ireland and at T In The Park
T in the Park
T in the Park is a major British music festival that has been held annually since 1994. It is named after its main sponsor, the brewing company Tennents. It was originally held at Strathclyde Park, Lanarkshire but since 1997 has been held at a disused airfield in Balado, Kinross-shire...
in Scotland in July 2008. Greaney is currently making another record under a new moniker, the title and style of which is as yet unknown. He is also an artist manager.
Sarah Fox played bass for a band called Lluther
Lluther
Lluther is an Irish noise rock/alternative metal band from Dublin, Ireland, founded in 2004 by songwriter/guitarist Gerry Owens. The band has released two studio albums, one EP, and seven singles....
, but has since left the band and is now running a record label called "Angel, She's A Killer". The future of Fergal Matthews is as yet unclear.
Band member details
- Mark Greaney (vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
) born 23 June 1980. - Fergal Matthews (drums) born 29 January 1980, in Dublin.
- Hilary Woods (bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals) born 30 May. - Sarah Fox (bass) - from 2003 onwards.
- Garvin Smith (bass) - early line-up.
Albums
| Year | Details | Peak chart positions | Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales thresholds) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IRE Irish Albums Chart The Irish Albums Chart is the Irish music industry standard albums popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on its behalf by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured electronically... |
UK |
FRA France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
|||
| 2000 | JJ72 JJ72 (album) JJ72 is the self-titled debut album by Dublin indie rock trio JJ72. It was released on August 28, 2000.-Track listing:# "October Swimmer" – 3:21# "Undercover Angel" – 3:44# "Oxygen" – 3:42# "Willow" – 4:23# "Surrender" – 4:11# "Long Way South" – 2:51...
|
7 | 16 | — |
British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... : Gold |
| 2002 | I to Sky I To Sky I To Sky was the second and last studio album from Irish indie rock band JJ72, released on Lakota Records in 2002, to much critical acclaim, but lesser commercial success.-Track listing:# "Nameless" – 2:26# "Formulae" – 4:13# "I Saw a Prayer" – 4:59... |
10 | 20 | 124 | |
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IRE Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
UK 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 ... |
NED Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
|||||||||||||
| 1999 | "Pillows" ("Oxygen") (demo) | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| "October Swimmer" | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| 2000 | "Snow" | — | 80 | — | |||||||||||
| "Long Way South" | — | 68 | — | JJ72 | |||||||||||
| "Oxygen" | 42 | 23 | — | ||||||||||||
| "October Swimmer" | 50 | 29 | 86 | ||||||||||||
| 2001 | "Snow" | 33 | 21 | — | |||||||||||
| "Algeria" (promo only) | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| 2002 | "Formulae" | 24 | 28 | — | I to Sky | ||||||||||
| 2003 | "Always and Forever" | — | 42 | — | |||||||||||
| 2005 | "She's Gone" | — | 136 | — | |||||||||||
| "Coming Home" | 38 | 52 | — | ||||||||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | |||||||||||||||