Pocket Venus
Encyclopedia
Pocket Venus are a Welsh
rock band
from Conwy
in North Wales
. The band's sound has been difficult to pigeonhole as they have such a diverse range of sounds, however, many critics have compared the group to classic rock bands such as Pink Floyd
and Led Zeppelin
for the progressive rock dynamics and comparisons of the precise orchestration and song writing techniques of bands like The Verve
and Spiritualized
were also abundant in reviews. The band formed in 1998 and toured the UK extensively, hailed as one of the best unsigned bands of their time they achieved critical acclaim both in the UK and abroad. Pocket Venus split in 2003 during negotiations with major record labels, the band cited musical and personal differences as the reason for the breakup. In late 2010 Pocket Venus reformed.
record label. First release; "Make It Through Your Day" was highly acclaimed and received airplay on BBC Radio One from John Peel
and Mark Radcliffe
, and also airings on BBC Radio Wales
from Adam Walton
, who invited the band on his show for a session. The band produced a video for their second release Tell Me Why, which is still available on You Tube and the NME's official website. gigs and an energetic stage performance led to more airplay from radio stations both across the UK and internationally, notably winning "Best International Artist" at the Orange County Music Awards. The lineup changed again in late 2002 with the departure of Steve Jones on lead guitar. Jones's place was taken by Dyfed Roberts formerly of Gwacamoli. The band continued to play live shows until August 2003 when the band split up. The band had become disillusioned and disheartened by the music industry, so in order to save their friendships and personal relationships they went their separate ways.
, with Steve Flavell on drums and bass player Mauve. Gotti
played locally and also recorded a number of demo tapes. Ryan, Algieri and Robinson stayed away from the music scene for various reasons and concentrated on their family lives and other responsibilities. The band attempted to reform in 2008 but never got past the rehearsal stage.
The band are also supporting various charities including rereleasing their E.P Tell Me Why for Help For Heroes
, and also playing gigs to support the Oxjam Music Festival
.
and also played alongside Reef
at the prestigious Wakestock
festival. Pocket Venus have also played Manchester's world renowned "In The City
" showcase festival.
The band recently played at Club 147 in Llandudno with Talk To Angels and Danny McNamara
of Embrace on Friday 2 September 2011.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
rock band
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 Conwy
Conwy
Conwy is a walled market town and community in Conwy County Borough on the north coast of Wales. The town, which faces Deganwy across the River Conwy, formerly lay in Gwynedd and prior to that in Caernarfonshire. Conwy has a population of 14,208...
in North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
. The band's sound has been difficult to pigeonhole as they have such a diverse range of sounds, however, many critics have compared the group to classic rock bands such as Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
and Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
for the progressive rock dynamics and comparisons of the precise orchestration and song writing techniques of bands like The Verve
The Verve
The Verve were an English rock band formed in 1989 in Wigan by lead vocalist Richard Ashcroft, guitarist Nick McCabe, bassist Simon Jones, and drummer Peter Salisbury. Guitarist and keyboardist Simon Tong later became a member. Beginning with a psychedelic sound indebted to shoegazing and space...
and Spiritualized
Spiritualized
Spiritualized are an English space rock band formed in 1990 in Rugby, Warwickshire by Jason Pierce after the demise of his previous outfit, space-rockers Spacemen 3...
were also abundant in reviews. The band formed in 1998 and toured the UK extensively, hailed as one of the best unsigned bands of their time they achieved critical acclaim both in the UK and abroad. Pocket Venus split in 2003 during negotiations with major record labels, the band cited musical and personal differences as the reason for the breakup. In late 2010 Pocket Venus reformed.
Current Lineup
- Chris Yates (lead vocals, guitar)
- Dave Robinson (keyboards, piano)
- Chris Ryan (guitar)
- Naldo Algieri (bass)
- Simon Barton (drums)
Formation (1998 - 2003)
Pocket Venus, from North Wales formed in 1998, an amalgamation of various members of earlier bands, the original line up was Chris Yates, Naldo Algieri, Steve Jones, Chris Bainbridge and Mark Roberts. The line up changed in 1999 when guitarist Chris Bainbridge left transferring rhythm guitar duties to Chris Yates. Keyboardist Dave Robinson joined shortly after but the lineup changed again in 2000 when drummer Mark Roberts left the band to be replaced by Pete Ryan. The band were managed by Neil Crud, who released two singles for them on his Secrets of SoundSecrets of Sound
Secrets of Sound is a record label set up by Neil Crud in Rhyl, North Wales in 1992. Crud created the label as an outlet for his own band Sons of Selina, hence the label's initials SOS...
record label. First release; "Make It Through Your Day" was highly acclaimed and received airplay on BBC Radio One from John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
and 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...
, and also airings on BBC Radio Wales
BBC Radio Wales
BBC Radio Wales is the BBC's national radio station broadcasting to Wales in the English language. Operated by BBC Wales, it began broadcasting on 12 November 1978 following the demise of the old "Radio 4 Wales" when BBC Radio 4 became a national network and moved from medium wave to long wave...
from Adam Walton
Adam Walton
Adam Walton is an alternative DJ for BBC Radio Wales. He was brought up in Nannerch, near Mold, North Wales....
, who invited the band on his show for a session. The band produced a video for their second release Tell Me Why, which is still available on You Tube and the NME's official website. gigs and an energetic stage performance led to more airplay from radio stations both across the UK and internationally, notably winning "Best International Artist" at the Orange County Music Awards. The lineup changed again in late 2002 with the departure of Steve Jones on lead guitar. Jones's place was taken by Dyfed Roberts formerly of Gwacamoli. The band continued to play live shows until August 2003 when the band split up. The band had become disillusioned and disheartened by the music industry, so in order to save their friendships and personal relationships they went their separate ways.
Post-breakup activities (2003 - 2010)
After the band split Yates and Roberts went on to form GottiGotti
Gotti: The Rise and Fall of a Real Life Mafia Don is a 1996 HBO original movie made for television directed by Robert Harmon. It features Armand Assante, as the infamous Gambino crime family Boss John Gotti, William Forsythe, and Anthony Quinn. The film was the highest rated original telefilm in...
, with Steve Flavell on drums and bass player Mauve. Gotti
Gotti
Gotti: The Rise and Fall of a Real Life Mafia Don is a 1996 HBO original movie made for television directed by Robert Harmon. It features Armand Assante, as the infamous Gambino crime family Boss John Gotti, William Forsythe, and Anthony Quinn. The film was the highest rated original telefilm in...
played locally and also recorded a number of demo tapes. Ryan, Algieri and Robinson stayed away from the music scene for various reasons and concentrated on their family lives and other responsibilities. The band attempted to reform in 2008 but never got past the rehearsal stage.
Reunion (2010 - present)
In December 2010, Yates, Algieri and Robinson were joined by Chris Ryan on lead guitar and John "Hargi" Hargest on drums for a low key gig in North Wales announcing the band's return. Hargi was replaced on drums by Simon Barton early on, since then the band have played a number of gigs and have recently released a new E.P, Back to Make it Better, tracks include "Back To Make It Better", "Godspeed" and "Life Of Misery". The E.P has received national airplay and has helped the band reach a wider audience.The band are also supporting various charities including rereleasing their E.P Tell Me Why for Help For Heroes
Help for Heroes
Help for Heroes is a British charity launched on 1 October 2007 to help provide better facilities for British servicemen and women wounded since September 11, 2001. It was founded by Bryn Parry OBE and his wife Emma Parry OBE after they visited soldiers at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham...
, and also playing gigs to support the Oxjam Music Festival
Oxjam
Oxjam is a charity music festival in the United Kingdom that raises money for Oxfam, whose mission is to fight poverty worldwide. Events are held in multiple cities across the United Kingdom, normally in the month of October...
.
Live
Pocket Venus claim they never managed to capture the true essence of the band in their recordings and urged people to see them live instead of relying on the EP's and singles they produced. They played at many of the more infamous London venues including the Garage in Highbury, The Water Rats in St Pancras and The Bull And Gate in Kentish Town. The band played several festivals during their career playing Pigstock in North WalesNorth Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
and also played alongside Reef
Reef (band)
Reef are an English band from Glastonbury. The band members includes Gary Stringer on vocals, Kenwyn House on guitar, Jack Bessant on bass and Dominic Greensmith on drums.-Early days:...
at the prestigious Wakestock
Wakestock
The Wakestock Action Sports and Music Festival is a wakeboarding contest and Canada’s largest action sports and music festival. It is held in Ontario, Canada on the Toronto Islands, Toronto, Ontario. The name Wakestock refers to the famous outdoor music festival Woodstock.-History:In 2005, the...
festival. Pocket Venus have also played Manchester's world renowned "In The City
In The City (festival)
In The City is an annual music industry conference and festival founded by the late Tony Wilson, formerly of Factory Records and Granada Television, and his partner Yvette Livesey....
" showcase festival.
The band recently played at Club 147 in Llandudno with Talk To Angels and Danny McNamara
Danny McNamara
Danny McNamara is the lead singer of English band Embrace.-Early years:...
of Embrace on Friday 2 September 2011.
EP's
- Make It Through Your Day (06/2000)
- Tell Me Why (03/2002)
- Back To Make It Better (08/2011)