Robert Harvey (musician)
Encyclopedia
The Music was an English alternative rock
band, formed Kippax
, Leeds
, in 1999. Comprising Robert Harvey (vocals, guitar), Adam Nutter (lead guitar), Stuart Coleman (bass) and Phil Jordan (drums), the band came to prominence with the release of their debut album, The Music
, in 2002. The band released two further studio albums, Welcome to the North
(2004) and Strength in Numbers
(2008), before parting ways in 2011.
except Phil Jordan who went to Garforth and began playing in 1999. In 2001 the song Take the Long Road and Walk It
circulated as a demo before being released by Fierce Panda as a 1000-copies-only single, a rarity from its day of release. Around this time the NME
and Steve Lamacq
were describing them as the best unsigned band in Britain. The band were quickly signed by Hut
, who released their first EP You Might as Well Try to Fuck Me
.
In 2002, following another EP (The People
) they released their eponymous début album
which reached #4 in the UK album charts. Their début single was re-issued as part of a two-disc set to promote the album, and reached #14 in the singles chart. Two further singles from the album, Getaway and The Truth is No Words
reached #26 and #18 respectively. June 2003 saw them filling in for an absent Zwan
on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival
.
In autumn 2004, they released their second album Welcome to the North
and the accompanying single Freedom Fighters
, before touring with Incubus
. August 2005 saw the band play at the dual-venue V Festival
. In late 2006 they played a few UK gigs and subsequently posted on their site the video new song entitled, Fire, which would eventually be released on Strength in Numbers
two years later. The site also featured a video for unreleased track Kill 100 by X-Press 2 featuring Robert Harvey.
The band signed a new deal with Polydor in 2007 and spent the rest of the year recording their third album with producers Flood and Paul Hartnoll
.
During this time Harvey also revealed the reason for the band's extended absence. On The Music's official website, he told of his initial abuse of drugs in his mid-teens: "the addiction began to sit into its groove. At first it was a joy then later became a habit and a way of escaping". He later quit drugs, but around the time of the band's second album, had replaced the addiction with alcohol: "Drinking became the place to hide. I'd have a bottle of wine before 7pm, then go out and make a fool of myself. The next day was always panic and more questions it took a close friend to say to me 'Robert, you are depressed'". He sought help at the end of 2005, and undertook a program that included medication.
In June 2008, the band released their comeback single Strength in Numbers
, and the album Strength In Numbers
the following week.
In January 2010, the band began demoing material for their fourth studio album. The album was due for release sometime 2011. However, Harvey left the band in September 2010, and following a series of final farewell shows, The Music split up in August 2011.
Harvey has since gone on to work with The Streets
, collaborating on the album Computers and Blues
. Mike Skinner of The Streets and Harvey also released a Christmas song in December 2010, called Scrooge And Marley – I Don't Want It To Be Me.
On March 31, 2011, The Music announced a series of farewell gigs on their website. The band played three shows in Japan July 25–27. They then played Brixton Academy London, England on August 4, before bringing the curtain down on their career with two home town gigs at the O2 Academy in Leeds on 5 and 6 August.
On April 21, 2011 the band released the newest and final song of their career on their official website. "Ghost Hands" was recorded for their now scrapped fourth studio album sessions. Talking about the single lead singer Robert Harvey said:
"We love the track and it just seemed a shame to leave it gathering dust for ever. It's good to go out with something positive and new and we think it deserves to see the light of day. Hopefully the fans will agree - again we want to thank everyone who's been with us on this journey and look forward to celebrating an amazing ten years this summer."
Following the end of their final tour, the band, in conjunction with Concert Live, released The Last Dance: Live
which captures the gigs from August 4th and 6th respectively. A DVD of the latter will also be released.
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, formed Kippax
Kippax, West Yorkshire
Kippax is a village and civil parish in the City of Leeds metropolitan borough, West Yorkshire, England. It is situated in the east of the city, near to Garforth and Great Preston....
, Leeds
City of Leeds
The City of Leeds is a local government district of West Yorkshire, England, governed by Leeds City Council, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough. The metropolitan district includes Leeds and the towns of Farsley, Garforth, Guiseley, Horsforth, Morley, Otley, Pudsey, Rothwell,...
, in 1999. Comprising Robert Harvey (vocals, guitar), Adam Nutter (lead guitar), Stuart Coleman (bass) and Phil Jordan (drums), the band came to prominence with the release of their debut album, The Music
The Music (album)
The Music is the eponymous debut album by British rock band The Music, first released in September 2002.-Track listing:*All tracks written by The Music.#"The Dance" – 5:08#"Take the Long Road and Walk It" – 4:53#"Human" – 5:28...
, in 2002. The band released two further studio albums, Welcome to the North
Welcome to the North
Welcome to the North is the second album by British rock band The Music, first released in September 2004 .This album has been released with the Copy Control protection system in some regions.-Track listing:...
(2004) and Strength in Numbers
Strength in Numbers
Strength in Numbers is the seventh studio album by southern rock band 38 Special, released in 1986. This album was the last one to feature founding member and co-frontman Don Barnes, until he rejoined the band more than a decade later.-Track listing:...
(2008), before parting ways in 2011.
Career
The Music all met at Brigshaw High SchoolBrigshaw High School
Brigshaw High School and Language College is located in the village of Allerton Bywater, West Yorkshire, England.-Admissions:It is the fastest-growing high school in the City of Leeds with over 1,400 pupils in September 2006 compared to 870 pupils in 1996....
except Phil Jordan who went to Garforth and began playing in 1999. In 2001 the song Take the Long Road and Walk It
Take the Long Road and Walk It
"Take the Long Road and Walk It" is the name of The Music's first single, released in a limited press of 1,000 copies on Fierce Panda records. The song was later re-recorded for the band's debut album the following year. Both versions of the song have separate videos...
circulated as a demo before being released by Fierce Panda as a 1000-copies-only single, a rarity from its day of release. Around this time the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
and Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq , sometimes known by his nicknames Lammo or "The Cat" is an English disc jockey, currently working with the BBC radio stations BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2.-Early career:He was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire...
were describing them as the best unsigned band in Britain. The band were quickly signed by Hut
Hut Records
VC Recordings trading as Hut Records was a British record label brand which was started in 1990 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Virgin Records...
, who released their first EP You Might as Well Try to Fuck Me
You Might as Well Try to Fuck Me
"You Might as Well Try to Fuck Me" is The Music's second EP, and their first release on Hut Records. Only one of the four tracks would appear on their debut album a year later, albeit in a different arrangement...
.
In 2002, following another EP (The People
The People EP
"The People" is The Music's third EP, and the first single on Hut Records to be taken from their debut album. Videos were produced for the title track and "Let Love Be The Healer".-Track listing:#"The People" - 4:59#"Let Love Be the Healer" - 3:23...
) they released their eponymous début album
The Music (album)
The Music is the eponymous debut album by British rock band The Music, first released in September 2002.-Track listing:*All tracks written by The Music.#"The Dance" – 5:08#"Take the Long Road and Walk It" – 4:53#"Human" – 5:28...
which reached #4 in the UK album charts. Their début single was re-issued as part of a two-disc set to promote the album, and reached #14 in the singles chart. Two further singles from the album, Getaway and The Truth is No Words
The Truth is No Words
"The Truth Is No Words" is The Music's fourth and final single to be taken from their debut album. A video was produced for the single, which was also released as a limited edition picture disc vinyl.-Track listing:#"The Truth is No Words" - 4:35...
reached #26 and #18 respectively. June 2003 saw them filling in for an absent Zwan
Zwan
Zwan was an American alternative rock band that was formed by members of The Smashing Pumpkins, Slint, Tortoise, Chavez, and A Perfect Circle. Zwan was started in late 2001 by Billy Corgan, lead singer and guitarist of The Smashing Pumpkins, after the Pumpkins disbanded in December 2000. The band...
on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival
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...
.
In autumn 2004, they released their second album Welcome to the North
Welcome to the North
Welcome to the North is the second album by British rock band The Music, first released in September 2004 .This album has been released with the Copy Control protection system in some regions.-Track listing:...
and the accompanying single Freedom Fighters
Freedom Fighters (song)
"Freedom Fighters" is a song from The Music's second album, Welcome to the North. It was also the first single from that album, released in Japan in late August 2004 as an EP and in the UK and elsewhere in Europe as a single in early September 2004...
, before touring with Incubus
Incubus (band)
Incubus is an American rock band from Calabasas, California. The band was formed in 1991 by vocalist Brandon Boyd, lead guitarist Mike Einziger, and drummer Jose Pasillas while enrolled in high school and later expanded to include bassist Alex "Dirk Lance" Katunich, and Gavin "DJ Lyfe" Koppell;...
. August 2005 saw the band play at the dual-venue V Festival
V Festival
The V Festival is an annual music festival held in England during the penultimate weekend in August. The event is held at two parks simultaneously which share the same bill; artists perform at one location on Saturday and then swap on Sunday. The sites are located at Hylands Park in Chelmsford and...
. In late 2006 they played a few UK gigs and subsequently posted on their site the video new song entitled, Fire, which would eventually be released on Strength in Numbers
Strength in Numbers
Strength in Numbers is the seventh studio album by southern rock band 38 Special, released in 1986. This album was the last one to feature founding member and co-frontman Don Barnes, until he rejoined the band more than a decade later.-Track listing:...
two years later. The site also featured a video for unreleased track Kill 100 by X-Press 2 featuring Robert Harvey.
The band signed a new deal with Polydor in 2007 and spent the rest of the year recording their third album with producers Flood and Paul Hartnoll
Paul Hartnoll
Paul Hartnoll is one of two brothers , who made up the electronic dance act Orbital.-History:...
.
During this time Harvey also revealed the reason for the band's extended absence. On The Music's official website, he told of his initial abuse of drugs in his mid-teens: "the addiction began to sit into its groove. At first it was a joy then later became a habit and a way of escaping". He later quit drugs, but around the time of the band's second album, had replaced the addiction with alcohol: "Drinking became the place to hide. I'd have a bottle of wine before 7pm, then go out and make a fool of myself. The next day was always panic and more questions it took a close friend to say to me 'Robert, you are depressed'". He sought help at the end of 2005, and undertook a program that included medication.
In June 2008, the band released their comeback single Strength in Numbers
Strength in Numbers (The Music single)
"Strength In Numbers" is the first single from The Music's third album of the same name. It was also their first single in four years since "Breakin'" from the album Welcome to the North. The track peaked at number 38 in the UK singles chart...
, and the album Strength In Numbers
Strength in Numbers (The Music album)
Strength in Numbers is the third album from Leeds-based indie rock band The Music.It comes in two formats, a regular CD and a deluxe digipak Edition. The limited edition will feature two bonus tracks, "The Price" and "The Rain", but does not feature the hidden track "No Danger".A website for the...
the following week.
In January 2010, the band began demoing material for their fourth studio album. The album was due for release sometime 2011. However, Harvey left the band in September 2010, and following a series of final farewell shows, The Music split up in August 2011.
Harvey has since gone on to work with The Streets
The Streets
The Streets were a British rap/garage project from Birmingham, United Kingdom, led by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Mike Skinner and has included a myriad of other contributors most notably drummer Johnny Drum Machine, vocalist Kevin Mark Trail and the Italian-American beatmaker Leroy.The...
, collaborating on the album Computers and Blues
Computers and Blues
Computers and Blues is the fifth album by The Streets and the final one Mike Skinner plans to release under this alias, officially released in the United Kingdom on 7 February 2011. It contains 14 songs, including an appearance from British singer-songwriter Clare Maguire. Rob Harvey of The Music...
. Mike Skinner of The Streets and Harvey also released a Christmas song in December 2010, called Scrooge And Marley – I Don't Want It To Be Me.
On March 31, 2011, The Music announced a series of farewell gigs on their website. The band played three shows in Japan July 25–27. They then played Brixton Academy London, England on August 4, before bringing the curtain down on their career with two home town gigs at the O2 Academy in Leeds on 5 and 6 August.
On April 21, 2011 the band released the newest and final song of their career on their official website. "Ghost Hands" was recorded for their now scrapped fourth studio album sessions. Talking about the single lead singer Robert Harvey said:
"We love the track and it just seemed a shame to leave it gathering dust for ever. It's good to go out with something positive and new and we think it deserves to see the light of day. Hopefully the fans will agree - again we want to thank everyone who's been with us on this journey and look forward to celebrating an amazing ten years this summer."
Following the end of their final tour, the band, in conjunction with Concert Live, released The Last Dance: Live
The Last Dance: Live
The Last Dance: Live is a two part live album and DVD by UK band The Music and was released exclusively through Concert Live. It documents two concerts from their final tour, including their last ever gig which was released on DVD.-Track listing:...
which captures the gigs from August 4th and 6th respectively. A DVD of the latter will also be released.
Band members
- Robert Harvey – vocals, guitar
- Adam Nutter – lead guitar
- Stuart Coleman – bass guitar
- Phil Jordman – drums
Studio albums/Compilations
| 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) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK 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... |
AUS ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
FRA |
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... |
ITA |
JPN Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... |
US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
|||
| 2002 | The Music The Music (album) The Music is the eponymous debut album by British rock band The Music, first released in September 2002.-Track listing:*All tracks written by The Music.#"The Dance" – 5:08#"Take the Long Road and Walk It" – 4:53#"Human" – 5:28...
|
4 | 25 | 36 | 39 | 16 | 20 | 128 |
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 Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... : Gold |
| 2004 | Welcome to the North Welcome to the North Welcome to the North is the second album by British rock band The Music, first released in September 2004 .This album has been released with the Copy Control protection system in some regions.-Track listing:... Virgin Records Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny... |
8 | 23 | 78 | 68 | — | 10 | — |
|
| 2008 | Strength in Numbers Strength in Numbers (The Music album) Strength in Numbers is the third album from Leeds-based indie rock band The Music.It comes in two formats, a regular CD and a deluxe digipak Edition. The limited edition will feature two bonus tracks, "The Price" and "The Rain", but does not feature the hidden track "No Danger".A website for the... |
19 | 30 | — | — | — | 19 | — | |
| 2011 | Singles and EPs: 2001 - 2005
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "-" denotes releases that did not chart. | |||||||||
Singles and EPs
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 ... |
AUS ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
NLD Mega Single Top 100 The Single Top 100 is a Dutch chart, based on official physical single sales and legal downloads and composed by MegaCharts. It is one of the three official charts, the other two being the Dutch Top 40 and the Mega Top 50. The difference is that these charts also include airplay data.The list is... |
US Mod Modern Rock Tracks Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs... |
|||
| 2001 | "Take the Long Road and Walk It Take the Long Road and Walk It "Take the Long Road and Walk It" is the name of The Music's first single, released in a limited press of 1,000 copies on Fierce Panda records. The song was later re-recorded for the band's debut album the following year. Both versions of the song have separate videos... " |
92 |
— | — | — | |
| "You Might as Well Try to Fuck Me You Might as Well Try to Fuck Me "You Might as Well Try to Fuck Me" is The Music's second EP, and their first release on Hut Records. Only one of the four tracks would appear on their debut album a year later, albeit in a different arrangement... " |
— | — | — | — | ||
| 2002 | "The People The People EP "The People" is The Music's third EP, and the first single on Hut Records to be taken from their debut album. Videos were produced for the title track and "Let Love Be The Healer".-Track listing:#"The People" - 4:59#"Let Love Be the Healer" - 3:23... " |
—1 | 772 | — | — | The Music |
| "Take the Long Road and Walk It Take the Long Road and Walk It "Take the Long Road and Walk It" is the name of The Music's first single, released in a limited press of 1,000 copies on Fierce Panda records. The song was later re-recorded for the band's debut album the following year. Both versions of the song have separate videos... " (reissue) |
14 | — | — | — | ||
| "Getaway" | 26 | — | — | — | ||
| 2003 | "The Truth is No Words The Truth is No Words "The Truth Is No Words" is The Music's fourth and final single to be taken from their debut album. A video was produced for the single, which was also released as a limited edition picture disc vinyl.-Track listing:#"The Truth is No Words" - 4:35... " |
18 | 772 | — | — | |
| 2004 | "Welcome to the North Welcome to the North Welcome to the North is the second album by British rock band The Music, first released in September 2004 .This album has been released with the Copy Control protection system in some regions.-Track listing:... " |
— 3 | Welcome to the North | |||
| "Freedom Fighters Freedom Fighters (song) "Freedom Fighters" is a song from The Music's second album, Welcome to the North. It was also the first single from that album, released in Japan in late August 2004 as an EP and in the UK and elsewhere in Europe as a single in early September 2004... " |
15 | — | 100 | — | ||
| 2005 | "Breakin' Breakin' (song) "Breakin’ " is a song from The Music's second album, Welcome to the North. It was also the second single from that album, released in the UK and elsewhere in Europe as a single in early January 2005 and in Japan in early March 2005 as an EP... " |
20 | 63 |
— | 20 | |
| 2008 | "Strength in Numbers Strength in Numbers (The Music single) "Strength In Numbers" is the first single from The Music's third album of the same name. It was also their first single in four years since "Breakin'" from the album Welcome to the North. The track peaked at number 38 in the UK singles chart... " |
38 | — | — | — | Strength in Numbers |
| "The Spike The Spike (song) "The Spike" is the second single from The Music's third album called Strength in Numbers. The track peaked at number 114 in the UK singles chart.-Track listing:*CD Maxi#"The Spike" #"Just Cos I'm Alone" #"Hands on Fire"... " |
114 |
— | — | — | ||
| "Drugs" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | ||||||
- 1 The People E.P. reached #35 on the UK Indie ChartUK Indie ChartThe UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
. - 2 The Truth Is No Words single was released in Australia a double A-side with The People E.P.
- 3 Welcome to the North reached #3 on the UK Download Chart.
DVDs
- Live at the Blank CanvasLive at the Blank CanvasLive at the Blank Canvas is the first live DVD album by British rock band The Music, released in the United Kingdom on 1 September 2003 . The DVD is a live recording of the band's homecoming date; the last of that year's UK tour...
(1 September 2003) - Welcome to JapanWelcome to JapanWelcome to Japan is a live DVD album by British rock band The Music, released in the United Kingdom on 18 July 2005 . The DVD features tracks and footage from the band's first tour of Japan in January 2005, as well as the footage from a Liverpool Academy performance in May 2004...
(18 July 2005) - The Last Dance: LiveThe Last Dance: LiveThe Last Dance: Live is a two part live album and DVD by UK band The Music and was released exclusively through Concert Live. It documents two concerts from their final tour, including their last ever gig which was released on DVD.-Track listing:...
(August 2011)