Scarfo
Encyclopedia
Scarfo were a British
rock
band
, formed in Andover
, England
in 1994, by former art college students Jamie Hince (vocals, guitar), Nick Prior (bass), and Al Saunders (drums). Scarfo was the culmination of several other bands and line ups involving Hince and Saunders including "Remember the Rabbitts" (a reference to medical trials on animals), and "Electric Turkey Land". The line up for both these bands included long term friend of Hince, and fellow resident of the Newbury area, "Wob". Wob went on to play, like Hince, with the punk-folk ensemble "Blyth Power
".
where they played many gigs, attracting the attention of Fierce Panda Records
, who issued their debut single, "Skinny" in 1995. They then signed to Deceptive Records
and their self-titled album produced by Philip Thomas was released in November of that year to critical acclaim. They released several singles over the following three years (two of these - "Alkaline" and "Cosmonaut No. 7" - making it into the UK Singles Chart
), and the album
, Luxury Plane Crash (1997).
"Alkaline" and a cover of Elvis Costello
's "I Want You" (as a bonus track), were included on Deceptive 50 (January 1998, Deceptive, Bluff050cd [CD]), a compilation album
released by Deceptive Records
to celebrate their 50th release.
Jamie Hince went on to release "The Glue Hotel Tapes" mini album as Fiji on Impresario Records (February 2004, Impresario Records, Impcd003) and a single, "Pillshop", also on Impresario (November 99, Impresario, IMP004 [7"]). He is now the guitarist in The Kills
.
During the height of Scarfo's early success, progress ground to a halt after Al Saunders was badly injured after being run down by a car in London. This incident caused the momentum of the band to falter and led directly to the band folding.
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...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, formed in Andover
Andover, Hampshire
Andover is a town in the English county of Hampshire. The town is on the River Anton some 18.5 miles west of the town of Basingstoke, 18.5 miles north-west of the city of Winchester and 25 miles north of the city of Southampton...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1994, by former art college students Jamie Hince (vocals, guitar), Nick Prior (bass), and Al Saunders (drums). Scarfo was the culmination of several other bands and line ups involving Hince and Saunders including "Remember the Rabbitts" (a reference to medical trials on animals), and "Electric Turkey Land". The line up for both these bands included long term friend of Hince, and fellow resident of the Newbury area, "Wob". Wob went on to play, like Hince, with the punk-folk ensemble "Blyth Power
Blyth Power
Blyth Power are a British rock band formed in 1983 by singer/drummer Joseph Porter, formerly of Zounds and The Mob.Blyth Power's music shows strong influences from punk rock and folk music, and the band members have described their sound as a cross between The Clash, Steeleye Span and The...
".
Career
Scarfo moved to LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where they played many gigs, attracting the attention of Fierce Panda Records
Fierce Panda Records
Fierce Panda Records is a London-based independent record label, with its first release in February 1994. It also produced a small number of releases that year by now famous artists such as Ash, The Bluetones, Baby Bird and Supergrass...
, who issued their debut single, "Skinny" in 1995. They then signed to Deceptive Records
Deceptive Records
Deceptive Records was a British independent record label formed in 1992 by Steve Lamacq, Tony Smith and Alan James, which concentrated on rock and alternative rock. The most famous group signed to the label were Elastica....
and their self-titled album produced by Philip Thomas was released in November of that year to critical acclaim. They released several singles over the following three years (two of these - "Alkaline" and "Cosmonaut No. 7" - making it into 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 ...
), and 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...
, Luxury Plane Crash (1997).
"Alkaline" and a cover of Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
's "I Want You" (as a bonus track), were included on Deceptive 50 (January 1998, Deceptive, Bluff050cd [CD]), a compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
released by Deceptive Records
Deceptive Records
Deceptive Records was a British independent record label formed in 1992 by Steve Lamacq, Tony Smith and Alan James, which concentrated on rock and alternative rock. The most famous group signed to the label were Elastica....
to celebrate their 50th release.
Jamie Hince went on to release "The Glue Hotel Tapes" mini album as Fiji on Impresario Records (February 2004, Impresario Records, Impcd003) and a single, "Pillshop", also on Impresario (November 99, Impresario, IMP004 [7"]). He is now the guitarist in The Kills
The Kills
The Kills is a rock band formed by American singer Alison Mosshart and British guitarist Jamie Hince . Their first three albums, Keep On Your Mean Side, No Wow, and Midnight Boom, have garnered much critical praise...
.
During the height of Scarfo's early success, progress ground to a halt after Al Saunders was badly injured after being run down by a car in London. This incident caused the momentum of the band to falter and led directly to the band folding.
Singles
- "Skinny" (May 1995, Fierce Panda, NING08 [7"])
- "Tunnel Of Love" (December 1995, Deceptive, BLUFF022 [7"])
- "Bingo England" (April 1996, Deceptive, BLUFF028 [7"]/BLUFF028CD [CDS])
- "ELO" (May 1997, Deceptive, BLUFF041 [7"]/BLUFF041CD [CDS])
- "Alkaline" (July 1997, Deceptive, BLUFF044 [7"]/BLUFF044X [7"]/BLUFF044CD [CDS]) - (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 ...
#61) - "Cosmonaut No. 7" (October 1997, Deceptive, BLUFF053 [7"]/BLUFF053X [7"]/BLUFF053CD [CDS]) (UK #67)
- "A Year From Monday" (September 1998, Deceptive, BLUFF064 [7"]/BLUFF064CD [CDS])
Albums
- Scarfo (November 1995, Deceptive, BLUFF017LP [LP]/BLUFF017CD [CD])
- Tracklisting:
1. Eyesore
2. Coin Op
3. Skinny
4. Shuffling Souls
5. Backwater
6. Carchase
7. Bingo England
8. Read About Seymour
9. Throw It All
10. Wailing Words
- Luxury Plane Crash (July 1997, Deceptive, BLUFF045LP [LP]/BLUFF045CD [CD])
- Tracklisting:
1. ELO
2. Alkaline3. Jet Smashed Flat
4. Safecracker
5. Don't Let Go
6. Japanese Cameras
7. Jazz Cigarette
8. Cosmonaut No 7
9. Pajo Gear
10. Chomsky Airport
11. Lifeline
12. Prison Architect