Scouting for Girls
Encyclopedia
Scouting for Girls are a Brit and Ivor Novello nominated band from London, formed in 2005 by Roy Stride, Greg Churchouse and Peter Ellard. Stride and Ellard met in the Cub Scouts and Churchouse met Stride on their first day at school. They have sold over 1.2 million albums and over 1.5 million singles worldwide. Their biggest hit to date is "This Ain't a Love Song
" which hit number one in the UK in Easter 2010.
Scouting for Boys
handbook first published in 1908 for the Scouts
, which provides boys instructions on good citizenship. Similarly, the Scouting for Girls fan club
is known as the "Wolfcubs" and is based on the Dennis the Menace
fan club. It has been noted that the band was looking for a spirited way of removing themselves from the drudgery of their everyday lives, looking to the whimsy of childhood fantasy through playing a moog organ. Churchouse has observed on several occasions that playing bass is something he wanted to pursue as the bass has "two less strings".
in South Ruislip, West London. They attended the school until year 13 then moved on towards a music career. At the age of 15 Roy and Greg were playing together at small gigs in west London.
Stride and Churchouse were in a band called Cape. With Stride swapping from guitar
to piano
, Scouting for Girls began to do concerts in a room above a pub in Harrow
. By the time they were signed they had built up a fanbase - on MySpace
and Pulse Rated
, a website for unsigned bands. They had also already written a demo of "Heartbeat
" and produced a video for "The Aeroplane Song".
received the band's demo CD. So enthusiastic was his response that he immediately phoned up colleague Jo Charrington and said: "These are hits, let's go see the band in rehearsals!" According to Charrington every other record label had passed on them.
On 14 February 2007, Scouting for Girls were signed to Epic
UK (a division of Sony BMG). As the band were signed almost fully formed, with all their songs already written, they headed out to Helioscentric Studios in Rye
, East Sussex to begin work on their debut album almost immediately. Produced by Andy Green (Keane, KT Tunstall, The Feeling), the band's first release was the It's Not About You EP
, released on 25 June 2007. It sold-out, and became the highest charting limited edition EP in chart history. The album was released in September 2007, and has sold in excess of 900,000 copies in the UK alone. It spawned a host of hit singles; "She's So Lovely
", "Heartbeat
", and "Elvis Ain't Dead".
Scouting for Girls' self-titled
album went to #1 in the UK on 20 January 2008, where it remained for two weeks.
The band toured the UK heavily throughout 2007 and 2008, upgrading and selling-out venues in every city they performed. During their first tour of 2008, Roy Stride lost his voice en route to a gig in Birmingham and was diagnosed with laryngitis, forcing the band to reschedule a series of dates on the tour. The rescheduled dates included an extra night in London, with the band-selling out a record four consecutive nights at the Shepherds Bush Empire. The band's final tour of the year concluded with two sold-out nights at London's Hammersmith Apollo, and one at London's Brixton Academy.
Scouting for Girls also made a series of appearances in Europe, Japan, Australia and America in 2008, including performances at 2008's SXSW Conference in Austin, Texas and CMJ in New York City.
, was released in the UK on 12 April 2010. The first single to be taken from the record was "This Ain't a Love Song
" which went straight to number 1 in the UK Singles Chart on 4 April 2010, giving the band 2010's Easter Number 1. The track has been added to radio playlists in Australia, including Sydney Radio Station: Nova 969 FM as at May 2010. http://www.novafm.com.au/Artist_Scouting-For-Girls_3983
Roy has commented on how hard they worked to make this record the best it could possibly be, scrapping early recording sessions and re-writing many of the songs in his quest for the "perfect pop song".
In the lead up to the album's release, Scouting for Girls performed in the Woolpack Pub on the set of long-running British soap, Emmerdale for a Radio Aire session
Scouting for Girls toured their new album throughout 2010, commencing with a full UK tour throughout late April and May 2010.
The band also took part in a sponsored Chopper bicycle
ride from London
to Brighton
for the charity WellChild raising over £20000.
The band released the second single, "Famous
", from the album on 12 July 2010. The single peaked at number 37 on the UK Singles Chart
, giving the band their sixth Top 40 single overall. In September 2010 the band confirmed "Don't Want To Leave You" would be released as the third single from the album on 10 October 2010. The single is under the name "Silly Song" on the album, but was changed so that it could be found more easily on the internet.
The fourth single from the album is Take A Chance On Us and is the official soundtrack of the Dutch movie Loft
. It was released on 10 December.
On 10 July 2011 Scouting For Girls released new single Love How It Hurts
as a digital download. The band are hoping to obtain the Saint Swithuns Day number 1 of 2011.
The band have announced they are releasing a bonus track edition of "Everybody Wants To Be On TV", featuring new tracks Love How It Hurts & Naked & Somebody New.
The album will also feature bonus tracks New Day, Famous – Pete Phantom Club Remix, She’s So Lovely, Elvis Ain’t Dead – Live, Famous - Cahill Club Remix.
Originally due for release 18 July 2011, the album has been postponed until later in the year.
Scouting for Girls were also nominated in the Best New Act category in the MTV Europe Music Awards 2008
Scouting for Girls have been nominated for the Ivor Novello 2011 PRS FOR MUSIC MOST PERFORMED WORK award for:
This Ain't A Love Song
Writer: Roy Stride
Performed By: Scouting for Girls
UK Publisher: EMI Music Publishing
Scouting for Girls used regularly remark on the Wolfcubs as the "fourth member" of the band. As of 2010 current touring member Jamie O'Gorman is referred to as the fourth member and the Wolfcubs are now known as the fifth member of the band.
charity. They fundraise for both charities.
Their most notable fundraiser to date was cycling from London to Brighton on children's chopper bikes for WellChild.
Scouting For Girls are playing Midlands Music Festival
2010 alongside acts like The Saturdays
, Chipmunk (rapper)
, Westlife
, Olly Murs
and Everybody Looks Famous in Tamworth, England.
Current touring members
Session
Personnel
This Ain't a Love Song (Scouting for Girls song)
"This Ain't a Love Song" is a song by the English indie pop band Scouting for Girls. It is the first track and single from their second studio album, Everybody Wants to Be on TV. The song premiered on the Scott Mills BBC Radio 1 show on 15 January 2010. The artwork was released on the band's...
" which hit number one in the UK in Easter 2010.
Background
The name Scouting for Girls is a play on the words of Baden-Powell'sRobert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell
Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, Bt, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB , also known as B-P or Lord Baden-Powell, was a lieutenant-general in the British Army, writer, and founder of the Scout Movement....
Scouting for Boys
Scouting for Boys
Scouting for Boys: A Handbook for Instruction in Good Citizenship is the first book on the Scout Movement, published in 1908. It was written and illustrated by Robert Baden-Powell, its founder...
handbook first published in 1908 for the Scouts
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
, which provides boys instructions on good citizenship. Similarly, the Scouting for Girls fan club
Fan club
A fan club is a group that is dedicated to a well-known person, group, idea or sometimes even an inanimate object . Most fan clubs are run by fans who devote considerable time and resources to supporting them. There are also "official" fan clubs that are run by someone associated with the person...
is known as the "Wolfcubs" and is based on the Dennis the Menace
Dennis the Menace (UK)
Dennis the Menace, later called Dennis the Menace and Gnasher and now Dennis and Gnasher, is a long-running comic strip in the British children's comic The Beano, published by D. C...
fan club. It has been noted that the band was looking for a spirited way of removing themselves from the drudgery of their everyday lives, looking to the whimsy of childhood fantasy through playing a moog organ. Churchouse has observed on several occasions that playing bass is something he wanted to pursue as the bass has "two less strings".
School
Roy and Greg attended Queensmead SchoolQueensmead School
Queensmead School is a comprehensive co-educational day school located on Queens Walk, South Ruislip in Hillingdon, England.-History:Queensmead School opened in 1952. It was originally designed for 450 students, but the school has developed by adding buildings, completely refurbishing a science...
in South Ruislip, West London. They attended the school until year 13 then moved on towards a music career. At the age of 15 Roy and Greg were playing together at small gigs in west London.
Unsigned and early music: pre-2007
Whilst in UniversityUniversity
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
Stride and Churchouse were in a band called Cape. With Stride swapping from guitar
Guitar
The 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...
to piano
Piano
The 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...
, Scouting for Girls began to do concerts in a room above a pub in Harrow
London Borough of Harrow
The London Borough of Harrow is a London borough of north-west London. It borders Hertfordshire to the north and other London boroughs: Hillingdon to the west, Ealing to the south, Brent to the south-east and Barnet to the east.-History:...
. By the time they were signed they had built up a fanbase - on MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
and Pulse Rated
Pulse Rated
Pulse Rated is a radio station based in Salhouse in Norfolk, UK. The station was previously known as Pulse Unsigned, and changed to Pulse Rated in Autumn 2005...
, a website for unsigned bands. They had also already written a demo of "Heartbeat
Heartbeat (Scouting for Girls song)
"Heartbeat" is a song by British band Scouting For Girls and the third single taken from their self-titled debut album. Its physical release was on April 7, 2008 and peaked at #10 on the UK Singles Chart. It was nominated for Best British Single at the 2009 BRIT Awards.-Music video:In the music...
" and produced a video for "The Aeroplane Song".
Debut album and early singles: 2007-2008
At the beginning of 2007 Epic Records A&R Nick RaphaelNick Raphael
Nick Raphael was born October 4, 1971 in London, United Kingdom. Raphael is a Music Industry Executive. He is currently President of London Records...
received the band's demo CD. So enthusiastic was his response that he immediately phoned up colleague Jo Charrington and said: "These are hits, let's go see the band in rehearsals!" According to Charrington every other record label had passed on them.
On 14 February 2007, Scouting for Girls were signed to Epic
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
UK (a division of Sony BMG). As the band were signed almost fully formed, with all their songs already written, they headed out to Helioscentric Studios in Rye
Rye
Rye is a grass grown extensively as a grain and as a forage crop. It is a member of the wheat tribe and is closely related to barley and wheat. Rye grain is used for flour, rye bread, rye beer, some whiskeys, some vodkas, and animal fodder...
, East Sussex to begin work on their debut album almost immediately. Produced by Andy Green (Keane, KT Tunstall, The Feeling), the band's first release was the It's Not About You EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, released on 25 June 2007. It sold-out, and became the highest charting limited edition EP in chart history. The album was released in September 2007, and has sold in excess of 900,000 copies in the UK alone. It spawned a host of hit singles; "She's So Lovely
She's So Lovely (song)
"She's So Lovely" is a song written by Roy Stride and produced by Andy Green for Scouting for Girls' self titled debut album. The song, which was released as the first single from the album on 27 August 2007 in the United Kingdom, peaked at number seven in the UK Singles Chart and also reached a...
", "Heartbeat
Heartbeat (Scouting for Girls song)
"Heartbeat" is a song by British band Scouting For Girls and the third single taken from their self-titled debut album. Its physical release was on April 7, 2008 and peaked at #10 on the UK Singles Chart. It was nominated for Best British Single at the 2009 BRIT Awards.-Music video:In the music...
", and "Elvis Ain't Dead".
Scouting for Girls' self-titled
Scouting for Girls (album)
-Bonus tracks:-Chart positions:When it was first released in September 2007 it debuted at No.12. The next week it fell down 8 places and then fell out of the top 40 in October 2007. It started to climb back up the chart in January 2008 until it reached its new peak of No.4 on 13 January...
album went to #1 in the UK on 20 January 2008, where it remained for two weeks.
The band toured the UK heavily throughout 2007 and 2008, upgrading and selling-out venues in every city they performed. During their first tour of 2008, Roy Stride lost his voice en route to a gig in Birmingham and was diagnosed with laryngitis, forcing the band to reschedule a series of dates on the tour. The rescheduled dates included an extra night in London, with the band-selling out a record four consecutive nights at the Shepherds Bush Empire. The band's final tour of the year concluded with two sold-out nights at London's Hammersmith Apollo, and one at London's Brixton Academy.
Scouting for Girls also made a series of appearances in Europe, Japan, Australia and America in 2008, including performances at 2008's SXSW Conference in Austin, Texas and CMJ in New York City.
Everybody Wants To Be On TV: 2009-onwards
Scouting for Girls returned to Helioscentric Studios (East Sussex, UK) in 2009 to commence work on their second album with producer Andy Green (who produced the band's eponymous debut album). The album, Everybody Wants To Be On TVEverybody Wants to Be on TV
Everybody Wants to Be on TV is the second studio album by the English pop band Scouting for Girls. It was released on 12 April 2010 through Epic. The first single on the album debuted on the Scott Mills BBC Radio 1 show on 15 January 2010. The album artwork was released on January 19, 2010...
, was released in the UK on 12 April 2010. The first single to be taken from the record was "This Ain't a Love Song
This Ain't a Love Song (Scouting for Girls song)
"This Ain't a Love Song" is a song by the English indie pop band Scouting for Girls. It is the first track and single from their second studio album, Everybody Wants to Be on TV. The song premiered on the Scott Mills BBC Radio 1 show on 15 January 2010. The artwork was released on the band's...
" which went straight to number 1 in the UK Singles Chart on 4 April 2010, giving the band 2010's Easter Number 1. The track has been added to radio playlists in Australia, including Sydney Radio Station: Nova 969 FM as at May 2010. http://www.novafm.com.au/Artist_Scouting-For-Girls_3983
Roy has commented on how hard they worked to make this record the best it could possibly be, scrapping early recording sessions and re-writing many of the songs in his quest for the "perfect pop song".
In the lead up to the album's release, Scouting for Girls performed in the Woolpack Pub on the set of long-running British soap, Emmerdale for a Radio Aire session
Scouting for Girls toured their new album throughout 2010, commencing with a full UK tour throughout late April and May 2010.
The band also took part in a sponsored Chopper bicycle
Chopper bicycle
A chopper bicycle is a bicycle that is designed to get attention and provide a smooth comfortable ride.- About :While the term "chopper" is generally used to describe a motorcycle or bicycle that has had some of its original parts replaced with custom parts, today's definition has grown to include...
ride from London
London
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...
to Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
for the charity WellChild raising over £20000.
The band released the second single, "Famous
Famous (Scouting for Girls song)
"Famous" is a the second single by the English indie pop band Scouting for Girls to be released from their second studio album, Everybody Wants to Be on TV. The song was released as a digital download on 17 July 2010 , with a CD released the following day, on 18 July 2010...
", from the album on 12 July 2010. The single peaked at number 37 on 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 ...
, giving the band their sixth Top 40 single overall. In September 2010 the band confirmed "Don't Want To Leave You" would be released as the third single from the album on 10 October 2010. The single is under the name "Silly Song" on the album, but was changed so that it could be found more easily on the internet.
The fourth single from the album is Take A Chance On Us and is the official soundtrack of the Dutch movie Loft
Loft
A loft can be an upper story or attic in a building, directly under the roof. Alternatively, a loft apartment refers to large adaptable open space, often converted for residential use from some other use, often light industrial...
. It was released on 10 December.
On 10 July 2011 Scouting For Girls released new single Love How It Hurts
Love How It Hurts
"Love How It Hurts" is a single by the English indie pop band Scouting for Girls , The song is released off the re-release of their album, "Everybody Wants to Be on TV". The song was released as a digital download on 10 July 2011...
as a digital download. The band are hoping to obtain the Saint Swithuns Day number 1 of 2011.
The band have announced they are releasing a bonus track edition of "Everybody Wants To Be On TV", featuring new tracks Love How It Hurts & Naked & Somebody New.
The album will also feature bonus tracks New Day, Famous – Pete Phantom Club Remix, She’s So Lovely, Elvis Ain’t Dead – Live, Famous - Cahill Club Remix.
Originally due for release 18 July 2011, the album has been postponed until later in the year.
Awards
Scouting for Girls were nominated for three BRIT Awards in 2009 for British Breakthrough Act, British Live Act and British Single ("Heartbeat"). They were nominated again in 2011 for Best British Single with 'This Ain't A Love Song'.Scouting for Girls were also nominated in the Best New Act category in the MTV Europe Music Awards 2008
Scouting for Girls have been nominated for the Ivor Novello 2011 PRS FOR MUSIC MOST PERFORMED WORK award for:
This Ain't A Love Song
Writer: Roy Stride
Performed By: Scouting for Girls
UK Publisher: EMI Music Publishing
The Wolfcubs
Before the band were signed to Epic Records, they ran their own fanclub, The Wolfcub Club through their MySpace site. Members of the fanclub were called Wolfcubs, and received a welcome pack put together by the band which include a CD of recent demos, a membership card which allowed discounted entry to their gigs, a regular SFG newsletter (similar to the famous Scouting For Boys guide book), and badges. When the band signed their record deal, they carried on producing the membership packs for new fans on the road, until the demand became too high to deal with. However, the Wolfcubs still exist in reference to the band's fans.Scouting for Girls used regularly remark on the Wolfcubs as the "fourth member" of the band. As of 2010 current touring member Jamie O'Gorman is referred to as the fourth member and the Wolfcubs are now known as the fifth member of the band.
Charity work
Scouting for Girls are official ambassadors for the children's charity, Wellchild, and also support the Help For HeroesHelp 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...
charity. They fundraise for both charities.
Their most notable fundraiser to date was cycling from London to Brighton on children's chopper bikes for WellChild.
Scouting For Girls are playing Midlands Music Festival
Midlands Music Festival
The Midlands Music Festival is an annual festival held in the Castle Grounds, in Tamworth organised by charity Just1Life. The first show took place on 8 August 2009 and featured top acts including Lemar, Sugababes, Blue and JLS...
2010 alongside acts like The Saturdays
The Saturdays
The Saturdays are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London, United Kingdom. The group consists of five members Una Healy, Mollie King, Frankie Sandford, Vanessa White and Rochelle Wiseman. In 2007 the band were formed through Fascination Records which gave them an instant record deal with...
, Chipmunk (rapper)
Chipmunk (rapper)
Jahmaal Noel Fyffe known by his stage name Chipmunk, is a British hip hop rapper and songwriter from Tottenham, London....
, Westlife
Westlife
Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
, Olly Murs
Olly Murs
Oliver Stanley "Olly" Murs is an English singer-songwriter and TV presenter. Murs rose to fame after being the runner-up on the sixth series of The X Factor...
and Everybody Looks Famous in Tamworth, England.
Endorsements
Roy Stride endorsed the Liberal Democrats in the 2010 UK General Election.Band members
Current members- Roy Stride – lead vocals, guitar, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(2005–present) - Greg Churchouse – bass, backing vocals (2005–present)
- Pete Ellard – drums, backing vocals percussion (2005–present)
Current touring members
- Peter Clements – guitar (2007–2010)
- Matt Simmons – keyboards (2010)
- Jamie O'Gorman - guitar (2010–present)
Session
- Martin Owen – horn on Scouting for Girls (2007)
- James McMillan – trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
on Scouting for Girls (2007)
Personnel
- Andy Green – Producer of Scouting for Girls (2007)
Discography
- Scouting for GirlsScouting for Girls (album)-Bonus tracks:-Chart positions:When it was first released in September 2007 it debuted at No.12. The next week it fell down 8 places and then fell out of the top 40 in October 2007. It started to climb back up the chart in January 2008 until it reached its new peak of No.4 on 13 January...
(2007) - Everybody Wants to Be on TVEverybody Wants to Be on TVEverybody Wants to Be on TV is the second studio album by the English pop band Scouting for Girls. It was released on 12 April 2010 through Epic. The first single on the album debuted on the Scott Mills BBC Radio 1 show on 15 January 2010. The album artwork was released on January 19, 2010...
(2010)