Secession (band)
Encyclopedia
Secession was a Scottish
synth pop band that existed between 1983 and 1987. The original incarnation comprised Peter Thomson (guitar, keyboards, synthesizer and vocals), Jack Ross (guitar, synthesizer and vocals), Jim Ross (bass guitar) and Carole L. Branston (keyboards and vocals). The band used a small pre-programmed drum machine
.
as 'The Gift', during which Jim Ross performed with one arm in a full plaster cast following an accident. After a performance at Buster Brown’s nightclub
in Edinburgh
, the band were introduced to Hamish Brown, a local entrepreneur, who offered to manage them. This was followed by the addition of a fifth member, Alistair MacLeod (percussion and vocals), a friend of the original members who had also provided the photograph for the sleeve of the band's independently released debut single
, "Betrayal".
Shortly after recording demo
material at Palladium Studios in Edinburgh, Jack Ross, disillusioned with the direction the music was taking, left the band. MacLeod was then asked to divide his contribution between percussion and synthesizer/sequencing, and the band continued in this form for a short period of time until Jim Ross left, cutting the line-up to a threesome. This was the unit which produced the original demo of "Fire Island" (based around two sequences programmed on a Yamaha DX7) at Planet Studios in Edinburgh, which subsequently came to the attention of Beggars Banquet Records
A&R
department.
After being signed by Beggars Banquet the trio re-recorded "Fire Island" at REL Studios in Edinburgh, later remix
ed by the production team associated with Freeez
, John Rocca
. Prior to its release, MacLeod left the band to concentrate on photography, and was replaced by Charlie D. Kelly.
The final incarnation of Secession, associated with almost the entire released catalogue, consisted of Thomson, Branston, Kelly, and J.L. Seenan. Their singer, Thomson, who penned their most commercially successful song, "Touch (Part 3)", died in 2001. Secession was mainly on two different record label
s during their short career: Beggars Banquet and Siren Records
. They released a number of singles starting in 1983, until they released their only album, A Dark Enchantment, in late 1987.
After Secession split, Kelly and Seenan went on to join The Vaselines
with Charlie's brother, Eugene, and Frances McKee
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
synth pop band that existed between 1983 and 1987. The original incarnation comprised Peter Thomson (guitar, keyboards, synthesizer and vocals), Jack Ross (guitar, synthesizer and vocals), Jim Ross (bass guitar) and Carole L. Branston (keyboards and vocals). The band used a small pre-programmed drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
.
Career
Prior to being renamed Secession, the band played at least one gigConcert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
as 'The Gift', during which Jim Ross performed with one arm in a full plaster cast following an accident. After a performance at Buster Brown’s nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, the band were introduced to Hamish Brown, a local entrepreneur, who offered to manage them. This was followed by the addition of a fifth member, Alistair MacLeod (percussion and vocals), a friend of the original members who had also provided the photograph for the sleeve of the band's independently released debut single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Betrayal".
Shortly after recording demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
material at Palladium Studios in Edinburgh, Jack Ross, disillusioned with the direction the music was taking, left the band. MacLeod was then asked to divide his contribution between percussion and synthesizer/sequencing, and the band continued in this form for a short period of time until Jim Ross left, cutting the line-up to a threesome. This was the unit which produced the original demo of "Fire Island" (based around two sequences programmed on a Yamaha DX7) at Planet Studios in Edinburgh, which subsequently came to the attention of Beggars Banquet Records
Beggars Banquet Records
Beggars Banquet is an English independent record label that began as a chain of record shops owned by Martin Mills and Nick Austin, and is part of the Beggars Group of labels...
A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
department.
After being signed by Beggars Banquet the trio re-recorded "Fire Island" at REL Studios in Edinburgh, later remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed by the production team associated with Freeez
Freeez
Freeez were a United Kingdom dance music group from London, known initially as one of the UK's main jazz-funk bands of the early 1980s. Initiated by John Rocca, Freeez consisted of various musicians, originally with Rocca and others such as Andy Stennet Freeez were a United Kingdom dance music...
, John Rocca
John Rocca
John Rocca became known first as a dance music performer, remixer and record producer. During the early 1980s, John Rocca formed, played with, wrote for, produced and managed his first musical band, Freeez, with success...
. Prior to its release, MacLeod left the band to concentrate on photography, and was replaced by Charlie D. Kelly.
The final incarnation of Secession, associated with almost the entire released catalogue, consisted of Thomson, Branston, Kelly, and J.L. Seenan. Their singer, Thomson, who penned their most commercially successful song, "Touch (Part 3)", died in 2001. Secession was mainly on two different 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 during their short career: Beggars Banquet and Siren Records
Siren Records
Siren Records is an independent music label based in Auckland, New Zealand. It was formed in 2000 by Adrien de Croy , and Tracy Magan Siren Records is an independent music label based in Auckland, New Zealand. It was formed in 2000 by Adrien de Croy (owner of York Street Recording Studios), and...
. They released a number of singles starting in 1983, until they released their only album, A Dark Enchantment, in late 1987.
After Secession split, Kelly and Seenan went on to join The Vaselines
The Vaselines
The Vaselines are an alternative rock band from Glasgow, Scotland. Formed in 1986, the band was originally a duo between its songwriters Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee, but later added James Seenan and Eugene's brother Charlie Kelly on bass and drums respectively from the band Secession. McKee had...
with Charlie's brother, Eugene, and Frances McKee
Frances McKee
Frances McKee is a singer and songwriter known best for her work in the Scottish indie band The Vaselines.The Vaselines formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 1986. Following the release of two EPs, Son of a Gun and Dying for It, the first and only full length album, Dum-Dum, in 1989, the band split up...
.
Singles
- 1983 - "Betrayal"
- 1984 - "Fire Island"
- 1984 - "Touch (Part 3)"
- 1986 - "Michael"
- 1987 - "The Magician"
- 1987 - "Promise"
- 1987 - "Radioland"
- 1987 - "Sneakyville"
External links
- Iamnotthebeatles.com
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odessa_(Band)