Senseless Things
Encyclopedia
Senseless Things were a British
indie
punk
band
, who were active on the UK
festival
circuit in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Mark Keds (vocals, guitar) and Morgan Nicholls
(bass, originally guitar), who as eleven year old schoolboys in Twickenham
, Middlesex
put together Wild Division in the early 1980s. With the addition of drummer
Cass Browne
(also occasionally known as Cass Cade and Cass Traitor) they became the Psychotics, playing various venues in their local area despite still being at school. Their first gig together as the Senseless Things followed at the subsequently demolished Clarendon in Hammersmith
, London, in October 1986. Auxiliary members at this stage included a keyboard player, Ben, then a guitarist, Gerry, who deputized for Nicholls while the latter was studying for his 'O' levels.
The definitive Senseless Things line-up finally evolved in summer 1987 when Nicholls returned to take over bass, with the new recruit, former BBC clerk Ben Harding, acquiring the vacant guitarist's role. Taking their musical cue from The Ramones and The Dickies
, and their spiritual lead from fellow guitar outfit Mega City Four
, the quartet embarked upon a hectic touring schedule, often playing on the same bill as Mega City Four
, Snuff
and Perfect Daze.
The band's first release was on a 7-inch compilation single
given away with issue 6 of the London fanzine
, Sniffin' Rock. By March 1988 the band had attracted the attention of the BBC Radio One disc jockey
John Peel
, who invited them to record the first of two sessions for his programme. Following another fanzine release, three tracks headed by "I'm Moving", a friend offered to finance a 'proper' release. The "Up And Coming" 12-inch followed, then "Girlfriend" / "Standing In The Rain", for Way Cool Records.
Their first album followed, Postcard CV, which captured their concerts by packing ten tracks into around twenty two minutes. The album was rounded off by "Too Much Kissing", which was released as a single and was to become their signature track. The band joined What Goes On Records just as it collapsed, then signed to Vinyl Solution subsidiary Decoy Records, who released the four-track EP "'Is It Too Late?", in May 1990.
The group stayed with Decoy for "Can't Do Anything", which prefaced an appearance at the Reading Festival, and they signed to Epic Records
at the start of 1991. The subsequent album
The First Of Too Many saw the band experimenting with other styles including some acoustic songs, and the single "Got It At The Delmar" entered the Top 50 of the UK Singles Chart
. Two further Top 20 singles followed in 1992 - "Easy To Smile" and "Hold It Down". The band toured the United States
, supporting Blur
, and went to Japan for the first time, appearing on talent show Ika-Ten.
Cover art for Postcard CV and The First of Too Many was provided by comic artist Jamie Hewlett
, creator of Tank Girl
and Gorillaz
.
The first single from 1993's Empire Of The Senseless, was "Homophobic Asshole". The subsequent single from the album, "Primary Instinct" had more success. In 1995, the band released a final album, Taking Care Of Business, and a single "Christian Killer" (renamed "Christine Keeler"). They split up after one last UK
tour.
. He also co-wrote The Libertines
hit "Can't Stand Me Now
" which took a line from the Jolt single "Kitten".
Harding went on to join 3 Colours Red
and has since developed a career in public and media relations with diverse organisations including Help the Aged
, the Eden Project
and the Crown Prosecution Service
. Morgan joined Vent414 with Miles Hunt
from The Wonder Stuff
then went on to play with The Streets
. He is now part of Muse
's live set-up. Cass went on to sing for Delakota
and then Gorillaz
. He also briefly played with Urge Overkill
.
Senseless Things reformed (minus Morgan, who was touring in Japan
with Muse
). He was replaced by Micky Wyle (ex-Hitechjet
), for one short four-song performance on 4 March 2007 - over twelve years after the band last performed - as part of a gig to celebrate the life of former Mega City Four frontman Darren "Wiz" Brown, who died in December 2006.
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...
indie
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
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...
, who were active on the UK
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...
festival
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
circuit in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Career
Senseless Things formed around the musical partnership of songwriterSongwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
Mark Keds (vocals, guitar) and Morgan Nicholls
Morgan Nicholls
Morgan Nicholls is an English musician, member of Senseless Things and best known for performing with Gorillaz, The Streets, Muse and most recently Lily Allen. He released one solo album under the name Morgan.-Career:...
(bass, originally guitar), who as eleven year old schoolboys in Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
put together Wild Division in the early 1980s. With the addition of drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Cass Browne
Cass Browne
Cass Browne was a member of the band The Psychotics who became the Senseless Things in 1986. The Senseless Things had a couple of top 20 hits and many other singles in their nine years together, they split up in 1995. Jamie Hewlett was a big fan of the band and designed many of their sleeves...
(also occasionally known as Cass Cade and Cass Traitor) they became the Psychotics, playing various venues in their local area despite still being at school. Their first gig together as the Senseless Things followed at the subsequently demolished Clarendon in Hammersmith
Hammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
, London, in October 1986. Auxiliary members at this stage included a keyboard player, Ben, then a guitarist, Gerry, who deputized for Nicholls while the latter was studying for his 'O' levels.
The definitive Senseless Things line-up finally evolved in summer 1987 when Nicholls returned to take over bass, with the new recruit, former BBC clerk Ben Harding, acquiring the vacant guitarist's role. Taking their musical cue from The Ramones and The Dickies
The Dickies
The Dickies are an American punk rock group formed in San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California, U.S. in 1977.-History:The Dickies were among the first punk rock bands to emerge from Los Angeles...
, and their spiritual lead from fellow guitar outfit Mega City Four
Mega City Four
Mega City Four were an English indie/pop punk band who were popular in the UK in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Mega City Four consisted of guitarist/vocalist Wiz, his brother and rhythm guitarist/vocalist Danny Brown, bassist/vocalist Gerry Bryant and drummer Chris Jones...
, the quartet embarked upon a hectic touring schedule, often playing on the same bill as Mega City Four
Mega City Four
Mega City Four were an English indie/pop punk band who were popular in the UK in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Mega City Four consisted of guitarist/vocalist Wiz, his brother and rhythm guitarist/vocalist Danny Brown, bassist/vocalist Gerry Bryant and drummer Chris Jones...
, Snuff
Snuff (band)
Snuff are a British punk rock band formed in Hendon in 1986. Their name reportedly came about after a long discussion about names ended up with one of them claiming "That's Enough", which was then shortened to Snuff...
and Perfect Daze.
The band's first release was on a 7-inch compilation 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...
given away with issue 6 of the London fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
, Sniffin' Rock. By March 1988 the band had attracted the attention of the BBC Radio One disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
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...
, who invited them to record the first of two sessions for his programme. Following another fanzine release, three tracks headed by "I'm Moving", a friend offered to finance a 'proper' release. The "Up And Coming" 12-inch followed, then "Girlfriend" / "Standing In The Rain", for Way Cool Records.
Their first album followed, Postcard CV, which captured their concerts by packing ten tracks into around twenty two minutes. The album was rounded off by "Too Much Kissing", which was released as a single and was to become their signature track. The band joined What Goes On Records just as it collapsed, then signed to Vinyl Solution subsidiary Decoy Records, who released the four-track EP "'Is It Too Late?", in May 1990.
The group stayed with Decoy for "Can't Do Anything", which prefaced an appearance at the Reading Festival, and they signed to Epic Records
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...
at the start of 1991. The subsequent 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...
The First Of Too Many saw the band experimenting with other styles including some acoustic songs, and the single "Got It At The Delmar" entered the Top 50 of 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 ...
. Two further Top 20 singles followed in 1992 - "Easy To Smile" and "Hold It Down". The band toured the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, supporting Blur
Blur (band)
Blur is an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing...
, and went to Japan for the first time, appearing on talent show Ika-Ten.
Cover art for Postcard CV and The First of Too Many was provided by comic artist Jamie Hewlett
Jamie Hewlett
Jamie Christopher Hewlett is an English comic book artist and designer. He is known for being the co-creator of the comic Tank Girl and co-creator of the virtual band Gorillaz.-Biography:...
, creator of Tank Girl
Tank Girl
Tank Girl is a British comic created by Jamie Hewlett and Alan Martin. Originally drawn by Jamie Hewlett, it has also been drawn by Rufus Dayglo, Ashley Wood, and Mike McMahon.The eponymous character Tank Girl drives a tank, which is also her home...
and Gorillaz
Gorillaz
Gorillaz is an English musical project created in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. This project consists of Gorillaz music itself and an extensive fictional universe depicting a "virtual band" of cartoon characters...
.
The first single from 1993's Empire Of The Senseless, was "Homophobic Asshole". The subsequent single from the album, "Primary Instinct" had more success. In 1995, the band released a final album, Taking Care Of Business, and a single "Christian Killer" (renamed "Christine Keeler"). They split up after one last UK
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...
tour.
Line-up
- Mark Keds - vocals/guitar
- Ben Harding - guitar/vocals
- Morgan NichollsMorgan NichollsMorgan Nicholls is an English musician, member of Senseless Things and best known for performing with Gorillaz, The Streets, Muse and most recently Lily Allen. He released one solo album under the name Morgan.-Career:...
- bass - Cass BrowneCass BrowneCass Browne was a member of the band The Psychotics who became the Senseless Things in 1986. The Senseless Things had a couple of top 20 hits and many other singles in their nine years together, they split up in 1995. Jamie Hewlett was a big fan of the band and designed many of their sleeves...
- drums
Post Senseless Things
Keds went on to form Jolt then Trip Fontaine, The Lams and Like A Bitch. He very briefly played with The WildheartsThe Wildhearts
The Wildhearts are a British rock group originally formed in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The band's sound is a mixture of hard rock and melodic pop music, often described in the music press as combining influences as diverse as The Beatles and 1980s-era Metallica...
. He also co-wrote The Libertines
The Libertines
The Libertines were an English rock band, formed in London in 1997 by frontmen Carl Barât and Pete Doherty . The band, centred on the song-writing partnership of Barat and Doherty, also included John Hassall and Gary Powell for most of its recording career...
hit "Can't Stand Me Now
Can't Stand Me Now
"Can't Stand Me Now" is the first single from The Libertines' eponymous second album. The song was their biggest hit and peaked at #2 on the UK singles chart....
" which took a line from the Jolt single "Kitten".
Harding went on to join 3 Colours Red
3 Colours Red
3 Colours Red were a rock band from the United Kingdom. They achieved their biggest chart success at the end of the 1990s, along with other Britrock bands such as Ash and Feeder. The band was named by sticking a pin in a London listings magazine, Time Out...
and has since developed a career in public and media relations with diverse organisations including Help the Aged
Help the Aged
Help the Aged was a United Kingdom based, international charity, founded in 1961 by Cecil Jackson-Cole, to free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect. It merged with Age Concern in 2009 to form Age UK.-Organisation and campaigns:...
, the Eden Project
Eden Project
The Eden Project is a visitor attraction in Cornwall in the United Kingdom, including the world's largest greenhouse. Inside the artificial biomes are plants that are collected from all around the world....
and the Crown Prosecution Service
Crown Prosecution Service
The Crown Prosecution Service, or CPS, is a non-ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for public prosecutions of people charged with criminal offences in England and Wales. Its role is similar to that of the longer-established Crown Office in Scotland, and the...
. Morgan joined Vent414 with Miles Hunt
Miles Hunt
Miles Hunt is the singer / guitarist and songwriter for the Stourbridge, England-based Alternative Rock band The Wonder Stuff.- Early life :His father was a union official for the TGWU...
from The Wonder Stuff
The Wonder Stuff
The Wonder Stuff are a British alternative rock band, originally based in Stourbridge, West Midlands, in the Black Country, England.-Origins:...
then went on to play 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...
. He is now part of Muse
Muse (band)
Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
's live set-up. Cass went on to sing for Delakota
Delakota
Delakota were an English indie dance band from the late 1990s. The band mixed elements of Baggy, retro rock music, indie pop and modern dance music to produce a sound which was often compared to Primal Scream....
and then Gorillaz
Gorillaz
Gorillaz is an English musical project created in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. This project consists of Gorillaz music itself and an extensive fictional universe depicting a "virtual band" of cartoon characters...
. He also briefly played with Urge Overkill
Urge Overkill
Urge Overkill is an alternative rock band, formed in Chicago, United States, consisting of Nash Kato , and Eddie "King" Roeser . Their cover of Neil Diamond's song "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" appeared prominently in the movie Pulp Fiction, and became a hit in 1994...
.
Senseless Things reformed (minus Morgan, who was touring in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
with Muse
Muse (band)
Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
). He was replaced by Micky Wyle (ex-Hitechjet
Hitechjet
Hitechjet were a British rock band from Uxbridge, London formed in 2001 and consisted of Brian Ayers , Aydogan Mehmet , Paul Lefley-Evans , Micky Wyle and Adam Gardner...
), for one short four-song performance on 4 March 2007 - over twelve years after the band last performed - as part of a gig to celebrate the life of former Mega City Four frontman Darren "Wiz" Brown, who died in December 2006.
Albums
- Postcard C.V. (1989) - 12", Tape - Way Cool (WC 004 LP)
- The First of Too Many (1991) - 12", CD, Tape - Epic - UKUK Albums ChartThe 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...
#66 - Empire of the SenselessEmpire of the SenselessEmpire of the Senseless is an album by English rock band Senseless Things. It was released in 1993, and was produced by Senseless Things and Ralph Jezzard.-Track listing:All tracks composed by Mark Keds; except where indicated...
(1992) - CD - Epic - UK #37- Empire of the Senseless/Postcard CV (1993) - Double CD, Tape - Epic
- Peel Sessions (1994) - CD - Strange Fruit
- Taking Care of Business (1995) - CD, 12" - Epic
- Singles (1998) - CD - Epic
Singles/EPs
- 1988 - "Up & Coming" 12" - "Way Cool"
- 1988 - split 7" w/ Crazyhead - "Sniffin' Rock"
- 1988 - "Yo Yo Jo"
- 1989 - "Bootleg"
- 1989 - "Girlfriend" / "Standing in the Rain"
- 1989 - "Too Much Kissing" / "Trevor"
- 1990 - "Is it Too Late?"
- 1990 - "Can't Do Anything"
- 1991 - "Everybody's Gone" - 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 ...
#73 - 1991 - "Got it at the Delmar" - UK #50
- 1991 - "Easy to Smile" - UK #18
- 1991 - "Gokigenyo Dudes" (Japanese release on Planet Earth/Toshiba-EMI, comprising previous singles)
- 1991 - "Up & Coming" (CD release)
- 1992 - "Hold it Down" - UK #19
- 1992 - "Homophobic Asshole"
- 1993 - "Primary Instinct" - UK #41
- 1993 - "Too Much Kissing" - UK #69
- 1994 - "Christine Keeler" - UK #56
- 1995 - "Something to Miss" - UK #57