Editing Catherine Wheel (band)

{{Short description|English alternative rock band, 1990–2000}}
{{about|the alternative rock band||Catherine wheel (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2012}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name         = Catherine Wheel
| image        = Catherine wheel photo.jpg
| caption      = L-R Brian Futter, Neil Sims, Rob Dickinson and Dave Hawes, 1995
| alt          = Band members in a dark red background
| origin       = [[Great Yarmouth]], England, United Kingdom
| genre        = {{flatlist|
* [[Alternative rock]]
* [[shoegaze]]
}}
| years_active = 1990–2000
| label        = {{flatlist|
* Wilde Club
* [[Fontana Records|Fontana]]
* [[Mercury Records|Mercury]]
* [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
* [[Chrysalis Records|Chrysalis]]
}}
| past_members = [[Rob Dickinson]]<br />Brian Futter<br />Dave Hawes<br />Neil Sims<br />Ben Ellis
}}

'''Catherine Wheel''' were an English [[alternative rock]] band from [[Great Yarmouth]] and [[Lowestoft]]. The band was active from 1990 to 2000, releasing five full-length albums in their career, embarking on many lengthy tours and experiencing fluctuating levels of commercial success. Their early music was associated with the [[shoegazing]] scene, but gradually evolved to a more aggressive style influenced by [[hard rock]] and [[heavy metal music|metal]]. Initially receiving attention and success after releasing their debut album ''[[Ferment (album)|Ferment]]'' in 1992, the band achieved peak success with the release of "[[Crank (Catherine Wheel song)|Crank]]" and their album ''[[Chrome (Catherine Wheel album)|Chrome]]'' in 1993. The band also achieved minor success with other albums, including ''[[Happy Days (album)|Happy Days]]'', which featured a popular song "[[Judy Staring at the Sun]]" as a collaboration with [[Tanya Donelly]]. Catherine Wheel also scored heavy rotation on [[MTV]] and performed there several times. Despite never having any albums or songs that achieved major success in their homeland, Catherine Wheel continue to be popular among alternative rock and shoegaze fans and critics.

==History==
Catherine Wheel formed in 1990, comprising singer-guitarist [[Rob Dickinson]] (cousin of [[Iron Maiden]]'s [[Bruce Dickinson]]), guitarist Brian Futter, bassist Dave Hawes, and drummer Neil Sims. Hawes had previously played in a [[Joy Division]]-influenced band called Eternal.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} They took their moniker from the [[firework]] known as the [[Catherine wheel (firework)|Catherine wheel]],{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} which in turn had taken its name from the [[breaking wheel|medieval torture device]] of the same name. The band was sometimes included in the [[shoegazing]] scene, characterized by bands that made extensive use of guitar [[feedback]] and droning washes of noise, as well as their continuous interaction with extensive numbers of [[effects pedal]]s on the stage floor.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.sfgate.com/thingstodo/article/Looking-up-at-last-3275893.php | work=San Francisco Chronicle | title=Looking up at last | date=24 July 2008 | access-date=25 August 2011 | first1=Delfín | last1=Vigil}}</ref>

The band performed a [[Peel session]] in early 1991 while still unsigned; two 12" vinyl EPs were released on the Norwich-based Wilde Club Records,<ref name="Larkin90">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music]]|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=2000|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0427-8|page=82}}</ref> named after the regular weekly Wilde Club gigs run by Barry Newman at [[Norwich Arts Centre]]. They signed to major-label [[Fontana Records]] after being courted by both [[Creation Records]] and the [[Brian Eno]]-run label Opal Records. The band's debut album, 1991/92's ''[[Ferment (album)|Ferment]]'', made an immediate impression on the [[music journalism|music press]] and introduced Catherine Wheel's second-biggest US hit, "[[Black Metallic]]", as well as the moderate hit "I Want to Touch You".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.notalot.com/cwville/nwsowrld.htm|title=Catherine Wheel: Living the CWville Life|website=Notalot.com|access-date=3 December 2019}}</ref> The album features re-recorded versions of some of the Wilde Club-issued EPs. "Black Metallic" was later featured in the film ''[[S. Darko]]''.

The more aggressive ''[[Chrome (Catherine Wheel album)|Chrome]]'' followed in 1993, produced by [[Gil Norton]]. With this album, the band began to shed its original shoegazing tag, while still making skillful use of atmospherics, such as on the song "Fripp".<ref name="Larkin90"/> In a 2007 interview, Rob Dickinson said that members of [[Death Cab for Cutie]] and [[Interpol (band)|Interpol]] told him that without this album, their bands "wouldn't exist."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/artsentertainment/article/176393|author-link=Ben Rayner|last= Rayner|first= Ben|title=Behind the Wheel: Catherine Wheel's Rob Dickinson finds there is still air in the tires|newspaper=[[Toronto Star]]|access-date=5 March 2007|date=1 February 2007}}</ref>

1995's ''[[Happy Days (album)|Happy Days]]'' saw the band delving further into [[Heavy metal music|metallic]] hard rock, which alienated a portion of their fanbase, even as it increased their exposure in the United States during the post-grunge era.<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r212752|pure_url=yes}} Kellerman, Andy - "Happy Days" review from Allmusic.com; URL accessed 17 February 2006]</ref><ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/19990203135041/http://www.chartattack.com/features/ani.html "Catherine Wheel: It's How High You Fly"]}}. ''Chart Attack'', September 1995 by David S. Faris</ref> The single "Waydown", and especially its plane-crash themed video, received heavy play in the US. A more sedate strain of rock known as [[Britpop]] was taking over in the UK, causing Catherine Wheel to continue to have greater success abroad than at home.<ref name="Larkin90"/>

The [[A-side and B-side|B-sides]] and outtakes collection, ''[[Like Cats and Dogs]]'', came out the following year, revealing a quieter, more contemplative side of the band, spanning the previous five years. This carried over into ''[[Adam and Eve (Catherine Wheel album)|Adam and Eve]]'' in 1997, wherein the band scaled back the sonic force of their sound from its ''Happy Days'' levels, with clean playing on some songs that featured extensive use of keyboards and acoustic guitars.<ref name="Larkin90"/> Alternately, songs like "Satellite" and "Here Comes the Fat Controller" were lush and orchestral in scope.

In 2000, Catherine Wheel re-emerged with a new record label, a new bassist (Ben Ellis); a modified name (''The'' Catherine Wheel); and a new album, ''[[Wishville]]''. After mixed reviews, record company turmoil<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.chartattack.com/news/27748/the-wheels-are-falling-off-the-catherine-wheels-momentum |date=11 July 2000 |title=The Wheels Are Falling Off The Catherine Wheel's Momentum |magazine=[[Chart (magazine)|Chart]] |access-date=10 October 2009 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607072452/http://www.chartattack.com/news/27748/the-wheels-are-falling-off-the-catherine-wheels-momentum |archive-date=7 June 2010 }}</ref> and lacklustre sales, the band went on a hiatus{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}. In January 2022, the band began updating a new Instagram account,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/the_catherine_wheel/|title=Instagram}}</ref> suggesting that the band had reformed in some capacity.

In March 2010, ''Ferment'' was re-released, containing bonus tracks and extensive sleeve notes.

==Post-Catherine Wheel work==
Futter and Sims have an ongoing project called 50&nbsp;ft Monster. Ellis was in a band called [[Serafin (band)|Serafin]], and went on to play with [[Iggy Pop]]. After working with/ playing live with [[Tracy Bonham]] for several years, Dickinson released a solo album in 2005 called ''[[Fresh Wine for the Horses]]''. Dickinson retired from recording and founded a Porsche restoration company called [[Singer Vehicle Design]] in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://singervehicledesign.com/|title=Singer Vehicle Design &#124; Restored. Reimagined. Reborn|website=Singervehicledesign.com}}</ref>

== Band members ==
; Final line-up
* [[Rob Dickinson]] – [[lead vocals]], [[guitars]] (1990–2000)
* Brian Futter – [[guitars]], [[backing vocals]] (1990–2000)
* Ben Ellis – [[bass guitar]] (1999–2000)
* Neil Sims – [[drums]], [[percussion]], [[backing vocals]] (1990–2000)

; Past members
* Dave Hawes – [[bass guitar]] (1990–1999)

==Discography==
{{unreferenced section|date=July 2021}}
'''Studio albums'''
*''[[Ferment (album)|Ferment]]'' (1992) – No.&nbsp;36 [[UK Albums Chart|UK]]
*''[[Chrome (Catherine Wheel album)|Chrome]]'' (1993) – No.&nbsp;58 UK
*''[[Happy Days (album)|Happy Days]]'' (1995) – No.&nbsp;163 [[Billboard Hot 100|US]], No.&nbsp;41 [[RPM (magazine)|CAN]]
*''[[Adam and Eve (Catherine Wheel album)|Adam and Eve]]'' (1997) – No.&nbsp;53 UK, No.&nbsp;178 US, No.&nbsp;75 CAN
*''[[Wishville]]'' (2000)<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book
| first= David
| last= Roberts
| year= 2006
| title= British Hit Singles & Albums
| edition= 19th
| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited 
| location= London
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5
| page= 98}}</ref> – No.&nbsp;30 CAN

'''EPs'''
* ''She's My Friend'' (1991)
* ''[[Painful Thing]]'' (1991) – No.&nbsp;5 UK Indie Chart
* ''The Norfolk Remasters - She's My Friend'' (2023)

'''Compilation albums'''
*''[[Like Cats and Dogs]]'' (1996) – No.&nbsp;36 Heatseekers (US), No.&nbsp;45 [[RPM (magazine)|CAN]]

'''Singles'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Title
!colspan="4"| Peak chart positions
!rowspan="2"| Album
|-
!width="30"| <small>[[UK Singles Chart|UK]]</small>
!width="30"| <small>[[RPM (magazine)|Canada Alt]]</small>
!width="30"| <small>[[Alternative Songs|US Alt]]</small>
!width="30"| <small>[[Mainstream Rock|US Rock]]</small>
|-
| 1991
| "[[Black Metallic]]"
| style="text-align:center;"|68
| style="text-align:center;"|–
| style="text-align:center;"|9
| style="text-align:center;"|–
|rowspan="1"| ''[[Ferment (album)|Ferment]]''
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1992
| "Balloon"
| style="text-align:center;"|59
| style="text-align:center;"|–
| style="text-align:center;"|–
| style="text-align:center;"|–
| style="text-align:center;"|Non-album single
|-
|"I Want to Touch You"
| style="text-align:center;"|35
| style="text-align:center;"|–
| style="text-align:center;"|20
| style="text-align:center;"|–
|rowspan="1"| ''[[Ferment (album)|Ferment]]''
|-
| "30 Century Man"
| style="text-align:center;"|47
| style="text-align:center;"|–
| style="text-align:center;"|–
| style="text-align:center;"|–
| style="text-align:center;"|Non-album single
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1993
| "[[Crank (Catherine Wheel song)|Crank]]"
| style="text-align:center;"|66
| style="text-align:center;"|–
| style="text-align:center;"|5
| style="text-align:center;"|–
|rowspan="2"| ''[[Chrome (Catherine Wheel album)|Chrome]]''
|-
| "Show Me Mary"
| style="text-align:center;"|62
| style="text-align:center;"|–
| style="text-align:center;"|–
| style="text-align:center;"|–
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1995
| "Waydown"
| style="text-align:center;"|67
| style="text-align:center;"|5
| style="text-align:center;"|15
| style="text-align:center;"|24
|rowspan="2"| ''[[Happy Days (album)|Happy Days]]''
|-
| "Judy Staring at the Sun"
| style="text-align:center;"|–
| style="text-align:center;"|10
| style="text-align:center;"|22
| style="text-align:center;"|–
|-
|1996
|"Heal 2"
| style="text-align:center;"|–
| style="text-align:center;"|18
| style="text-align:center;"|–
| style="text-align:center;"|–
| ''[[Like Cats and Dogs]]''
|-
|1997
|"Delicious"
| style="text-align:center;"|53
| style="text-align:center;"|12
| style="text-align:center;"|–
| style="text-align:center;"|–
|rowspan="3"| ''[[Adam and Eve (Catherine Wheel album)|Adam and Eve]]''
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1998
|"Ma Solituda"
| style="text-align:center;"|53
| style="text-align:center;"|–
| style="text-align:center;"|–
| style="text-align:center;"|–
|-
|"Broken Nose"
| style="text-align:center;"|48
| style="text-align:center;"|–
| style="text-align:center;"|–
| style="text-align:center;"|–
|-
|2000
|"Sparks Are Gonna Fly"
| style="text-align:center;"|–
| style="text-align:center;"|–
| style="text-align:center;"|37
| style="text-align:center;"|–
|''[[Wishville]]''
|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Catherine Wheel music videos
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Song
! scope="col"| Director
! scope="col"| Notes
|-
| rowspan=2| 1992
!scope="row" style="background:#FBFBEF"| "Black Metallic"
|style="background:#FBFBEF"| Barry Magurie
|style="background:#FBFBEF"| 7" version
|-
!scope="row" style="background:#FBFBEF"| "I Want to Touch You"
|style="background:#FBFBEF"| [[Miles Aldridge]]
|style="background:#FBFBEF"| [[Tim Palmer (record producer)|Tim Palmer]] remix
|-
| rowspan=2| 1993
!scope="row" style="background:#FBFBEF"| "Crank"
|style="background:#FBFBEF"| Geoff Everson
|style="background:#FBFBEF"| 2 versions: towards the end of the original version Rob is spinning on a spiked wheel while the censored version cuts away to shots of Brian and Dave
|-
!scope="row" style="background:#FBFBEF"| "Show Me Mary"
|style="background:#FBFBEF"| Melodie McDaniel
|style="background:#FBFBEF"| [[Scott Litt]] remix
|-
| 1994
!scope="row" style="background:#FBFBEF"| "The Nude"
|style="background:#FBFBEF"| Elizabeth Baily
|style="background:#FBFBEF"| Scott Litt remix
|-
| rowspan=3| 1995
!scope="row" style="background:#FBFBEF"| "Waydown"
|style="background:#FBFBEF"| [[Mark Pellington]]
|style="background:#FBFBEF"| 
|-
!scope="row" style="background:#FBFBEF"| "Eat My Dust You Insensitive Fuck"
|style="background:#FBFBEF"| [[Stephen Dorff]]
|style="background:#FBFBEF"| LP version; starring [[Summer Phoenix]]
|-
!scope="row" style="background:#FBFBEF"| "Judy Staring at the Sun"
|style="background:#FBFBEF"| [[Nick Egan]]
|style="background:#FBFBEF"| featuring [[Tanya Donelly]]; [[MTV]] edited the words "smacked" and "vein"
|-
|1997
!scope="row" style="background:#FBFBEF"| "Delicious"
|style="background:#FBFBEF"| Mark Adcock
|style="background:#FBFBEF"| 
|-
|1998
!scope="row" style="background:#FBFBEF"| "Ma Solituda"
|style="background:#FBFBEF"| Karen Lamond
|style="background:#FBFBEF"| 
|-
|2000
!scope="row" style="background:#FBFBEF"| "Sparks Are Gonna Fly"
|style="background:#FBFBEF"| Dean Karr
|style="background:#FBFBEF"| 
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*/broken link [http://www.robdickinson.com/ Official Rob Dickinson Website]
*/broken link [http://www.lewisslade.com/catherinewheel Lewis Slade's comprehensive fan site]
* {{discogs artist|Catherine Wheel}}
* {{imdb name|3161205}}
* [https://www.instagram.com/the_catherine_wheel Catherine Wheel’s Instagram]

{{Catherine Wheel}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Musical groups established in 1990]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2000]]
[[Category:English alternative rock groups]]
[[Category:British shoegaze musical groups]]
[[Category:Fontana Records artists]]
[[Category:Mercury Records artists]]
[[Category:Columbia Records artists]]
[[Category:Chrysalis Records artists]]