Since JC is otherwise unavailable, here's something to be getting along with. Has to be something Scottish really. So I've picked 18 Wheeler, a Scottish indie band who went big on the remixes and so feature in my collection. Dour looking bunch aren’t they? Nevertheless, the featured tracks have more warmth and are remixed singles from 1994′s “Year Zero” LP. William Orbit’s is probably the best.
18 Wheeler consisted of Sean Jackson (vocals, guitar), David Keenan (guitar, vocals), Alan Hake (bass), and Neil Halliday (drums). Original bassist Chris “Pint Glass” Stewart left before any recordings were made, and was replaced by original drummer Hake.
They met with very mixed reviews from the British press – many critics felt they were too similar to their influences, but some others saw the range of these influences as potentially a good thing. Keenan left in 1994 to start his own group, the Telstar Ponies and was replaced by guitarist Steven Haddow. In the same year, the band released their first album Twin Action on Creation Records and in 1995 they released their second album, Formanka.
Their third album Year Zero, which saw them take a more experimental sample based approach, was released in early 1997. They were subsequently dropped by Creation following the recording of what was to be their fourth studio release. Although Alan Hake has stated that Creation Records did allow the band to keep the master tapes to this album, no plans to officially release it have materialised. Hake went on to co-found the Must Destroy record label. The band were once introduced by Tony Blair at the 1996 Labour Party Conference. The future Prime Minister managed to wrongly introduce them as “Wheeler 18”. Last FM
18 Wheeler – The Ballad of Paul Verlaine (Bentley Rhythm Ace Bra Mix)
18 Wheeler – Stay (Stereo Odessy Mix) William Orbit
18 Wheeler – Stay (Big Kahuna Mix)
18 Wheeler – Grease (M.C. Arr Grass In Piccadilly Mix)
18 Wheeler - Stay (Dr Rockit Mix)
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18 Wheeler consisted of Sean Jackson (vocals, guitar), David Keenan (guitar, vocals), Alan Hake (bass), and Neil Halliday (drums). Original bassist Chris “Pint Glass” Stewart left before any recordings were made, and was replaced by original drummer Hake.
They met with very mixed reviews from the British press – many critics felt they were too similar to their influences, but some others saw the range of these influences as potentially a good thing. Keenan left in 1994 to start his own group, the Telstar Ponies and was replaced by guitarist Steven Haddow. In the same year, the band released their first album Twin Action on Creation Records and in 1995 they released their second album, Formanka.
Their third album Year Zero, which saw them take a more experimental sample based approach, was released in early 1997. They were subsequently dropped by Creation following the recording of what was to be their fourth studio release. Although Alan Hake has stated that Creation Records did allow the band to keep the master tapes to this album, no plans to officially release it have materialised. Hake went on to co-found the Must Destroy record label. The band were once introduced by Tony Blair at the 1996 Labour Party Conference. The future Prime Minister managed to wrongly introduce them as “Wheeler 18”. Last FM
18 Wheeler – The Ballad of Paul Verlaine (Bentley Rhythm Ace Bra Mix)
18 Wheeler – Stay (Stereo Odessy Mix) William Orbit
18 Wheeler – Stay (Big Kahuna Mix)
18 Wheeler – Grease (M.C. Arr Grass In Piccadilly Mix)
18 Wheeler - Stay (Dr Rockit Mix)
Buy product
7 comments:
I lived in Edinburgh in the mid-90s, and must have seen 18 Wheeler a dozen times or more. Not because I liked them (I also found them too indebted to influences) but because they opened for EVERY BAND that came through town.
Well played supersub.
Brilliant, thanks for these. I too saw them many times in Glasgow but I really liked them. Nice to hear these tunes again.
At the time, I worked with one of 18 Wheeler, & managed to miss that King Tut's gig that Oasis muscled their way into. Myself & a pal never quite made it out the pub in time. I remember one of my workmates - a huge Beatles fan - spending the next day grumbling about this support band who'd made I Am The Walrus sound like "bloody Slade".
Despite actually knowing a member, & going to many many gigs in Glasgow at the time, somehow I never did actually see them live. In fact, pausing to consider it, I don't believe I even heard anything by them on record either. What a very supportive colleague I was!
Nothing says mid-90s like Big kahuna mix
Thanks ctel. This is a lot that passed me by totally. Have one of their songs on some sort of Indie compilation CD - other than that nowt on the shelves or in the cupboard.
Now you've come out of hibernation....howzabout a regular Sunday slot???????
Go on....you know you want to. And there will be loads delighted to see you back.
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