Band Members

The original band members were Tim Wheeler (vocals and guitar), Mark Hamilton (bass guitar) and Rick McMurray (drums). The three were joined by Charlotte Hatherley (guitar and vocals) in 1997 who, as of 2005, also began a solo career as a side-project. On the 20th January, 2006, Hatherley's record label, Double Dragon Music announced her departure from the band.

Initially inspired by Twisted Sister and Iron Maiden in the early 1990s, Tim and Mark formed a heavy metal band called Vietnam with a few schoolfriends. After barely two gigs, they were left stranded when their bandmates left. Requiring a drummer, they had a few drinks with Rick who was a year ahead of them in school and had switched from playing the guitar to drums. With Rick on board, they ambitiously set out to develop a new style of music inspired by grunge bands such as Nirvana, Mudhoney and the Pixies.

Band History

Early 1990s

Ash officially formed in 1992. They created three demo tapes this year, Solar Happy in June, Shed in September, and the Home Demo in November. These tapes featured their earliest material and the first recordings of some songs that would later be on their 1995 release, Trailer, including "Intense Thing", "Get Out", "Obscure Thing," and their future single, "Jack Names The Planets".

In 1993, Ash made the demo tape, Garage Girl, which featured "Jack Names The Planets" and "Intense Thing" taken from Shed, as well as some new tracks including "Petrol". They released their compilation demo tape, Pipe Smokin' Brick later this year, which featured an assortment of their best demo songs from the other 4 demo tapes.

The demo tapes had not gained much attention yet and Ash was still playing small shows at local clubs, however, in early 1994, Stephen Taverner came across the Garage Girl demo tape. Suitably impressed Stephen put up the money so that they could press 1000 7″ copies of "Jack Names The Planets" on Stephen's own LaLaLand record label. The band was on its way and Stephen became their full-time manager.

Ash released their first album, Trailer, in October 1994, which only included seven songs. They received some airplay from DJ Steve Lamacq on BBC Radio 1 and so followed up their debut single with "Petrol", and "Uncle Pat" on their new label Infectious Records.

In 1995, Ash left school and released their breakthrough singles "Kung Fu", "Girl From Mars" and "Angel Interceptor".

Late 1990s

1996 saw them release the singles "Goldfinger" and "Oh Yeah" either side of their album 1977, which saw considerable success. On February 17, 1997, Ash released Live at the Wireless, a live album, recorded at the Triple J Studios in Australia. The UK fans could buy a limited edition CD of it on the band's own Deathstar label.

During their time touring with Weezer, Ash felt the limitation of a three-piece band. As a result they recruited Charlotte Hatherley who had previously been with the band Nightnurse and she made her gig debut at a few small gigs a week before appearing at the V97 festival. The first single that she appeared on, "A Life Less Ordinary", featured on the soundtrack to the Ewan McGregor / Cameron Diaz film of the same name.

In September 1998, Ash released "Jesus Says" the following month the second album proper, Nu-Clear Sounds, and in November "Wildsurf". The stress of near non-stop touring of 1977 and Nu-Clear sounds began to affect the band's mentality,

2000s

In 2000, Tim Wheeler disappeared for a short while following the commercial and critical failure of Nu-Clear Sounds. He eventually emerged in New York making the self-deprecating, blood, drug and sex fueled video for "Numbskull". A note for Stephen Taverner attached to the video said, "I've killed Bambi".

Ash nearly become bankrupt as they prepare to release possibly their last album. Luckily, this was not to be the case. The band retreat to Wheeler's parent's house, to play and write songs in the same garage where the band began.

The single "Shining Light" was released in January 2001, followed by the number one album Free All Angels in April. Subsequent singles released from Free All Angels were "Burn Baby Burn", "Sometimes", "Candy", and "There's a Star" . The single 'Shining Light' wins the 'Best Contemporary Song' award at the 2002 Ivor Novello awards. A new single "Envy" was released, followed shortly afterwards by the singles collection Intergalactic Sonic 7"s. Q magazine names Ash as #2 of its "50 Bands To See Before You Die".

On June 29, Ash released Meltdown. It goes top ten in the UK. The band teams up with Lucasarts for a new Star Wars game entitled Republic Commando. "Clones", taken from the album "Meltdown" is the first music to be used in anything Star Wars related that hasn't been composed by John Williams. Meltdown and Orpheus are featured on the popular British movie, Shaun of the Dead. Also featured is their cover of the Buzzcocks song Everybody's Happy Nowadays featuring Chris Martin on backing vocals. "Meltdown" gets a US release date of March 8, through Warner Bros imprint Record Collection. Also in 2005, Tim Wheeler received a companionship (a honorary degree) from LIPA (Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts).

During the recording of Meltdown, Charlotte Hatherley also wrote and recorded her solo side-project album Grey Will Fade.

On January 20, 2006, Charlotte Hatherley left the band after 9 years leaving only the original members remaining. An official statement reads: "After 9 years Ash and Charlotte Hatherley have mutually agreed to part company. The decision is completely amicable and they wish each other the very best for the future." On June 6, 2006, NME reported that Ash are holed up in a New York studio and have 27 'rough' songs. Tim Wheeler hinted that the album is likely to be more retro sounding than any of their previous material. Ash are planning to start recording the follow up to 2004's 'Meltdown' later this month, with a release date scheduled for next spring. No shows are planned for the remainder of the year but Wheeler says Ash are hoping to test out their new songs 'in tiny New York bars' once the album is completed.

Resources : Wikipedia, Ash MySpace,

Regards

Verd_hatherley

Band Members

The original band members were Tim Wheeler (vocals and guitar), Mark Hamilton (bass guitar) and Rick McMurray (drums). The three were joined by Charlotte Hatherley (guitar and vocals) in 1997 who, as of 2005, also began a solo career as a side-project. On the 20th January, 2006, Hatherley's record label, Double Dragon Music announced her departure from the band.

Initially inspired by Twisted Sister and Iron Maiden in the early 1990s, Tim and Mark formed a heavy metal band called Vietnam with a few schoolfriends. After barely two gigs, they were left stranded when their bandmates left. Requiring a drummer, they had a few drinks with Rick who was a year ahead of them in school and had switched from playing the guitar to drums. With Rick on board, they ambitiously set out to develop a new style of music inspired by grunge bands such as Nirvana, Mudhoney and the Pixies.

Band History

Early 1990s

Ash officially formed in 1992. They created three demo tapes this year, Solar Happy in June, Shed in September, and the Home Demo in November. These tapes featured their earliest material and the first recordings of some songs that would later be on their 1995 release, Trailer, including "Intense Thing", "Get Out", "Obscure Thing," and their future single, "Jack Names The Planets".

In 1993, Ash made the demo tape, Garage Girl, which featured "Jack Names The Planets" and "Intense Thing" taken from Shed, as well as some new tracks including "Petrol". They released their compilation demo tape, Pipe Smokin' Brick later this year, which featured an assortment of their best demo songs from the other 4 demo tapes.

The demo tapes had not gained much attention yet and Ash was still playing small shows at local clubs, however, in early 1994, Stephen Taverner came across the Garage Girl demo tape. Suitably impressed Stephen put up the money so that they could press 1000 7″ copies of "Jack Names The Planets" on Stephen's own LaLaLand record label. The band was on its way and Stephen became their full-time manager.

Ash released their first album, Trailer, in October 1994, which only included seven songs. They received some airplay from DJ Steve Lamacq on BBC Radio 1 and so followed up their debut single with "Petrol", and "Uncle Pat" on their new label Infectious Records.

In 1995, Ash left school and released their breakthrough singles "Kung Fu", "Girl From Mars" and "Angel Interceptor".

Late 1990s

1996 saw them release the singles "Goldfinger" and "Oh Yeah" either side of their album 1977, which saw considerable success. On February 17, 1997, Ash released Live at the Wireless, a live album, recorded at the Triple J Studios in Australia. The UK fans could buy a limited edition CD of it on the band's own Deathstar label.

During their time touring with Weezer, Ash felt the limitation of a three-piece band. As a result they recruited Charlotte Hatherley who had previously been with the band Nightnurse and she made her gig debut at a few small gigs a week before appearing at the V97 festival. The first single that she appeared on, "A Life Less Ordinary", featured on the soundtrack to the Ewan McGregor / Cameron Diaz film of the same name.

In September 1998, Ash released "Jesus Says" the following month the second album proper, Nu-Clear Sounds, and in November "Wildsurf". The stress of near non-stop touring of 1977 and Nu-Clear sounds began to affect the band's mentality,

2000s

In 2000, Tim Wheeler disappeared for a short while following the commercial and critical failure of Nu-Clear Sounds. He eventually emerged in New York making the self-deprecating, blood, drug and sex fueled video for "Numbskull". A note for Stephen Taverner attached to the video said, "I've killed Bambi".

Ash nearly become bankrupt as they prepare to release possibly their last album. Luckily, this was not to be the case. The band retreat to Wheeler's parent's house, to play and write songs in the same garage where the band began.

The single "Shining Light" was released in January 2001, followed by the number one album Free All Angels in April. Subsequent singles released from Free All Angels were "Burn Baby Burn", "Sometimes", "Candy", and "There's a Star" . The single 'Shining Light' wins the 'Best Contemporary Song' award at the 2002 Ivor Novello awards. A new single "Envy" was released, followed shortly afterwards by the singles collection Intergalactic Sonic 7"s. Q magazine names Ash as #2 of its "50 Bands To See Before You Die".

On June 29, Ash released Meltdown. It goes top ten in the UK. The band teams up with Lucasarts for a new Star Wars game entitled Republic Commando. "Clones", taken from the album "Meltdown" is the first music to be used in anything Star Wars related that hasn't been composed by John Williams. Meltdown and Orpheus are featured on the popular British movie, Shaun of the Dead. Also featured is their cover of the Buzzcocks song Everybody's Happy Nowadays featuring Chris Martin on backing vocals. "Meltdown" gets a US release date of March 8, through Warner Bros imprint Record Collection. Also in 2005, Tim Wheeler received a companionship (a honorary degree) from LIPA (Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts).

During the recording of Meltdown, Charlotte Hatherley also wrote and recorded her solo side-project album Grey Will Fade.

On January 20, 2006, Charlotte Hatherley left the band after 9 years leaving only the original members remaining. An official statement reads: "After 9 years Ash and Charlotte Hatherley have mutually agreed to part company. The decision is completely amicable and they wish each other the very best for the future." On June 6, 2006, NME reported that Ash are holed up in a New York studio and have 27 'rough' songs. Tim Wheeler hinted that the album is likely to be more retro sounding than any of their previous material. Ash are planning to start recording the follow up to 2004's 'Meltdown' later this month, with a release date scheduled for next spring. No shows are planned for the remainder of the year but Wheeler says Ash are hoping to test out their new songs 'in tiny New York bars' once the album is completed.

Resources : Wikipedia, Ash MySpace,

Regards

Verd_hatherley