Late of the Pier

Late of the Pier was an English four-piece dance-punk band from Castle Donington, England, signed to Parlophone. Their debut album Fantasy Black Channel, produced by Erol Alkan was released on 11 August 2008 by Parlophone.

Late of the Pier
Background information
OriginCastle Donington, England, UK
GenresDance-punk, electroclash, glam punk, new rave, neo-progressive rock
Years active2004–2010
LabelsParlophone (UK)
Zarcorp (UK)
Astralwerks (U.S.)
Phantasy (UK)
Past members
  • Samuel Eastgate
  • Andrew Faley
  • Sam Potter
  • Ross Dawson

History

Formation, Zarcorp Demo and Fantasy Black Channel (2004–10)

The band formed in 2004, although some of the songs they perform were written before this, with some dating back to 2001.[1] Their debut single, "Space and the Woods", was released through WayOutWest Records, and featured on the band's Zarcorp Demo EP in March 2007. The band's second single "Bathroom Gurgle" was produced by Erol Alkan and was released by Moshi Moshi Records in September 2007. Their third single, "The Bears Are Coming", was released on 12" and download only, with 7" versions being sold exclusively on their February 2008 tour. This was released through the band's own Zarcorp label.[2] Their fourth single, a double A-side including a new version of "Space and the Woods" as well as "Focker", was released following a headline slot on the Levi's Ones To Watch tour.

Late of the Pier opened 2007's Reading and Leeds Festivals on the NME/Radio One stage, while appearing on the festival's Republic stage the following year.[3] The band have performed in support slots for Hadouken!,[4] Soulwax,[5] Justice[6] and U.N.K.L.E., as well as supporting Kaiser Chiefs on their 2008 UK tour.

Their debut album, Fantasy Black Channel, was released by Parlophone on 11 August 2008.[7] On 7 September 2009, it was voted winner of the Neptune Music Prize on the Drowned in Sound website.[8]

They released a new single titled "Blueberry" as a digital download on 17 December 2009, and as a double A-Side in February 2010 with "Best in the Class". Following this release, the band concentrated on a number of side projects and personal work, and stated that it was unlikely that new material would be forthcoming.[9]

Side projects (2010–2015)

Lead singer Sam Eastgate featured on Filthy Dukes' track "This Rhythm" on their debut album Nonsense in the Dark,[10] and produced Manchester indie pop band Egyptian Hip Hop's debut double A-side single "Wild Human Child"/"Heavenly". He also toured as part of New Zealand indie twee act Connan Mockasin's band on his 2010 album release tour around New Zealand.

Sam Potter co-wrote music on Franz Ferdinand's 2018 album Always Ascending,[11] and formed tribute act A Tribute to February Montaine in honour of lo-fi pop artist February Montaine. He also ran Blackout, a music event that ran at London venue Oval Space, where anonymous musicians played in the pitch black.[12] Ross Dawson did some session work and joined London based band Zibra in summer 2014, but left in early 2015.

In early 2015, Eastgate released the album Inji and its lead single "Oino" under the name LA Priest.[13]

On 21 May 2015, the band's former label Parlophone announced the death of drummer Ross Dawson. A press release from the musician's family, via the label, stated that Dawson was "involved in a very sudden and tragic accident" on 15 May. Dawson's family write, "Ross was a monumental force in the lives of everybody who knew him, multi-talented, modest, kind and generous; he loved and was loved by his family. The world has become a sadder place without him. He will be eternally missed by all who knew and loved him."[14]

Fantasy Black Channel reissue (2015–present)

In August 2018, the band resurfaced in a series of cryptic posts on a newly created Instagram account.[15] In December 2018, the band announced a vinyl reissue of Fantasy Black Channel via Phantasy. Bundled with a download code for a digital album of unreleased demos and outtakes, the reissue was released on 19 January 2019.[16]

Musical style

Late of the Pier's style has often been compared to artists like Gary Numan, Brian Eno, Stephen Dubrich, Bill Nelson of Be-Bop Deluxe fame, and the more contemporary Metronomy and Klaxons, mainly due to the prominent use of synthesisers in an off-kilter pop style.[17]

Discography

Albums
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
UK
[18]
Fantasy Black Channel 28

Singles
Date of Release Title UK Chart Position Album
5 March 2007 "Space and the Woods"[19] N/A Zarcorp Demo
10 September 2007 "Bathroom Gurgle"[20] N/A Fantasy Black Channel
2 March 2008 "The Bears Are Coming"[21] N/A
19 May 2008 "Space and the Woods"/"Focker"[19] N/A
4 August 2008 "Heartbeat"[22] 98[23]
2 October 2008 "Bathroom Gurgle" (re-release) N/A
14 December 2009 "Blueberry" N/A Non-album single
1 March 2010 "Best in the Class" N/A

Music videos
Year Title Director(s)
2007 "Bathroom Gurgle" Daniel Brereton
2008 "The Bears Are Coming" Saam Farahmand
2008 "Space and the Woods" Ian Emes
2008 "Focker" Daniel Brereton
2008 "Heartbeat" MEGAFORCE
2009 "Blueberry" Andrew Faley & Fred Glenister
2010 "Best in the Class" Sam Potter & Steve Glashier

Demos
  • 2005: Refill Men Twist & The Zarcorp Legacy
  • 2007: Zarcorp Demo

References
  1. "Late Of The Pier at Plug 'n' Play". BBC News Online. 22 January 2008.
  2. "Set Music Free". Diymag.com.
  3. Britton, Luke Morgan (5 June 2015). "Ex-Late Of The Pier musician La Priest streams new track 'Lorry Park' - listen". Nme.com. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  4. "Hadouken! Play Their Biggest Show Yet". Gigwise.com. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007.
  5. "manchester clubbing: Warehouse Project Lineups Update". Manchester-clubbing.blogspot.com.
  6. ADateZ Inc. | Justice, Late Of The Pier at Somerset House, London Archived 24 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "BBC - Home". Bbc.co.uk.
  8. "The Neptune Music Prize Winner is..." DrownedInSound.com. Archived from the original on 9 September 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
  9. "Late Of The Pier's Sam Eastgate to launch new band". Nme.Com. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  10. "Filthy Dukes announce UK tour and debut album". Nme.com. 22 January 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  11. "Sam Potter | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  12. Haider, Arwa (14 October 2016). "Dancing in the dark: the growing trend of gigs with the lights off". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  13. Sam Richards (29 June 2015). "LA Priest: 'I'm not trying to be freaky for the sake of it' | Music". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  14. Britton, Luke Morgan (21 May 2015). "Late Of The Pier drummer Ross Dawson dies following 'very sudden and tragic accident'". Nme.com. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  15. Daly, Rhian (10 August 2018). "Late Of The Pier post cryptic message hinting at new activity". Nme.com. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  16. "Late of the Pier Announce 10th Anniversary Reissue". Phantasysound.co.uk. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  17. Lester, Paul (8 August 2007). "No 160: Late of the Pier". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  18. "Artist Chart History – Superorganism". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  19. "Single Review: Late Of The Pier - Bathroom Gurgle". DrownedInSound.com. Archived from the original on 13 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  20. "Drowned in Sound - Reviews - Singles - Late Of The Pier - Bathroom Gurgle". Archived from the original on 9 November 2007.
  21. Welcome to Zarcorp Archived 14 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  22. "Odzyskiwanie danych z dysku – Jak poradzic sobie z problemem utraty danych?". Newuksinglereleases.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011.
  23. "The Official UK Singles Chart for the week ending 16 August 2008". ChartsPlus. Milton Keynes: IQ Ware Ltd (364): 1–4.
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