One Thousand Violins was an English 1960s-influenced
indie-pop
Indie pop (also typeset as indie-pop or indiepop) is a music genre and subculture that combines guitar pop with DIY ethic in opposition to the style and tone of mainstream pop music. It originated from British post-punk in the late 1970s and su ...
group from
Sheffield,
Yorkshire, England, who had several
UK Indie Chart hits in the late 1980s.
History
The band was formed in 1985 by Darren Swindells (bass), Colin Gregory (guitar), John Wood (vocals), David Walmsley (keyboards/guitar), and Peter Day (drums).
Gregory and Walmsley had previously played together in The Page Boys.
Their first single, "Halcyon Days" was released in 1985. The B-side, "Like One Thousand Violins" was voted into that year's
Festive 50 by listeners to
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft (30 August 1939 – 25 October 2004), known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey (DJ) and radio presenter. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly fr ...
's
BBC Radio 1 show, the band having recorded a session for the show earlier that year.
1986 saw a second Peel session, and the band breaking into the indie chart with "Please Don't Sandblast My House", which reached number 11.
In 1987, Day was replaced by Ian Addey, and the indie hits continued with "Ungrateful Bastard", "Locked Out of The Love-In", and "If I Were a Bullet".
The following year the band's debut album, ''Hey Man That's Beautiful'' was released, and Wood departed, to be replaced by ex-Hays Office singer Vince Keenan.
With the band troubled by financial problems and 'mind differences', they split in 1989.
Colin Gregory went on to form
The Dylans
The Dylans were an alternative rock band formed in Sheffield, England, in 1991. The band released two albums before splitting in 1994.
History
The band was formed in early 1990 by former 1,000 Violins guitarist, songwriter, and occasional s ...
. Keenan went on to join Splendid Fellows and later SPIGGOTT.
Walmsley died from
cancer in 1992.
Following his departure, original vocalist John Wood formed
The Chrysalids with
Yves Altana
Yves may refer to:
* Yves, Charente-Maritime, a commune of the Charente-Maritime department in France
* Yves (given name), including a list of people with the name
* ''Yves'' (single album), a single album by Loona
* ''Yves'' (film), a 2019 Fren ...
and a retrospective was released in 2012 entitled ''Neither Love Nor Money''.
While the band's success during their lifetime was limited, the internet and the interest in this era of indie pop saw interest in the band increase.
Vinyl Japan issued a collection of the band's work in 2000, ''Like One Thousand Violins''. A new compilation, Halcyon Days - Complete Recordings 1985-1987, covering the years with John Wood on vocals and featuring rare tracks, was released by
Cherry Red Records
Cherry Red Records is a British independent record label founded in Malvern, Worcestershire by Iain McNay in 1978. The label has released recordings by Dead Kennedys, Everything But the Girl, The Monochrome Set, and Felt, among others, as well ...
on 26 May 2014.
Discography
Chart placings shown are from the UK Indie Chart.
Singles
*"Halcyon Days" (1985), Dreamworld DREAM 002 12"
*"Please Don't Sandblast My House" (1986), Dreamworld DREAM 008/008T 7"/12" (#11)
*"Ungrateful Bastard" (1987), Constrictor Single-Coll. 001 7" (#27)
*"Locked Out Of The Love-In" (1987), Dreamworld DREAM 014/014T 7"/12" (#13)
*"If I Were a Bullet (Then For Sure I'd Find a Way To Your Heart)" (1987), Report REPX1/REPX1T 7"/12" (#17)
*"All Aboard The Lovemobile" (1988), Immaculate IMMAC 7/12 IMMAC 7 7"/12"
*"If Only Words (Would Let Me Conquer You)" (1989), Immaculate IMMAC 9/12 IMMAC 9 7"/12"
Albums and EPs
*''Please Don't Sandblast My House'' (six track
mini-LP) (1987), Constrictor CON! 00008
*''Locked Out of the Love-In'' (1987), Constrictor CON! 00023
*''Hey Man That's Beautiful'' (1988), Immaculate IMMACLP1
;Compilations:
*''Like One Thousand Violins'' (2000), Vinyl Japan ASKLP119/ASKCD119
*''Halcyon Days - Complete Recordings 1985-1987'' (2014),
Cherry Red CDMRED624
References
{{Authority control
British indie pop groups
English alternative rock groups
Musical groups established in 1985
Musical groups disestablished in 1989
Musical groups from Sheffield