Walkingseeds were an English

alternative rock Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from Popular culture, mainstre ...

band, formed in 1986 in

Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...

History

Frank Martin (vocals), Bob Parker (guitar), and John Neesam (drums) had previously worked together as the Mel-o-Tones, releasing a

mini-LP A mini-LP or mini-album is a short vinyl record album or LP, usually retailing at a lower price than an album that would be considered full-length. It is distinct from an EP due to containing more tracks and a slightly longer running length. A ...

and an EP on Liverpool label

Probe Plus Probe Plus was a record label based in Liverpool, England. It was founded by Geoff Davies, an enthusiastic promoter of small, unsigned bands, who describes the label as "Music to drive you to drink".De Burgh, Simon (1991) 'Probe Plus Records', ' ...

. They met while students at Liverpool art school 1982-84, as was Martin DempseyParker, Robert and Johnson, Christopher, eds. (1984) "'The Course They Couldn't Kill' Faculty of Art 1984 degree show catalogue", Liverpool Polytechnic, Liverpool, UK (ex-

Yachts A yacht is a sailing or power vessel used for pleasure, cruising, or racing. There is no standard definition, though the term generally applies to vessels with a cabin intended for overnight use. To be termed a , as opposed to a , such a pleasu ...

), also in the Mel-o-Tones. After appearing as The Corinthians for a few months, during which time they recorded a seven-track demo, they decided on a change of name to Walkingseeds, and debuted in June 1986 with the ''Know Too Much'' EP, still on Probe Plus.Strong, Martin C. (2003) "Walkingseeds", in ''The Great Indie Discography'', Canongate, Larkin, Colin (1992) "Walking Seeds" in ''The Guinness Who's Who of Indie and New Wave Music'', Guinness Publishing, , p.306 The band's sound was characterised as "psychedelic grunge". Neesam departed and the others drafted in former Marshmallow Overcoat guitarist Barry Sutton and drummer Tony Mogan. After the Mark Chapman single on their own Moral Burro label, they returned to Probe Plus with their debut album, ''Skullfuck'' (the title influenced by a

Grateful Dead The Grateful Dead was an American rock music, rock band formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. The band is known for its eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, Folk music, folk, country music, country, jazz, bluegrass music, bluegrass, ...

album cover), released in late 1987. ''Skullfuck'' was later cited by

Nirvana ( , , ; sa, निर्वाण} ''nirvāṇa'' ; Pali: ''nibbāna''; Prakrit: ''ṇivvāṇa''; literally, "blown out", as in an oil lampRichard Gombrich, ''Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benāres to Modern Colombo.' ...

Kurt Cobain Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 – April 5, 1994) was an American musician who served as the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter of the rock band Nirvana. Through his angst-fueled songwriting and anti-establishment persona ...

as an influence. The band worked with Kramer on the second album, ''Upwind of Disaster, Downwind of Atonement'', released on

Glass Records Glass Records was a British independent record label which operated from 1981 to 1990, and was resurrected in 2015. Glass Vintage 1981–1990 Glass was one of the key London-based indie labels of the 1980s. Early releases focused on artists f ...

in 1989. Sutton departed to join

The La's The La's were an English rock band from Liverpool, originally active from 1983 until 1992. Fronted by singer, songwriter and guitarist Lee Mavers, the group are best known for their hit single " There She Goes". The band was formed by Mike Bad ...

and was replaced by Andy Rowan for the ''Shaved Beatnik'' EP. The band drafted in

Nick Saloman The Bevis Frond is an English rock band formed in 1986 in Walthamstow, London, England. The band is fronted by Nick Saloman and has recorded many singles and albums on various independent labels. Information Saloman was originally in a band kn ...

(aka

The Bevis Frond The Bevis Frond is an English rock band formed in 1986 in Walthamstow, London, England. The band is fronted by Nick Saloman and has recorded many singles and albums on various independent labels. Information Saloman was originally in a band kno ...

) and brought in Lee Webster as a replacement for Rowan. The ''Sensory Deprivation Chamber Quartet Dwarf'' mini-album followed in 1989, and was their last release for Glass. After a split single with Bevis Frond, they moved on to

Paperhouse Records Paperhouse Records was a British independent record label which operated from 1990 to 1993. The label was a short-lived joint venture by Glass Records owner David E. Barker and Fire Records owner Clive Solomon. It is named after "Paperhouse", ...

for their next album, ''Bad Orb, Whirling Ball'' (1990). The band continued into the mid-1990s, with

Dinosaur Jr Dinosaur Jr. is an American rock band formed in Amherst, Massachusetts, in 1984, originally simply called Dinosaur until legal issues forced a change in name. The band was founded by J Mascis (guitar, vocals, primary songwriter), Lou Barlow ...

's Don Fleming joining for a time, before splitting up, with Parker and Mogan forming

The Del-Bloods ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

and later White Bitch. Martin later reappeared in Batloaf's

Meat Loaf Michael Lee Aday (born Marvin Lee Aday; September 27, 1947 – January 20, 2022), known professionally as Meat Loaf, was an American rock singer and actor. He was noted for his powerful, wide-ranging voice and theatrical live shows. He is on t ...

parody ''Meat out of Hell'' along with Parker and Mogan. Sutton and Webster joined

Froth Foams are materials formed by trapping pockets of gas in a liquid or solid. A bath sponge and the head on a glass of beer are examples of foams. In most foams, the volume of gas is large, with thin films of liquid or solid separating the r ...

. The band recorded four sessions for

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 ...

BBC Radio 1 BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including electronica, dance, ...

show between 1987 and 1990.

Discography

Albums

*''Skullfuck'' (1987)

( UK Indie No. 26)Lazell, Barry (1997) ''Indie Hits 1980-1989'', Cherry Red Books, *''Upwind of Disaster, Downwind of Atonement'' (1989) Glass *''Sensory Deprivation Chamber Quartet Dwarf'' (1989) Glass *''Bad Orb, Whirling Ball'' (1990) Paperhouse *''Earth Is Hell'' (live) (1991) Snakeskin *''Mirrorshades'' (1993) Butcher's Hook

Singles

*''Know Too Much'' EP (1986) Probe Plus *"Mark Chapman" (1987) Moral Burro *''Shaved Beatnik'' EP (1989) Glass *"Reflection in a Tall Mirror" (1990) Clawfist (split with

Bevis Frond The Bevis Frond is an English rock band formed in 1986 in Walthamstow, London, England. The band is fronted by Nick Saloman and has recorded many singles and albums on various independent labels. Information Saloman was originally in a band kno ...

) *"Gates of Freedom" (1990) Paperhouse *"Rollin' Machine" (1993) Fist Puppet *"Beat Them All to Death" (1994) Dental

References

External links

*Robbins, Ira
Walkingseeds
, ''

Trouser Press ''Trouser Press'' was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow fan of the Who Dave Schulps and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" (a reference to ...

'' {{Authority control English alternative rock groups Musical groups from Liverpool Glass Records artists