It's official - Toploader have decided to reform and settle some unfinished business! After a five year sabbatical, the band are now ready to take their own mix of heady, feel-good rock back where it belongs, on the road. The guys have been thrilled at the idea of playing together again and have just been in rehearsals for the first time in nearly half a decade with some explosive results!
The first chapter in Toploader's history was extraordinary and reached dizzy heights but always seemed to have ended before the party was over.So it seems, the irrepressible forces of nature have brought the "Loader" back together again to finish what they started... Just like beer and football, the seaside on a sunny day and Derek & Clive they've come together to make people smile again.
The band are looking forward to seeing you at the festivals this summer, breaking out some of the old favourites and introducing some new classics, with an EP release of new material to coincide with these. There will be a UK tour at the end of this year followed by a brand new album at the start of 2010.
"A big hello and thank you to all to all our old fans for your patience and continued support over the years and an even bigger hello to all those who have yet to become fans!" TPLDR.
Formed in 1997 from the chemistry between a bunch of Eastbourne drinking mates, Toploader swiftly rose from the ranks of the unknown to become one of Britain's biggest selling bands. How it happened is something pundits are still puzzling over. The small, pensioner favoured seaside town of Eastbourne is hardly a hotbed of rock'n'roll. Musical peers are thin on the ground and the local pier is none too inspiring either. What may have been overlooked is that the absence of scene guidelines or local influence is almost certainly what allowed them to grow into such a lethally populist band. "The thing about Eastbourne is you've got the sea and the downs and countryside so the chilled factor is quite high," says singer-keyboardist Joseph Washbourn. "So a lot of the lyrics are kind of coming from that perspective, either escapism or looking out to somewhere else."
It was harmonious right from the beginning. Four early 20s men sat in Sullivans bar in Eastbourne and found that they agreed on the important matters of lager, women and music. "We all just ended up in the same pub talking about the same subjects and going off to play in a garage," says drummer Rob Green. "We just found a garage and that was it." Rob, guitarist Dan Hipgrave, bassist Matt Knight and keyboardist Joseph knew each other from around town. The core of the band was instantly there and when madcap Glastonbury guitarist Julian Deane rolled by on his travels, the pentangle of celebration- loving minds was complete.
Local gigs saw them develop at a precocious rate, and after briefly considering drafting a singer, they decided Joseph could handle it sitting down. The conspicuously curly mopped Washbourn was actually the ideal choice. He was the songwriter and the looker. He was way accomplished as a keyboardist, having been taught since the age of 7. There was plenty of soul in his voice, and he even had a suitable family history (an elder brother who passed on his Zeppelin records and a mum who used to hang out with David Bowie when he was still a south London saxist called David Jones).
As is entirely appropriate considering the uplifting nature of their music Toploader did not suffer greatly on their two year journey to the mountain top of new British rock. They took their name from a technique for rolling herbal cigarettes (it was better than the briefly mooted Bloodbath or Human Spider) and after a momentary lapse into 'darkness' when Radiohead's 'OK Computer' came out, set about letting the people know how a proper, big tuned, flash keyboard lead, honky tonk rock band sounded.
Even at tiny early gigs they were an obvious safe bet for festival and stadium stardom. They had scale and confidence to spare and in '98 Sony's S2 signed them at speed. Paul Weller saw them play and asked the band to support him on his 99 tour where they sometimes followed Noel Gallagher.
By now the rock (plus the funk and soul) was thoroughly rolling. Their limited edition introductory single 'Achilles Heel' came out in May 99 leading to an early appearance on TFI Friday. Securing instant conversions at an evangelical rate they toured incessantly, played a Kosovo benefit alongside Travis and Stereophonics, blazed through festival shows at Glastonbury and Reading and grazed the top 40 with the following single 'Let The People Know'. In one hurtling year a fuss had been successfully kicked up. They were out of towners with a fiercely optimistic attitude and as comparisons with anyone from Jamiroquai and Stevie Wonder to Aersomith, The Stones and Supertramp flew around, no-one could agree on what kind of band they were.
Another instant convert to their cause - legendary L.A. producer George Drakoulias - had come in to produce the top 20 party anthem 'Dancing In The Moonlight'. It stayed in the charts for a month when it came out in February 2000. A full release for the epic 'Achilles Heel' then went to number 8 confirming Toploader as crossover stars. They recorded for Top Of The Pops alongside old guard heroes Oasis and personal favourites The Charlatans. The May release of their debut album saw reality trumping even their own innate optimism when 'Onka's Big Moka' went to number 5 and notched up Gold status after just two weeks.
The album's title foxed a few people. Anthropology degree wielding band conceptualist Julian chose it after watching a film on Papua New Guinea tribal rituals where leading tribesmen give away their possessions to their rivals to gain respect and power. Musically, however, there were no misunderstandings. Produced by Manic Street Preachers collaborator Dave Eringa, the blend of giant, poignant, string-lifted ballads and energised rootsy blues rock made for a classic debut. It rocks ('Let The People Know', 'Just About Living'). It grooves ('Dancing In…'). It contemplates ('High Flying Bird'). And it giggles in the bathtub ('Floating Away').
By summer 2000 the kids knew the words to all the songs and through Paul Weller supports at The Royal Albert Hall, European festivals, blissful Glastonbury appearances and T in the Park storming, all Joseph had to do was point the microphone at them and conduct. Even the half a million people about to witness Toploader on their 30 day Euro tour with Bon Jovi (including 2 shows at Wembley Stadium making them the last Brit band to play before the re-build) couldn't help noticing that they are in the presence of something special, natural, and meant to be.
A second album, Magic Hotel followed, hitting number 3 in the UK chart and providing the band with another huge hit single in Time Of My Life. They toured the uk for what seemed like a year! But things took their toll, their label S2 was swallowed into the Sony machine and ultimately the band split up. Until now
At the end of 2008, at Dan's stag do, the band met up for the first time in 5 years and found that the desire to play together was still there. A couple of phone calls and they discovered the demand was still there too. So here we are. Festivals confirmed, a headline show in Eastbourne selling like hot cakes and a raft of new material being worked into an album that will be with us in early 2010. Toploader are back, and still the band to follow. Watch this space for more very soon....
How's it going? There is a free track available for you at the moment on our myspace page. Just click the FREE DOWNLOAD box at the top of the page and enter a valid email to download the tune. How cool is that!
Have a great week and thank you very much for being electronically connected to us as friends and fans.
As Thanksgiving Day rolls around, It brings up some facts, quite profound. We may think that we're poor, Feel like bums, insecure, But in truth, our riches astound.
We have friends and family we love; We have guidance from heaven above. We have so much more Than they sell in a store, We're wealthy, when push comes to shove.
So add up your blessings, I say; Make Thanksgiving last more than a day. Enjoy what you've got; Realize it's a lot, And you'll make all your cares go away.
Add 10 Million MYSPACE plays to your new music player ,INCREASE YOUR SONG PLAY COUNTS,Myspace have been using this technique for years without you knowing, Now you can too www.thelabel360.com ENJOY
There is currently a search for two types of bands for record label consideration.
*** Note: PLEASE IDENTIFY IF YOU ARE IN GROUP 1 OR 2 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF YOUR RESPONSE. Emails are being reviewed by different representatives.
1. A Pop/Rock/Commercial band with female lead. Band must consist of 2 guitars (Prefer both guitar players to be of lead caliber. However, one lead and one rhythm is acceptable), keyboard/piano, bass, and drums. Lead vocal, followed by backing vocals, in that order, is a plus as it relates to other members of the group. Average age of the band cannot exceed 28 years of age.
* Group must have an outstanding lead vocalist. ** Musicianship throughout the entire band must be very strong. *** Group cannot currently be under any contract of any type that is related to the music industry.
2. A Modern Rock band with male lead. Must be a complete band but there are no prerequisites as it relates to the make up of the band. Average age of the band cannot exceed 23 years of age.
* Group must have an outstanding lead vocalist. ** Musicianship throughout the entire band must be very strong. *** Group cannot currently be under any contract of any type that is related to the music industry.
XXX - If you meet the minimum qualifications as described above. Email a link for your MySpace Page and if applicable, a link for your website to: recordingartistsearch@gmail.com
Only send one email with your links. Due to the volume of responses normally received for these types of opportunities. After review of your material, you will only be contacted if there is an interest in attending one of your shows by a label representative. As such please to not send any follow up emails regarding selections. If you were not contacted back, there was not an interest.
Thank You.
PS: Before You Enter Any MySpace Contests You Might Want To Also Review The Website At: www.st
WELCOME TO THE MADNESS KNOWN AS C~OF~W!! THANKS!! CHECK OUT OUR TUNES & COMMENTS ARE APPRECIATED!! JOIN THE MADNESS AT www.cofwrocks.com FOR MORE INFO ABOUT US!! WHAT'S UP?! C~OF~W : LA BEST-TIA
Hi Guys thanks for the add - fab gig in eastbourne infact couldn't of been more perfect weather etc and meeting Dan afterwards - so impressed went and bought best of toploader and have been enjoying the tracks since. Look forward to new stuff and wish you every success with the comeback. lou x
Hi! We have one more song up on our page from the new CD "PROJECT". This song is titled, "HEIGHT OF GLORY". We hope you all like this one because there is no "MONEY BACK GUARANTY". As always, this message will self-destruct in 5 seconds. Robert Mitchell
Heading along to your King Tuts gig on 21st, very exciting, and just wanted to say that I hope you have room in your set for "stupid games"- what a tune. Ewan
