Shack (band)

Shack are an English band formed in Liverpool in 1986. Originally Shack consisted of Mick Head (vocals/guitar), his brother John Head (guitar), Peter Wilkinson (bass) and Mick Hurst.

History

Before founding Shack, Michael and John Head were in cult 1980s band The Pale Fountains, and released two albums, Pacific Street in March 1984 and ...From Across The Kitchen Table in March 1985. However, though critically acclaimed, the albums only reached Numbers 84 and 95 in the UK album charts and so the band failed to recoup the £150,000 that the band had signed to Virgin Records for. However, the band folded in 1986 when bassist Chris "Biffa" McCaffrey died of a brain tumour.

The Head brothers soon re-emerged as Shack, signing to the Ghetto Recording Company, home of producer Ian Broudie's solo project, The Lightning Seeds and British soul band Distant Cousins.

Shack's first album Zilch was released in 1988, but was neither critically nor commercially successful. The follow-up, Waterpistol, was recorded in 1991 at London's Star Street Studio. Shortly after the recording of Waterpistol was complete, the studio burnt down and most of the tapes were destroyed. The only remaining DAT of the album was in the possession of producer Chris Allison. At the time, Allison was in Los Angeles and when he returned, it transpired that he had left the copy in his hire car. It was only found weeks later after a frenzied search. However, by this point, Ghetto had folded so the record was without a distributor. Shack split, with Wilkinson joining fellow Liverpudlian John Power (formerly of The La's) to form the successful Britpop band Cast. The Head brothers accompanied influential 60's band Love, who had been their heroes, for a few touring dates. They then went on to form The Strands, which found them further critical acclaim.

Waterpistol was finally released in 1995 on German independent label Marina to critical acclaim (for example, the NME described Mick Head as "a lost genius and among the most gifted British songwriters of his generation"), but negligible sales. Mick Head went on to suffer problems with heroin addiction.

The Head brothers, along with Iain Templeton (who drummed on The Magical World of the Strands) and bassist Ren Parry reformed Shack in 1998, releasing HMS Fable (1999). Perry was replaced by Guy Rigby on Bass for Here's Tom With the Weather (2003). Wilkinson rejoined in 2005, replacing the departed Rigby.

The band are currently signed to Noel Gallagher's "Sour Mash" label. May 2006 saw the release of the album ...The Corner of Miles and Gil named after two of the Head brothers' heroes, Miles Davis and Gil Evans.

In October 2007 the band released their Greatest Hits/Best of album 'Time Machine' including 2 newly recorded tracks. They toured briefly in England in October and November with Martyn Campbell on bass, including a triumphant set at Liverpool Academy on October 26th which was filmed and recorded for a possible live album and/or DVD.

Discography

Albums

• Zilch (Ghetto, March 1988)

Tracks: "Emergency" / "Someone's Knocking" / "John Kline" / "I Need You" / "Realization" / "High Rise Low Life" / "Who Killed Clayton Square?" / "Who'd Believe it?" / "What's it Like..." / "The Believers"

• Waterpistol (Marina, 1995 / re-released 1998)

Tracks: "Sgt Major" / "Neighbours" / "Stranger" / "Dragonfly" / "Mood of the Morning" / "Walter's Song" / "Time Machine" / "Mr Appointment" / "Undecided" / "Hazy" /"Hey Mama" /"London Town"

• HMS Fable (London, 21 June 1999)

Tracks: "Natalie's Party" / "Comedy" / "Pull Together" / "Beautiful" / "Lend's Some Dough" / "The Captain's Table" / "Streets of Kenny" / "Re-Instated" / "I Want You" / "Cornish Town" / "Since I Met You" / "Daniella"

• Here's Tom With the Weather (North Country, 11 August 2003)

Tracks: "As Long As I've Got You" / "Soldier Man" / "Byrds Turn To Stone" / "The Girl With The Long Brown Hair" / "On The Terrace" / "Miles Apart" / "Meant To Be" / "Carousel" / "On The Streets Tonight" / "Chinatown" / "Camden Road" / "Happy Everafter"

• ...The Corner of Miles & Gil (Sourmash, 15 May 2006)

Tracks: "Tie Me Down" / "Butterfly" / "Cup of Tea" / "Shelley Brown" / "Black & White" / "New Day" / "Miles Away" / "Finn, Sophie, Bobby & Lance" / "Moonshine" / "Funny Things" / "Find A Place" / "Closer"

Singles

With UK Top 75 singles chart positions where applicable.

Date	Title	Label / cat no. Currently touring as The Who support band.	Position
March 1988	"Emergency"	Ghetto Recording Company / GTG 01	-
June 1988	"High Rise Low Life"	Ghetto Recording Company	-
July 1990	"I Know You Well"	Ghetto Recording Company / GTG 11	-
1991	"Al's Vacation"	Ghetto Recording Company / GTG 14	-
June 1999	"Comedy"	London Records / LONCD 436	# 44
August 1999	"Natalie's Party"	London Records / LONCD 436	# 63
March 2000	"Oscar"	London Records / LONCD 445	# 67
October 2003	"Byrds Turn To Stone"	North Country NCCDA 002	# 63

External links

• shacktheband.com - official website
• shacknet.co.uk - Shack fan site and home to graeme and a lively and informative forum
• Being There Magazine review of ...The Corner of Miles and Gil