The Charlatans (UK) in Concert at The Metro, Chicago – Feb. 21, 1991 –
Perennial favorites The Charlatans (UK) this morning – in concert from The Metro in Chicago on February 21, 1991. Considered by many (including yours truly) to be one of the cornerstones of what was to become known as the Madchester Scene.
Right place – right time and a shot in the arm when they first started making waves in 1988. No question, they were a breath of fresh air but also reminiscent of the halcyon days of 60s Psychedelia – not a clone of, but a tipping-off point from – they were a mashup of many styles, but definitely a band on their own with their own message and it struck harmonious chords with a lot of people who were looking for exactly that.
Fronted by founder/lead-singer Tim Burgess, who has gone on to a pivotal solo career as well as maintaining The Charlatans, the band went through a number of changes over the years. Keyboard player Rob Collins was killed in a traffic accident on 22 July 1996, during the recording of the band’s fifth album Tellin’ Stories. On 13 August 2013 the band’s 44-year-old drummer Jon Brookes died from a brain tumor having undergone several operations and treatment for the condition since his initial diagnosis in 2010. The band themselves paid him tribute in a special event, with Pete Salisbury playing in his place and bands such as Beady Eye, The Vaccines and Manic Street Preachers also joining the bill. Proceeds from the night went to The Brain Tumor Charity, of which The Charlatans are now patrons; the charity have set up The Jon Brookes Fund as a lasting tribute to the drummer.
Tim Burgess confirmed that Brookes’s recordings would appear on the band’s next album, originally slated for sometime in 2014.
The Charlatans announced details of their twelfth studio album Modern Nature, to be released on 26 January 2015 on their new label BMG Rights Management. Featuring eleven new tracks (including the recent limited edition 7″ “Talking in Tones”), Modern Nature was produced by The Charlatans and Jim Spencer and mixed by Craig Silvey. The album features contributions from the band’s temporary drummers Peter Salisbury (of The Verve), Stephen Morris (of New Order) and Gabriel Gurnsey (of Factory Floor), as well as producer Dave Tolan, backing singers Melanie Marshall and Sandra Marvin, strings by Sean O’Hagan and brass courtesy of Jim Paterson from Dexys Midnight Runners.
To get an idea what they sounded like during their earlier days, here is a concert from their first American tour in 1991.
Crank it up and celebrate the hell out of it.
