Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Luke Haines

 
Artist: Luke Haines
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Artists
Luke Haines

Similar Artists:

Destroyer, Howard Devoto, Barry Adamson

Influenced By:

Ray Davies, David Bowie

Formal Connection With:

Baader Meinhof, The Auteurs
  • Active: '80s, '90s, 2000s
  • Genres: Rock
  • Instrument: Producer, Vocals, Guitar
  • Representative Albums: "The Oliver Twist Manifesto," "Luke Haines Is Dead," "Das Capital"

Biography

One of the sharpest and most prolific British songwriters of the '90s and early 2000s, Luke Haines -- who began modestly enough in a string of obscure '80s bands, including the Servants -- helmed the glam noir of the Auteurs, the broken funk of Baader Meinhof, and the (mostly) downbeat pop of Black Box Recorder, in addition to releasing material under his own name. During the last seven years of the '90s, Haines issued six albums that ranged from fine to spectacular, from the Mercury Prize-nominated New Wave (1993) to the sleek, bleak How I Learned to Love the Bootboys (1999). After the release of Black Box Recorder's second album, 2000's The Facts of Life (the title track hit the upper reaches of the U.K. singles chart), Haines issued his first true recordings. Christie Malry's Own Double Entry and The Oliver Twist Manifesto were released within a couple months of each other in mid-2001 -- the former a soundtrack to the darkly comic film of the same name, and the latter a surprisingly effective fusion of Haines' typically snide and downcast melodies over springy hip-hop-oriented production. (The week the disc was released, Haines called for a weeklong National Pop Strike, a period in which any musician could turn in his or her wares and receive amnesty for any and all "crimes" committed against pop.) Two years later, Haines sidestepped a typical best-of release with Das Capital, a set of Auteurs material recorded with orchestral backing. Luke Haines Is Dead (2005), however, summarized Haines' career to that point across a wide span of three CDs containing highlights, B-sides, and radio sessions. Haines' second proper solo album, Off My Rocker at the Art School Bop, came in 2006. A year later, he published Bad Vibes: Britpop and My Part in Its Downfall, a book that rankled former colleagues (he referred to Auteurs member James Banbury only as "the cellist") and longtime enemies alike. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide
Search unanswered questions...

Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics

Wikipedia: Luke Haines
Top
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Luke Haines

Luke Haines, performing at the 2005 Summer Sundae
Background information
Born 7 October 1967 (1967-10-07) (age 42), Walton-on-Thames, England
Origin England
Genres Alternative rock, Electronica
Occupations Singer-songwriter
Instruments Guitar, piano/keyboard
Years active 1985–present
Labels Degenerate
Associated acts The Servants
The Auteurs
Baader Meinhof
Black Box Recorder
Website www.lukehaines.co.uk

Luke Haines (born 7 October 1967) is an English musician, songwriter and author, who has recorded music under various names and with various bands, including The Auteurs and Black Box Recorder.

Contents

History

'New Wave'

Haines formed numerous bands when he was at school. At college he joined The Servants who recorded two commercially unsuccessful albums. It was only when Haines formed The Auteurs with his girlfriend Alice Readman (who had also been in The Servants) and Glenn Collins in 1990 that he began to achieve some success.

Regular gigging in the London area and an NME sponsored gig brought them to the attention of Hut Records. They released their first single, "Showgirl" in 1992, and their debut album New Wave a month later. Haines was later to claim that this was the album that started Britpop, though he later showed disdain towards the movement, stating in a 2003 interview that Britpop consisted of "a bunch of bands who weren't good enough to exist in their own right, like music's equivalent of the Bloomsbury Group." Certainly it was ahead of its time in turning back from the acid house then popular to more traditional songwriting in the vein of The Kinks or The Small Faces. It is arguable that more commercially successful bands (such as Suede) owed much to Haines' vision. In any case, the album sold 12,000 copies only but was nominated for a Mercury Prize.

The band toured the UK and the USA, gaining generally good reviews: however it is the opinion of the NME that the band were better in the studio than live.

A brush with fame

Their second album, Now I'm a Cowboy (1994) featured "Lenny Valentino" one of their most famous songs. By now the band were touring Europe and the States regularly, and were gaining a reputation as one of the best new British bands.

However, just as the band looked like 'breaking through' to the mainstream (as other British bands, such as Oasis and Blur were then doing), Haines broke both of his ankles, resulting in the cancellation of much of their 1994 European tour. At the time he claimed "I jumped off a fifteen-foot wall (while) touring, ... to finish the tour and get the insurance" but later, in the sleeve notes to Das Capital, he denied that it was deliberate, writing "I merely drank too much wine and fell over. It happens." In a wheel chair for most of 1995, Haines wrote the very different songs that would end up becoming the Auteurs' third album, After Murder Park. Even bleaker and more introspective than previous Auteurs albums, this was just as English as his previous work but now showed very different influences: the downbeat folk of Richard Thompson, the aggression of My Bloody Valentine, the pared down experimentalism of Wire, and the caustic lyrics of The Fall. It benefited from spare production by Steve Albini. Recorded, ironically, at Abbey Road studios at the height of Britpop, this was a distinctly anti-Britpop album.

After 'After Murder Park'

The Auteurs recorded a session for John Peel on 20 February 1996. [1]

At this point, Haines created a solo side project called Baader-Meinhof. Haines released one eponymous album under this moniker in 1996, which is named after the Baader Meinhof terrorist group. The sound was similar to that of The Auteurs, but more sparsely produced and with elements of funk and electronica, with lyrics, typically for the ever-contrary Haines, about terrorism.

After this, Haines disbanded the Auteurs, only to bring them back together again for their fourth album How I Learned to Love the Bootboys. This sounds like an amalgamation of Haines' previous styles: it is electronic, but has the same concern for pop hooks as his first two albums: on the other hand, the lyrics are brooding and obsessive, in a similar way to those on After Murder Park. From this point on, The Auteurs became merely a name for whatever musicians Haines chose to bring together for specific projects.

Black Box Recorder

After this album Haines created another side project with John Moore (formerly of The Jesus and Mary Chain) and Sarah Nixey: Black Box Recorder. The band produced three commercially successful albums, England Made Me, The Facts of Life, and Passionoia. There is also a B-sides collection, The Worst of Black Box Recorder. The Facts of Life produced the eponymous single, which has been the biggest hit of Haines' career so far.

Although no official split announcement was made, the band was on hiatus during the mid-2000's.

Going solo

Haines has branched into film music, writing the music for Christie Malry's Own Double Entry, a British film based on the novel by B.S. Johnson.

He has also produced a solo album under his own name, The Oliver Twist Manifesto. However, perhaps realising that he will always be best known as the creative force behind The Auteurs, Haines continues to reform them and remake their songs in a variety of ways. The Auteurs 'Best of' album Das Capital (sic) consisted of Auteurs songs reworked by a classical orchestra in a typically eccentric fashion.

In 2001 Haines called for a "National Pop Strike". [2]

A box set covering his career to date, Luke Haines is Dead, was issued in 2005, and two new albums were expected in 2006: 'Off My Rocker At The Art School Bop', and the soundtrack to the abandoned musical 'Property', which like his Black Box Recorder work, also features Sarah Nixey.

Cherry Red Records released a "Best of The Servants" compilation, with sleeve notes by Haines, early in 2006.

New album Off My Rocker at the Art School Bop was released in October 2006. Haines worked with maverick pop producer Richard X (Sugababes, Liberty X, Rachel Stevens) on some tracks. The album was preceded by a double A-sided single 'Off My Rocker At The Art School Bop (Richard X version) b/w I Am The Best Artist/Skinny White Girls.' There is currently no news on a release date for the 'Property' soundtrack.

Haines toured the UK and Ireland during November 2006. John Moore guested on bowed saw and backing vocals at some gigs.[3]

On 16 November 2006 Haines played a live session for BBC Radio 6 Music's Gideon Coe show.

On 13 December 2006 Haines played a live session (three songs) for BBC Radio 2's Janice Long show. During an interview on the same show Haines said that he may play some gigs in early 2007 in support of a E.P. release of Leeds United.

Haines has played at book signings for David Peace who was promoting The Damned United, a book on Brian Clough's brief tenure at Leeds United in the 1970s. Leeds United relates to this, and with the reference to the Yorkshire Ripper, to Peace's earlier Yorkshire/Red Riding Quartet. The refrain "The North! The North!" advances on the earlier Auteurs track The South Will Rise Again, itself a response to The N.W.R.A. by The Fall. The phrase "The North! The North! Where we do what we want! The North! The North! Where we do what we like" is also a quote from a character in the Red Riding Quartet.

In issue four of the comic book Phonogram, Haines appears as a spirit guide leading the main character through a metaphorical land representing Britpop.

Black Box Recorder reformation

In December 2007, Black Box Recorder teamed up with Art Brut to create the single Christmas Number One under the collaborative title of The Black Arts. [4]

In October 2008 Black Box Recorder appeared at the Nick Sanderson (Earl Brutus) tribute concert.

It was subsequently announced on Luke Haines' web site that the band would play their first headlining gig for five years at The Luminaire, Kilburn, London in February 2009.

As an author

Haines' memoir Bad Vibes: Britpop and My Part in Its Downfall was published on 1 January 2009 by William Heinemann Ltd. The book covers Haines' experiences during the Britpop era 1991 to 1997. He has plans to write a sequel covering the next five years and his time with Black Box Recorder and the final Auteurs LP. [5]

Novel about

In May 2009 a novel about Haines by author Tim Mitchell Truth and Lies in Murder Park: a book about Mr Luke Haines was published by benben press. [6] The book includes material based on interviews with Luke, and explores the themes of his music in an informed and imaginative way.

Discography

Studio Albums

Singles/EPs

  • Showgirl, 1992 (The Auteurs)
  • How Could I Be Wrong, 1993 (The Auteurs)
  • Housebreaker, 1993 (The Auteurs)
  • New French Girlfriend, 1993 (The Auteurs)
  • Lenny Valentino, 1993 (The Auteurs)
  • Chinese Bakery, 1994 (The Auteurs)
  • The Auteurs vs Mu-Ziq EP (remixes), 1994 (The Auteurs/Mu-Ziq)
  • Back With the Killer EP, 1995 (The Auteurs)
  • Kid's Issue, 1996 (The Auteurs)
  • Light Aircraft on Fire, 1996 (The Auteurs)
  • Child Psychology, 1998 (Black Box Recorder)
  • England Made Me, 1998 (Black Box Recorder)
  • The Rubettes, 1999 (The Auteurs)
  • The Facts of Life, 2000 (Black Box Recorder)
  • The Art of Driving, 2000 (Black Box Recorder)
  • These Are the Things, 2003 (Black Box Recorder)
  • The School Song, 2003 (Black Box Recorder)
  • Off My Rocker at the Art School Bop, 2006 (Luke Haines)
  • Christmas Number One, 2007 (The Black Arts - collaboration between Black Box Recorder and Art Brut)
  • Leeds United EP, 2007 (Luke Haines)

Books

  • Bad Vibes: Britpop and My Part in Its Downfall, 2009 (Published by William Heinemann Ltd)
  • Truth and Lies in Murder Park: a book about Mr Luke Haines, 2009 (published by benben press)

Popular culture references

Question book-new.svg
 This section does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2009)
This article contains embedded lists that may be poorly defined, unverified or indiscriminate. Please help to clean it up to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. (November 2009)

Haines often refers to his influences or other parts of culture.

From New Wave

Junk Shop Clothes

From Now I'm A Cowboy

Lenny Valentino

Brainchild

New French Girlfriend

Chinese Bakery

Daughter of a Child

From Back With The Killer EP

Kenneth Anger's Bad Dream

From After Murder Park

Light Aircraft on Fire

Child Brides

Dead Sea Navigators

From Baader Meinhof

Baader Meinhof

Meet Me at the Airport

There's Gonna be an Accident

Mogadishu

Kill Ramirez

Back on the Farm

From How I Learned to Love the Bootboys

The Rubettes

1967

How I Learned to Love the Bootboys

Some Changes

  • Luke Haines, singer.

School

  • Michael Ray, unidentified.

Johnny and the Hurricanes

Lights Out

Future Generation

From The Oliver Twist Manifesto

Oliver Twist

The Death of Sarah Lucas

Discomania

Mr & Mrs Solanas

Christ

The Spook Manifesto

The Oliver Twist Manifesto

From Christie Malry's Own Double Entry OST

England, Scotland and Wales

From Das Capital

Satan Wants Me

The Mitford Sisters

From Luke Haines is Dead

X-Boogie Man

From Off My Rocker At The Art School Bop

Off My Rocker at the Art School Bop

Leeds United

All the English Devils

The Walton Hop

' Here's to Old England

Freddie Mills is Dead

Bad Reputation


From 21st Century Man / Achtung Mutha

English Southern Man

Klaus Kinski


From Black Box Recorder songs

Being Number One

Andrew Ridgeley

The Deverell Twins

  • The Deverell Twins, drowned in the Thames in the 19th century.

References

  1. ^ BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 20/02/1996 Auteurs
  2. ^ Music News - The latest music news and gossip from Yahoo! Music UK & Ireland
  3. ^ John Moore
  4. ^ Drowned in Sound - News - Eddie Argos joins race for Christmas number one
  5. ^ Culturedeluxe - News - Luke Haines to Pen Sequel to 'Bad Vibes'
  6. ^ [1]

External links


This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 
Learn More
New Wave (1993 Album by The Auteurs)
Baader Meinhof (Rock Band, '90s)
John Moore (Rock Artist, '80s-2000s)

I need for karaoke Aate hain chale jaate hain karaoke? Read answer...
If you live in haines will you trade me your shamin? Read answer...
Is crystal haines cool? Read answer...

Help us answer these
When was emily haines' birthday?
Who is hisFamilly members of Jackson Haines?
What is pay of CNBC's Mark Haines?

Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:

 

Copyrights:

Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Luke Haines".  Read more

Related answers
» More
 
Answer these
» More

Mentioned in

» More» More