Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Toploader

 
Artist: Toploader
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Artists
Toploader

Group Members:

Julian Deane, Matt Knight, Dan Hipgrave, Joseph Washbourne, Rob Green

Similar Artists:

The Black Crowes, Robbie Williams, Jamiroquai

Influenced By:

Stevie Wonder, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Faces
See Toploader Lyrics
  • Genres: Rock
  • Representative Albums: "Onka's Big Moka," "Dancing in the Moonlight: The Best of Toploader," "At the Magic Hotel"
  • Representative Songs: "Dancing in the Moonlight," "Do You Know What Your Future," "Achilles' Heel"

Biography

Named after a joint-rolling technique, the British band Toploader evokes the hazy, feel-good vibe of the 1970s with their keyboard-driven white soul anthems. Keyboardist and vocalist Joseph Washbourne, guitarist Dan Hipgrave, bassist Matt Knight, and drummer Rob Green were friends who, while hanging out night after night in their local pub, decided to form a band. In 1997, after the addition of second guitarist Julian Deane to the lineup, Toploader was born; the following year, the band was signed to Sony's U.K. division. In 1999, with a style reminiscent of the Faces, the Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road-era Elton John, Toploader found themselves supporting former Jam frontman Paul Weller on his European tour. In May of that same year, the driving single Achilles Heel was released to favorable responses and Toploader secured spots performing at both the Glastonbury and Reading festivals. Late 1999 saw the release of the second single, Let the People Know, a joyous, dance-heavy tune which garnered the band comparisons to Jamiroquai. In February 2000, the band would release their most successful single yet, the George Drakoulias-produced Dancing in the Moonlight, which would remain on the British charts well into 2001. In May 2000, Toploader's first full-length album, Onka's Big Monka, debuted at number five on the British charts and shortly thereafter, the band appeared on the popular television show Top of the Pops alongside Oasis and the Charlatans UK. Their fourth single, Just Hold On, was released in August 2000. ~ Brandon Gentry, All Music Guide
Search unanswered questions...

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

Wikipedia: Toploader
Top
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Toploader
Origin Eastbourne, England
Genres Britpop
Years active 1997–2003
2009–Present
Labels S2 Records
Epic Records[1]

Toploader are an English alternative rock band from Eastbourne, formed in 1997. They are best known for their cover of King Harvest's song "Dancing in the Moonlight", which became a global hit for the band.

Contents

Career

Toploader signed a six album deal with Sony Records in 1998 and went around recording their debut album, Onka's Big Moka, at Rockfield Studio's in South Wales with Manic Street Preachers producer Dave Eringa. After its release in 1999 Toploader went on to become a popular act in British music selling over two million albums with a string of top 20 chart hits home and abroad. They started their live career playing with the likes of Coldplay and Muse in small venues across the UK and later went on to back the likes of Paul Weller, Robbie Wiliams and Bon Jovi (where they became the last British band to play the original Wembley Stadium.) The band split up in 2003 shortly after the release of their second album "Magic Hotel."

Although the band had huge success with their first album Onka's Big Moka, selling 1.7 million units and remaining in the Top 5 of the UK Albums Chart for over six months, their second album Magic Hotel, failed to meet expectation resulting in the band being dropped by their record label, even though the album was more successful by charting at #3 (beating the #4 of the debut), but failing to meet sales targets set by the label.

The band's debut album, Onka's Big Moka, produced the global hit "Dancing in the Moonlight".

In May 2009 Toploader announced that they were re-forming, starting with a come back charity concert at Eastbourne Bandstand on 29 August 2009. New material available in 2010 with some festival appearances and tour in 2009.

Joseph Washbourn wrote and performed the track "Goldrush" for the 2005 film, The Skeleton Key (Universal Pictures). He is now concentrating on a solo career with new and original material.

Guitarist Dan Hipgrave became well known in the media.

Lead guitarist Julian Deane has moved into artist management and currently looks after Paul Steel, The Xcerts and Stars and Sons.

Drummer Rob Green became a music supervisor for a TV company.

Bassist Matt Knight is studying Media and Cultural Studies at Sussex University.


Band members

Discography

Albums

Singles

from Onka's Big Moka
  • 1999 Achilles Heel #64 UK
  • 1999 Let the People Know #52 UK
  • 2000 Dancing in the Moonlight #19 UK
  • 2000 Achilles Heel (re-issue) #8 UK
  • 2000 Just Hold On #20 UK
  • 2000 Dancing in the Moonlight (re-issue) #7 UK
  • 2001 Only For A While #19 UK
from Magic Hotel
  • 2002 Time Of My Life #18 UK
  • 2002 Some Kind Of Wonderful #76 UK

References

  1. ^ http://www.geocities.com//patmil007/5914.jpg

External links


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

Shopping: Toploader
Top
sunlite toploader
 
 

 

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 "Toploader".  Read more