Ash | |
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![]() Ash at the O2 ABC in Glasgow in 2010 L to R: Tim Wheeler, Rick McMurray, Mark Hamilton | |
Background information | |
Origin | Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland |
Genres | |
Years active | 1992–present |
Labels |
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Members |
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Past members | Charlotte Hatherley |
Website | ash-official |
Ash are a Northern Irish rock band formed in Downpatrick, County Down in 1992 by vocalist and guitarist Tim Wheeler, bassist Mark Hamilton and drummer Rick McMurray. As a three-piece, they released mini-album Trailer in 1994 and full-length album 1977 in 1996. This 1996 release was named by NME as one of the 500 greatest albums of all time.[8] After the success of their full debut the band recruited Charlotte Hatherley as a guitarist and vocalist, releasing their second record Nu-Clear Sounds in 1998. After narrowly avoiding bankruptcy, the band released Free All Angels in 2001 and a string of successful singles.
The band became a three-piece again in 2006 when Hatherley left, and after five conventional albums the band released 26 singles in the A-Z Series in 2009, one every two weeks. The band have had one silver, two gold and two platinum-selling (and chart-topping) records in the United Kingdom, as well as 18 songs in the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart.[9] They have been associated with Britpop, though they were not comfortable with the association, as emphasising Britishness could be interpreted as sectarian in Northern Ireland.[10]
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I was really proud of this at the time because of the chord sequences and melodies. It's a long way from three-chord punk rock and was a big moment in our development.