DeViCom Biografie: Ash

Ash
f. 1989 in Ulster, Northern Ireland

Ash are a touted young guitar pop band from Downpatrick, Country Down, Northern Ireland, who began to make headway into the mainstream in 1994. Playing sprightly, youthful punk-pop, their average collective age was only 17 when they released their debut record. Rick 'rock' McMurray (drums), Tim Wheeler (b. 1977, England; vocals guitar) and Mark Hamilton (b. 1977, England; bass) were studying their A-Levels when that sinngle, "Jack Named the Planets", was released in a limited edition of 1,000 copies. Both radio and press wre immediately wooed by their snappy, commercial sound. Their appeal easily translated to an American alternative climate where every A&R executive was searching for a new Green Day, and tantalizing offers followed to sign with either Warner/Reprise Records (who eventually attained their signatures) or Interscope Records. The band elected to fly to Los Angeles (missing out on several homework assignments in the process) and let their hosts squabble and indulge them beyond any expectations that a young UK indie band had a right to entertain. In the UK they signes to Infectious Records, though they first had to negotiate a series of prolonged discussions between record label executives, parents and headmsters. Following a seven-song mini-album in late 1994, their topical fourth single, "Kung Fu", featured a picture cover with Manchester United's Eric Cantona executing his famous 'kung fu' assault on a Crystal Palace fan. It was recorded in Wales with Oasis pruducer Owen Morris: "We wanted to write a really crape Ramones song and it was meant to be the b-side but it turned out too good.", they surmised. In its wake, "Girl from Mards" became a major national hit, debuting at number 11 in the UK charts. It was followed by "Angel Interceptor", a term lifted from the animated children's series Captain Scarlet, but which apparently reffered to 'missing someone sexually'. There was fruther good new in the autumn of 1995; both Hamilton and Wheeler had passed their A-Levels. Their long-playing debut proper came in 1996 after gracing the UK Top 10 with another single, "Goldfinger". Titled 1977, many considered this to be a dedication to the punk scene which self-evidently remained their pivotal influence, yet in actuality it referred to the year of release of the Star Wars movie. It rose straight to number 1 in the UK charts. By that time, the band had opted for a more elaborate sound, inspired by recent listening to Phil Spector and the Beach Boys. However, other recognizable themes remained, such as science-fiction television, with another tribute to Star Wars on "Darkside Lightside". They added a new member in August 1997 when guitarist Charlotte Hatherley joined from Nightnurse, and returned to the UK Top 10 in October with the title song of the film A Life Less Ordinary.