Bye bye beta band!

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THE BETA BAND SPLIT

All good things must come to an end. And so it is that after eight years of creating consistently innovative music, releasing three critically acclaimed albums and staging some legendary live shows, the Beta Band have decided to call it a day.

And they’re going out on a high. This year’s album, Heroes To Zeros, met with universal acclaim and is set to be their biggest seller to date. A fitting end to a career that the band would agree has had its highs and lows…

Steve Mason, Richard Greentree, John Maclean and Robin Jones made an immediate impact with their debut release and the resulting compilation The Three EPs. With their no formula approach to music making, a shared interest in film and art and a desire to push the envelope in terms of their music and live performance, the group continued to puzzle and delight with the release of their debut album, an album which despite the band’s own misgivings was hailed by critics as one of the year’s most important releases.

This experimentation with new sounds continued with the release of their second album the electronic flavoured Hot Shots II, which again met with widespread critical acclaim. Bad luck struck however when the release of the first single from the album was delayed when it transpired another band had used the same sample.

Always regarded as something of an enigma by the media but widely recognized to be one of the UK’s most influential bands, this year’s Heroes To Zeros proved not only their most successful but most cohesive and engaging album to date.

Sadly, eight years of hard work and critical acclaim but little return in terms of commercial success inevitably takes its toll and a group decision was made to finally lay the band to rest.

With John out of radio contact and Robin currently climbing monroes in the highlands, it’s been left to Steve and Rich to say their goodbyes in a typically idiosyncratic fashion…

Steve Mason; “The minority is always right. I left the room with silent dignity but caught my foot on the mat, and a thousand, thousand slimy things lived on, and so did I. This is adding insult to injuries. By the way, who’s your fat friend?”

Richard Greentree; “ The Beta Band apple has over rippened and become riddled with maggots, it must fall from the tree and let it’s seeds return to ground. Sincere thanks to everyone who has helped us along the way, see you in the Spring”.

All four members will continue to work in music and the arts. Steve and Richard continue to work on their solo albums and a new King Biscuit Time album from Steve is currently in the finishing stages. John, who directed many of the band’s videos and along with Robin was responsible for writing and directing the videos for Assessment and Out-Side, will continue his film work whilst keeping his foot in the musical door. The same can be said for Robin who’ll also divide his time between his twin loves, film and music.

The Beta Band will bid farewell with a UK tour in the autumn – dates to be announced shortly. Meanwhile Parlophone are preparing for the release of a DVD featuring a collection of videos and film work made by the band and scheduled for release in 2005.

The Beta Band would like to thank all those who’ve supported them throughout their career.

Post your thoughts on the Beta Band message board

http://www.betaband.com

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 08:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, that's a shame. Don't think people will be crying in the streets, though... they're one of those bands who've always been quite good, but nobody's favourite band, nothing to shout about. A bit like the Boo Radleys, in that respect...

― Kate Jane Connolly (fixitgirl), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 08:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Gutted, but not surprised.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 08:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Somebody on their messageboard has said, "They deserved so much Beta."

I'm crying now.

― Kate Jane Connolly (fixitgirl), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 08:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Is this something to do with those rumours about them being in debt to their record label?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 08:56 (twenty-one years ago)

WOO HOO

― purple patch (electricsound), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 08:58 (twenty-one years ago)

The House Song was their best song

― mentalist (mentalist), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 08:58 (twenty-one years ago)

That might have something to do with it, Dom. The fact that they keep making expensive records which sell fuck-all copies might explain why they're (rumoured to be) in so much debt.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 09:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Shame.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 09:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Hmmm. The '3 EPs' LP came out just before I went up to Uni, and it was played pretty much every day, while stoned, that year. It still sounds fucking great. Or at least fucking evocative, for me. The first LP came out in the summer term of my first year, and that was where we parted ways. I never got round to LPs #s 2 and 3. So basically this is my fault.

'Beta Band Rap' is their best, obv.

― ENRQ (Enrique), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 09:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Two and three are different to the EPs, but probably their best material.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 09:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I borrowed the 'first' album after buying '3 eps', from our local library. I worried that the first song was the only one I liked which was the 'rap' novelty item.

Come on. Someone in the know do a quick 'guide to' to the albums. And singles if you're arsed.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 09:12 (twenty-one years ago)

3 EPs - schizo-eclectic organic acoustic groove ambient harmony pop.

Eponymous debut - shoe-horning too many bad ideas into too many bad minutes.

Hots Shots II - indie-r'n'b ambient lushpop oddness.

Heroes 2 Zeroes - all of the above, but concise and therefore better.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 09:27 (twenty-one years ago)

'well we went to wales and we fannied around/ended up with the patty-patty sound'

CLASS

― ENRQ (Enrique), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 09:28 (twenty-one years ago)

perhaps they'll form their own more Hip-Hop influenced group.

they always loved the rap didn't they?

― Andrzej B. (Andrzej B.), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 10:32 (twenty-one years ago)

i vote for "Doctor Baker" as their best song. Wild.

― jed (jed_e_3), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 10:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Is this something to do with those rumours about them being in debt to their record label?

Not a rumour. I interviewed them this spring and they told me they were about a million and a half pounds in debt to EMI. They were surprised they hadn't been dropped yet. But "the best was yet to come", musically. "Things are looking up". Unfortunately not.

― JoB (JoB), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 10:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Band who can't sell any records split up? Who'd have thought it?

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 10:46 (twenty-one years ago)

there was no way their best was yet to come anyway. They had been treading water for the past 2 albums.

― jed (jed_e_3), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 10:47 (twenty-one years ago)

the 3 ep's still their best recording (heroes... more consistent, but the peaks not as high). not particularly bothered by them splitting up. perhaps it's a shame that they never got to make their masterpiece (although i guess some folks feel they *did*). i think i will manage without the beta band - as i will devote my listening time to the thousands of other great records made by thousands of other great bands.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 10:50 (twenty-one years ago)

ie. with so much music out there, is the disappearance of *one* band - however talented - that affecting?

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 10:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Its a shame really even though I stopped following them a few years ago. I liked the fact that that thing was still around on -- yes, this is crucial -- a major label, its a shame really.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 10:55 (twenty-one years ago)

hypothetically speaking if The Beta Band had made the Mercury Prize shortlist - would they have made this announcement now?

simon frith & edith bowman etal are clueless chumps by selecting keane, zutons and f-ing snow patrol for this year's shortlist.

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 10:58 (twenty-one years ago)

any old excuse, eh martian?

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 10:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Also in 2001 both The Beta Band and Four Tet were overlooked instead Frith & co selected trad rock rubbish such as Turin Brakes and Tom McCrae.

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 11:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Funny they didn't sell much... I only really recall hearing them in that scene in "High Fidelity" where simply playing The 3 EPs in-store was shown to be enough to reliably shift a bunch o units.

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 11:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah, that'll be the old "product placement," then.

― Marcello Carlin, Tuesday, 3 August 2004 11:06 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll always have fond memories of that first album cuz it was one of the first things I wrote about for the Village Voice. I listened to it a million times. One of the hardest (and most fun) things I ever wrote. Even if it makes me cringe a little now. I wrote about them, and Faust, and Add N To X in one review!

Plus, Astralwerks sent me what is still one of the coolest packages I've ever received. Buttons, stickers, the Beta zine, videos (including that great bandito e.p. full-length video), and a tape of those two songs that ended up not getting released. Those 2 side-long ambient/seascape/acid/cottage jams that I still listen to from time to time.(or maybe they did get released somewhere, i don't know. I just remember writing something about them and then having to take it out cuz they weren't gonna be included on or with the album.)

I love the most recent album. I think it's wonderful. Hot Shots was never a fave of mine though.

― scott seward (scott seward), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 11:25 (twenty-one years ago)

good thing they went out on their best album. cough.

― jess, Tuesday, 3 August 2004 11:54 (twenty-one years ago)

I remember being all hyped up for their first LA show and feeling a bit deflated when it only came together for a couple of songs - but a few years later they opened for Radiohead at the Hollywood Bowl and were great. Fine band indeed, salut.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 11:57 (twenty-one years ago)

i put on that first king biscuit time record more often than one might expect, so i'm happy that there's going to be another. but this is a shame, yes. i don't s'pose they would've ever topped HSII anyway, so oh well. and i don't think anybody answered that thread about them that i revived the other day asking if i should 'heroes to zeros' another try.

― m. (mitchlnw), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 12:02 (twenty-one years ago)

jess, do you hate ZIIH? I know you loved HSII. I think ZIIH is a very easy album to like and listen to. Nice summer album. HSII i just never ever played. I tried again recently, but it was still no go.

― scott seward (scott seward), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 12:06 (twenty-one years ago)

wait, jess said somewhere that he only checks ilm now for 20 minutes a day. well, i'll eagerly wait 24 hours for his response. I'm sure it will be enlightening.

― scott seward (scott seward), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 12:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Their debut was kind of a clunker bit it DID have some really majestic moments. "Round the Bend" is a far underappreciated rambly stoner gem.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 12:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Wasn't "Broken Up Adingdong" in Vanilla Sky? It was one of the two best songs in that film score (apart from the Sigur Ros thing playing when duder jumped off the rooftop at the end).

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 12:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Liked and/or loved every release, esp. LBBB EP, s/t and HS2 and I'll miss them not being around as a group.

Lots of people are really in love with 'It's Not Too Beautiful'. I'm one of them.

― R.I.M.A. (Barima), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 12:46 (twenty-one years ago)

do you think there were hipsters who sold their beta band records after seeing High Fidelity?

― scott seward (scott seward), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 12:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 12:54 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, i guess i kinda knew the answer to that question.

― scott seward (scott seward), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 12:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Did one of the Beta Band guys release a solo record?

― mcd (mcd), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Steve the lead singer, read the whole thread, dude.

― R.I.M.A. (Barima), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Right, I kinda glossed over that part. My bad.

― mcd (mcd), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Ouch, this is really affecting my concentration here at work. I'm trying to remind myself how promising that King Biscuit Time stuff seemed - surely all is not lost. I was at the Hollywood Bowl show, too, Ned - they were really great that night.

argh :( :( :(
I assume they're still playing Bumbershoot. It will hurt to see them knowing it's the end, though.

― Bimble (bimble), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 14:43 (twenty-one years ago)

two weeks pass...

They're not playing Bumbershoot of course, and I have been Beta Band Blindsided and Doomed as it were. Oh well...at least there's still The Killers and the Pixies right? As if either of those could interest me as much as seeing the Beta Band right now. :(

All I have to say is this in my grief: "When I Walk Through The Earth I Get Stuck In The Middle, Can't see your Love, I don't know your Love..."

- King Biscuit Time

Beta Band fans, pray. Thusly. Forward. RIGHT!

― Bimble (bimble), Saturday, 21 August 2004 07:28 (twenty-one years ago)

three months pass...

The Guardian sing The Ballad of The Beta Band today:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/features/story/0,11710,1358065,00.html

The lamest reason for good bands splitting up has gotta be the "lack of success" whine. It puts them in the same category as bands like Sleeper who largely existed as a business concept. Maybe they could become bigger than Radiohead if they keep trying? Do they really think they will find "success" with their solo projects? I find the manner of their demise to be a disapointment.

― everything, Wednesday, 24 November 2004 20:55 (twenty years ago)

people need money to live on, everything. it wasn't just sulking because they weren't packing wembley out - they weren't going to be able to live on the cash they made.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 23:02 (twenty years ago)

The lamest reason for good bands splitting up has gotta be the "lack of success" whine.

You can't continue on as a band if you owe your record company 60,000 quid like the Beta Band do!

― Mr. Snrub, Thursday, 25 November 2004 00:58 (twenty years ago)

i really like heroes to zeroes. it's one of my favorite albums from this year. i listen to it all of the time. sad they had to go...

― it's tricky (disco stu), Thursday, 25 November 2004 01:05 (twenty years ago)

Presumably the money they owe is money that was invested in them by their record company against future earnings. Surely splitting up will not erase the debt or give them opportunities to earn more from solo projects. Purely from a financial angle, I can't see how disolving the band eases their financial woes. So what if their records only enter the charts at #26? 99% of bands would kill to have the Beta Band's critical standing, fanbase, reputation and yes, "money-making potential".

― everything, Thursday, 25 November 2004 04:22 (twenty years ago)

Afraid that's how it works. You should read this.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Thursday, 25 November 2004 04:40 (twenty years ago)

The most shocking thing is the band photo that accompanies that Guardian article. They look like a bunch of IT workers at the office party.

― bham, Thursday, 25 November 2004 08:54 (twenty years ago)

guess thats what they have to become to clear the debt ..

― mark e (mark e), Thursday, 25 November 2004 09:13 (twenty years ago)

i don't seem to have posted to this thread - that's strange. they were my favourite band, i suppose. i was quite sad when they broke up, but i really didn't rate Heroes To Zeros, so, not that sad. i'm going to see them play in London next week. they were always great live.

― pete b. (pete b.), Thursday, 25 November 2004 09:24 (twenty years ago)

$20 (approx) for that book seems reasonable.

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 25 November 2004 09:36 (twenty years ago)

haha, i love that photo of them.

― pete b. (pete b.), Thursday, 25 November 2004 09:42 (twenty years ago)

The Franz guys seem the sort to be "shit hot" on the details. And not 'leaving their suits on the train' type sloppy.

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 25 November 2004 09:45 (twenty years ago)

I never even got to see 'em live.

― B.A.R.M.S. (Barima), Thursday, 25 November 2004 09:58 (twenty years ago)

They were better live than on record. The moment at Glasto when they progged out the ending of Broke into this awesome electro-indie-dancehall beast is one of my happiest festival memories.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 25 November 2004 11:07 (twenty years ago)

ten months pass...

Music: The Best Of The Beta Band comes out on Monday.

Disc: 1
1. Dry The Rain
2. Inner Meet Me
3. She's The One
4. Dr Baker
5. It's Not Too Beautiful
6. Smiling (Edit)
7. To You Alone
8. Squares
9. Human Being (Radio Edit)
10. Gone
11. Broke (Radio Edit)
12. Assessment (Radio Edit)
13. Easy
14. Wonderful
15. Troubles
16. Simple
Disc: 2
1. It's Not Too Beautiful
2. Squares
3. Inner Meet Me
4. Simple
5. She's The One
6. Easy
7. Dr Baker
8. Dry The Rain
9. Quiet
10. Broke
11. Assessment
12. Dog's Got A Bone
13. House Song

The second disc is, I gather, a live affair. About five or six of my favourite Beta moments are left off the first disc (Sequisizer, Push It Out, Pure For, Needles In My Eyes, B+A - others, if I think about it too much).

I really like Heroes To Zeros.

They never achieved their potential, did they? What's their legacy - a Velvet Underground for the 90s? No one bought the records but everyone who did either ripped them off or formed a band?

Judging by Mason's new single he's still trying to do that indie-Timbaland thing.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Thursday, 29 September 2005 09:23 (nineteen years ago)

ah ha ya beat me to it !

the live album is great. really good, there are some excellent chill up the spine moments (audience participation during dr baker), and a seriously funked up version of 'house song'.

― mark e (mark e), Thursday, 29 September 2005 09:36 (nineteen years ago)

They never achieved their potential, did they?

(sigh)

What's their legacy - a Velvet Underground for the 90s?

I do think that they have had a marked influence on a certain genre of music - something indie-folk or indie-rock or I dunno, - encouraging experimentation and atmospherics and sound-play and things. At least the first two records. I think that a lot of bands (on Fence, yeah, but also people like Broken Social Scene or Neutral Milk Hotel) would have sounded a lot different if the Beta Band hadn't done their long, meandering and definitely arresting toe-dipping into the avant-garde. It was interesting to see Boards of Canada mention the Betas in their Pitchfork interview.

After seeing King Biscuit Time last week, I am extremely surprised (but quite pleased) to see that Mason's best stuff is the indie-Timbaland stuff, and that the wistful/crazed indie-rock hip-hop schtick is astonishingly entertaining. IMHO the new single knocked the socks off the (admittedly, solo acoustic) "Dr Baker", both times he played it.

And "Dr Baker" is my second-favourite Betas song!

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Thursday, 29 September 2005 09:40 (nineteen years ago)

maybe i should get round to hearing their last two albums. the debut pissed me off so much, i never really forgave them, but 'the 3 eps' is one of my favourite ever records ever of all time ever.

― N_RQ (Enrique), Thursday, 29 September 2005 09:43 (nineteen years ago)

They were a late '90s Comus, really.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Thursday, 29 September 2005 09:51 (nineteen years ago)

I think they did achieve their potential, with Hot Shots II. It's wonderful - easily the best thing they did I think. Heroes to Zeroes was very ordinary.

― pete b. (pete b.), Thursday, 29 September 2005 11:03 (nineteen years ago)

It's strange, for me Heroes To Zeroes was the record, which achieved the band's potential.
Also waiting the Aliens record very much - The Lone Pigeon with MacLean and Jones, it should be fantastic!

― zeus (zeus), Thursday, 29 September 2005 11:53 (nineteen years ago)

the best of has the unfortunate result of giving people what they always claimed to want (all their styles! on one cd! for one low price!) and flattening all the wooly edges out.

i miss them terribly, already.

― strng hlkngtn (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 29 September 2005 12:27 (nineteen years ago)

Good review on Stylus about Music, Sick.

― zeus (zeus), Monday, 3 October 2005 12:42 (nineteen years ago)

"Dry The Rain" is so so great.

― The Ghost of Black Elegance (Dan Perry), Monday, 3 October 2005 12:57 (nineteen years ago)

i miss them terribly, already.

Yup. And Dan very OTM as well. I was always a bit sad that their first live show in LA was a touch flat, brilliant films aside, but when I caught them for a second and last time opening for Radiohead in 2001 they were just great on stage -- and on record, damn fine stuff.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 3 October 2005 12:59 (nineteen years ago)

Thank you, King of the Gods.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Monday, 3 October 2005 13:00 (nineteen years ago)

Also I am dismayed that my alter-ego / secret identity is so transparent.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Monday, 3 October 2005 13:01 (nineteen years ago)

It seems the Betas anticipated the whole, for wont of a better word, folktronica thing by a few years with the likes of To You Alone, much of Hot Shots II and KBT's gorgeous I Love You. Minimalist electronica applied to acoustic folky pickings and all that. Tuung were clearly listening, but the Betas did it best. Hopefully Steve Mason will explore that further. Timbaland producing Bert Jansch or summat. 8)

It sucks that the comp misses out Sequinzer and Dogs Got A Bone, especially as it's not on any of the albums.

― Stew (stew s), Monday, 3 October 2005 13:17 (nineteen years ago)

Apparently there was a super-secret CD and DVD launch party held tonight in London at The Social. Didn't go, but did anything cool happen? I can imagine that Steve Mason DJed his copy of 'One', or something.

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Monday, 3 October 2005 21:30 (nineteen years ago)

Weird timing, there were a couple of Betas tracks on the It's All Gone Pete Tong soundtrack, which I watched just last night and I began thinking about them. I also miss them a lot!

― Pizza cook man said that Dear Leader covort with Japanese women and burn 10 (nor, Monday, 3 October 2005 21:45 (nineteen years ago)

my favorite description of them came from Rod Smith: "They sound like Dire Straits produced by Beck"

― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Monday, 3 October 2005 21:48 (nineteen years ago)

Beta Band were good!

my favorite description of them came from Rod Smith: "They sound like Dire Straits produced by Beck"

haha that's kinda "funny cuz it's true" but I still like them!!! But I kinda like Dire Straits too

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 3 October 2005 21:49 (nineteen years ago)

That Dire Straits / Beck thing makes obscene sense.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 4 October 2005 06:52 (nineteen years ago)

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