Catherine Wheel "Black Metallic" 12" Fontana (UK)

Vinyl is EX, Jacket is VG

Out of Print!

Track Listing:

A1Black Metallic 7:16 A2Crawling Over Me 5:39 B1Let Me Down Again 3:17 B2Saccharine 5:49
Catherine Wheel were an English  band from . The band was active from 1990 to 2000, experiencing fluctuating levels of commercial success, and embarking on many lengthy tours.

Catherine Wheel formed in 1990, comprising singer/guitarist  (cousin of 's ), guitarist Brian Futter, bassist Dave Hawes, and drummer Neil Sims. Hawes had previously played in a -influenced band called Eternal. They took their moniker from the  known as the , which in turn had taken its name from the  of the same name. The band was sometimes included in the scene, characterized by bands that made extensive use of guitar  and droning washes of noise, as well as their continuous interaction with extensive amounts of  on the stage floor. However, Catherine Wheel had a more song-oriented style than their peers. Their sound was influenced by ,  and .

The band performed a  in early 1991 while still unsigned; two 12" vinyl EPs were released on the Norwich based Wilde Club Records, named after the regular weekly Wilde Club gigs run by Barry Newman at Norwich Arts Centre. They signed to major-label  after being courted by both  and the -run label Opal Records. The band's debut album, 1991/92's , made an immediate impression on the  and introduced Catherine Wheel's second-biggest U.S. hit, "Black Metallic," as well as moderate hit "I Want to Touch You". The album features re-recorded versions of some of the Wilde Club-issued EPs.

The more aggressive  followed in 1993, produced by . With this album, the band began to shed its original shoegazing tag, while still making skillful use of atmospherics, such as on the song "Fripp." In a 2007 interview, Rob Dickinson said that members of  and  told him that without this album, their bands "wouldn't exist."

1995's  saw the band delving further into metallic hard rock, which alienated a portion of their fanbase, even as it increased their exposure in the United States during the post-grunge era. The single "Waydown," and especially its plane-crash themed video, received heavy play in the U.S. A more sedate strain of rock known as  was taking over in the UK, causing C.W. to continue to have greater success abroad than at home.

The  and outtakes collection, , came out the following year, revealing a quieter, more contemplative side of the band, spanning the previous five years. This carried over into  in 1997, wherein the band scaled back the sonic force of their sound from its Happy Days levels, with clean playing on some songs that featured extensive use of keyboards and acoustic guitars. Alternately, songs like "Satellite" and "Here Comes the Fat Controller" were lush and orchestral in scope.

In 2000, Catherine Wheel re-emerged with a new record label, a new bassist (Ben Ellis); a modified name (The Catherine Wheel); and a new album, . After mixed reviews, record company turmoil and lacklustre sales, the band went on a still-continuing hiatus.

In March 2010, Ferment was re-released, containing bonus tracks and extensive sleeve notes.

The song 'Texture' was featured in the episode "Model Behavior" in the first season of the American drama series , which aired in the US in 2010 and in the UK in 2011. The song is played as detective Danny Reagan discovers a suicide in a bath.

All records are shipped in professional 7” & 12” box mailers. All CDs are shipped in padded bubble mailers.  Buy multiple items and save on shipping.  Thanks for Visiting!!