Freebass

English rock supergroup

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Freebass

Origin| United Kingdom
Genres| Alternative rock[1]
Years active| 2005–2010
Labels|

* Hacienda Records
* 24 Hour Service Station

Spinoff of|

* The Smiths
* The Stone Roses
* New Order
* Joy Division
* Primal Scream
* Haven

Past members|

* Peter Hook
* Gary "Mani" Mounfield
* Gary Briggs
* Andy Rourke

Website| Artist site

Freebass were an English rock supergroup consisting of, originally, three bassists - Andy Rourke (formerly of The Smiths), Peter Hook (formerly of Joy Division & New Order) and Gary "Mani" Mounfield (of The Stone Roses and Primal Scream) - and singer Gary Briggs (formerly of Haven).[2][3] Rourke subsequently left the line-up.[4]

The band's sound has been described as "a heady mix of modern rock, dub, and Northern soul".[1]

## History

[edit]

The concept of forming a band centered around three bass players emerged during a drunken night and was initiated by Hook and Mani as a reaction to their bands New Order and Primdals being stalled.[2] In a late 2005 interview with NME Peter Hook stated that all of the songs have three basses: "Mani does the low part, Andy Rourke in the middle and I do the high bit ... it works out quite well".[2] In 2006 the band recorded the theme song for the Channel 4 Radio program The Tube,[5] an instrumental called "The Tower".[citation needed]

In a 2006 interview with Argentine newspaper Página/12, Hook expressed satisfaction with the band's progress, stating, "We've already written 17 tracks and [the album]'s coming along very well. We hope to finish it soon.". He also explained his determination to succeed. "The reason we decided to do it was because everyone laughed in our face when we suggested the idea. So we thought, 'Fuck them! We're gonna show them.'"[6]

Having delayed the album for so long, in 2010 Hook launched a new website, worked out a distribution arrangement with American independent record label 24-Hour Service Station, and released the debut Freebass recording Two Worlds Collide EP,[7] as a digital download in March 2010 and on CD in August. A full album, titled It's a Beautiful Life,[8] was again initially released as a digital download in April 2010, and as an expanded edition CD with three additional tracks and a bonus instrumental versions disc, on 20 September by Essential for Europe, Australia and South East Asia; and 7 December by 24 Hour Service Station for the rest of the world.

The band's official website confirmed[4] in August 2010 that Rourke was no longer part of the line-up, noting: "Andy Rourke was initially involved in the conception of the group and contributed to the EP and a few tracks on the LP. He is now living in NYC and will not be joining the band for live dates."

In September 2010, relations between Mounfield and Hook appeared to have soured. On 6 September, Mounfield posted on his Twitter stream (@Maniscream) "Peter Hook's wallet" was "visible from space"[9] because it was "stuffed with Ian Curtis' blood money", a reference to Hook forming Peter Hook & The Light which played Joy Division's music. He further posted that "he ain't got time for me now he's getting fortunes for dragging his mates cadaver round the world getting himself paid".[10] Mounfield finally appeared to devolve himself from Freebass by stating he "Can't be doing with talentless nostalgia fuckwit whores".[11] Mounfield has since apologised for his remark, stating that his comments were "out of character" and that it was a "venomous, spiteful reaction to a lot of things that are going on in my life right now, and I chose to vent my frustrations and anger at one of my true friends in this filthy business, and ventured into territory which was none of my concern". Hook accepted Mounfield's apology, saying "Mani is a great friend of mine and he always will be. I have the utmost respect for him as a person and musician. Have none of you ever fallen out with somebody you love?"[12]

## Discography

[edit]

### Studio albums

[edit]

* It's a Beautiful Life (2010), 24 Hour Service Station / Essential (Europe, Australia & SE Asia)

### EPs

[edit]

* Two Worlds Collide (2010), 24 Hour Service Station
* You Don't Know This About Me – The Arthur Baker Remixes (2010), 24 Hour Service Station
* Fritz von Runte vs Freebass Redesign (2010), 24 Hour Service Station[13]
* Two Worlds Collide – The Instrumental Mixes (2010), 24 Hour Service Station

### Singles

[edit]

* "Live Tomorrow You Go Down" (2010), 24 Hour Service Station

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Monger, James Christopher. "Freebass biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
2. ^ a b c "Supergroup looking for singer". Nme.com.
3. ^ "Hooky's leading man". Archived from the original on 11 November 2012.
4. ^ a b "New Order Online - A New Order / Joy Division Web Site". Neworderonline.com.
5. ^ Robinson, Paul (23 October 2006). "Radio revives the video star". Theguardian.com.
6. ^ "Freebass". Archived from the original on 17 December 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2008.
7. ^ "Freebass' Release Two Worlds Collide EP With American Label". Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
8. ^ "Freebass' Debut Album Features Now Resident Lead Singer Gary Briggs (Haven & The Strays)". Archived from the original on 15 August 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
9. ^ "Hook's wallet visible from space". Twitter.com.
10. ^ "Ian Curtis cadaver". Twitter.com.
11. ^ "Fuckwit whore". Twitter.com.
12. ^ "Mani apologises 'unreservedly' to Peter Hook for Twitter outburst". Nme.com. 13 September 2010.
13. ^ "24hourservicestation.com". Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2010.

## External links

[edit]

* Interview about Freebass on XFM
* Peter Hook talks Freebass
* Hacienda Records Partners With American Record Label 24 Hour Service Station
* CincyMusic Profile

* v
* t
* e

New Order

* Bernard Sumner
* Stephen Morris
* Gillian Gilbert
* Phil Cunningham
* Tom Chapman

* Peter Hook

Studio albums|

* Movement
* Power, Corruption & Lies
* Low-Life
* Brotherhood
* Technique
* Republic
* Get Ready
* Waiting for the Sirens' Call
* Lost Sirens
* Music Complete

Live albums|

* BBC Radio 1 Live In Concert
* Live at the London Troxy
* Live at Bestival 2012

Compilation albums|

* Substance 1987
* The Best of New Order
* International
* Retro
* Singles
* Total: From Joy Division to New Order

Remix albums|

* The Rest of New Order
* Complete Music

EPs and other releases|

* 1981–1982
* The Peel Sessions
* The Peter Saville Show Soundtrack
* In Session
* 12″ × 12

Singles|

* "Ceremony"
* "Procession"
* "Everything's Gone Green"
* "Temptation"
* "Blue Monday"
* "Confusion"
* "Thieves Like Us"
* "Murder"
* "The Perfect Kiss"
* "Sub-culture"
* "Shellshock"
* "State of the Nation"
* "Bizarre Love Triangle"
* "True Faith"
* "Touched by the Hand of God"
* "Blue Monday 1988"
* "Fine Time"
* "Round & Round"
* "Run 2"
* "World in Motion"
* "Regret"
* "Ruined in a Day"
* "World (The Price of Love)"
* "Spooky"
* "True Faith-94"
* "1963"
* "Blue Monday-95"
* "Video 5 8 6"
* "Crystal"
* "60 Miles an Hour"
* "Someone Like You"
* "Here to Stay"
* "Krafty"
* "Jetstream"
* "Waiting for the Sirens' Call"
* "Restless"
* "Tutti Frutti"

Other songs|

* "Doubts Even Here"
* "Age of Consent"
* "Love Vigilantes"
* "Elegia"
* "Plastic"

Videos|

* Substance 1987
* New Order Story
* 316
* 511
* A Collection
* Live in Glasgow

Tours|

* North American Tour 2012

Related groups|

* Joy Division
* Electronic
* Revenge
* Monaco
* The Other Two
* Freebass
* Bad Lieutenant
* Peter Hook & The Light

Related articles|

* Discography
* Songs
* The Haçienda
* Control
* Rob Gretton
* List of tribute albums

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI

Artists|

* MusicBrainz

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