Chris Helme
(born Christopher Alan Helme
22 July 1971 in York) is an English singer-songwriter. He shot to fame as the frontman of The Seahorses, the band formed by former Stone Roses guitarist John Squire. He now fronts The Yards and also performs as a solo artist.
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CHRIS HELME TICKETS
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The Seahorses
Prior to joining The Seahorses, Chris Helme was a member of various unsigned York bands, including
folk/
jazz band Chutzpah, who regularly played around York and at one point busked across
France and Daisy Space/Genuine Moon Material.
He was discovered
busking outside
Woolworths department store in York's Coney Street
[1] by a friend of John Squire's long time guitar technician, who was impressed by his version of the
The Rolling Stones song, "No Expectations" and requested a demo tape, which was then passed on to Squire.
John Squire was still under contract to
Geffen Records prior to forming The Seahorses, the label which would go on to release the band's one and only album in 1997, titled
Do It Yourself
. The album was produced by the legendary producer
Tony Visconti and spawned four hit singles. "Love is the Law" reached no. 2 in the
UK Singles Chart; "Blinded by the Sun" got to no. 7, whilst "Love Me and Leave Me" and "You Can Talk to Me" both peaked at no.15.
In 1999, after 3 years of intensive touring, including support slots with acts such as
The Rolling Stones,
U2 and
Oasis, John Squire ended the band during the recording of the band's second album, citing musical differences.
Post Seahorses Career
Following The Seahorses' split, Helme pursued a solo career. Within a month of the split being confirmed, Helme was undertaking a short solo tour across England, backed by an electric band featuring members of York band "The Lo Beams" and fellow ex-Seahorse,
Stuart Fletcher performing material written for the proposed second Seahorses album, that was rejected by John Squire. Following these initial gigs which were described by the NME as "fairly unambitious rock music"
[2], Helme abandoned the electric format and began to perform one off solo acoustic shows around York. The solo format gradually expanded to playing with another guitarist to a full band, which at one point featured session drummer Toby Drummond, who temporarily replaced Andy Watts in The Seahorses.
In 2001, a new backing band was put together featuring Stuart Fletcher on bass again and two session players. This lineup morphed into what would become Superzero, and later The Yards aftering having failed to secure a post-Seahorses record deal
[3].
In 2002, Helme formed Superzero with Stuart Fletcher and
Paul Banks (ex-
Shed Seven) who took over guitar duties following the departure of the session guitarist who Helme had been working with for a couple of years. The band name would later be changed to The Yards, and Paul Banks departed the band before the release of their debut album due to musical differences.
The Yards' debut album was released in 2005 via their own label "Industrial Erotica Records" (after failing to secure a record deal), and the band played sporadic gigs across the UK, including support slots with
Arthur Lee and Love. The band released their second album
Imperial Measures
in March 2009, again via their own label and is available through their Myspace page and at gigs.
Helme re-established himself as a solo artist following the release of his debut album
Ashes
in May 2008 and toured the UK to support its release. Still without a record deal, the album was privately pressed and sold via Helme's MySpace page and at gigs. Helme has started performing John Squire penned songs such as Love Is The Law at his solo gigs for the first time since the band split, despite having expressed his apparent dislike of the material.
Chris Helme also organises the "Num Num" club in
York, which regularly features a variety of local up and coming acoustic acts.
References
- http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Y_DrjNhLl2YC&pg=PA215&lpg=PA215&dq=Chris+Helme+Mick+Middles&sourc
- http://www.nme.com/news/theseahorses/1112
- http://www.nme.com/news/the-seahorses/3311