Toploader
are an English alternative rock band from Eastbourne, formed in 1997. They are best known for their cover of King Harvest's song "Dancing in the Moonlight", which became a global hit for the band.
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TOPLOADER TICKETS
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Career
Toploader signed a six album deal with Sony Records in 1998 and went around recording their debut album, Onka's Big Moka, at Rockfield Studio's in South Wales with Manic Street Preachers producer Dave Eringa. After its release in 1999 Toploader went on to become a popular act in British
music selling over two million albums with a string of top 20 chart hits home and abroad. They started their live career playing with the likes of
Coldplay and
Muse in small venues across the UK and later went on to back the likes of Paul Weller, Robbie Wiliams and Bon Jovi (where they became the last British band to play the original Wembley Stadium.) The band split up in 2003 shortly after the release of their second album "Magic Hotel."
Although the band had huge success with their first album Onka's Big Moka, selling 1.7 million units and remaining in the Top 5 of the
UK Albums Chart for over six months, their second album
Magic Hotel
, failed to meet expectation resulting in the
band being dropped by their
record label, even though the album was more successful by charting at #3 (beating the #4 of the debut), but failing to meet sales targets set by the label.
The band's debut album,
Onka's Big Moka
, produced the global hit "
Dancing in the Moonlight".
In May 2009 Toploader announced that they were re-forming, stating with a come back charity concert at
Eastbourne Bandstand on 29 August 2009. New material available in 2010 with some festival appearances and tour in 2009.
Joseph Washbourn wrote and performed the track "Goldrush" for the 2005
film,
The Skeleton Key
(
Universal Pictures). He is now concentrating on a
solo career with new and original material.
Guitarist Dan Hipgrave became well known in the media.
Lead guitarist Julian Deane has moved into artist management and currently looks after
Paul Steel,
The Xcerts and
Stars and Sons.
Drummer Rob Green became a music supervisor for a TV company.
Bassist Matt Knight is studying Media and Cultural Studies at Sussex University.
As of 2009, Toploader have reformed and will be making festival appearances as well as releasing an EP around the same time, as is indicated on their official MySpace page.
[1]
Band members
- Joe Washbourn (born Joseph Washbourn, 24 December 1975, Sidcup, Kent) – vocalist, keyboardist
- Dan Hipgrave (born Daniel Hipgrave, 5 August 1975, Brighton) – guitarist
- Julian Deane (born 31 March 1971, Bristol) – guitarist
- Matt Knight (born Matthew Knight, 18 November 1972, Portsmouth) – bassist
- Rob Green (born 24 October 1969, London) – drummer
Discography
Albums
- 2000 Onka's Big Moka
#4 UK
- 2002 Magic Hotel
#3 UK
- 2009 Dancing in the Moonlight - The Best Of Toploader
Singles
; from
Onka's Big Moka
:
- 1999 Achilles Heel
#64 UK
- 1999 Let the People Know
#52 UK
- 2000 Dancing in the Moonlight
#19 UK
- 2000 Achilles Heel (re-issue)
#8 UK
- 2000 Just Hold On
#20 UK
- 2000 Dancing in the Moonlight (re-issue)
#7 UK
- 2001 Only For A While
#19 UK
; from
Magic Hotel
:
- 2002 Time Of My Life
#18 UK
- 2002 Some Kind Of Wonderful
#76 UK
References
- [1]