Editing Ocean Colour Scene

{{short description|English rock band}}
{{about|the band|their self-titled debut album|Ocean Colour Scene (album){{!}}''Ocean Colour Scene'' (album)}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|name = Ocean Colour Scene
|image = Ocean_Colour_Scene_Liverpool_Guide_of_Students_April_2025.jpg
|caption = Ocean Colour Scene performing in Liverpool in 2025
|landscape = yes
|background = group_or_band
|origin = [[Birmingham]], England
|Instruments =
|genre = {{hlist|[[Alternative rock]]|[[indie rock]]|[[blues rock]]|[[Britpop]]|[[baggy]]<ref>{{cite news|author=Alison King |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/forget-madchester-its-all-about-the-b-town-scene-8207631.html |title=Forget Madchester, it's all about the B-Town scene |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=2012-10-13 |access-date=2020-06-04}}</ref> (early)}}
|years_active = 1989&ndash;present
|label = {{hlist|[[Fontana Records|Fontana]]|[[Island Records|Island]]|[[Sanctuary Records|Sanctuary]]|[[Moseley Shoals Records|Moseley Shoals]]|[[Cooking Vinyl]]|Live Here Now}}
| associated_acts = {{hlist|Merrymouth|The Steve Cradock Band|[[Paul Weller]]|[[Oasis (band)|Oasis]]}}
|website = {{URL|oceancolourscene.com}}
|current_members = * [[Simon Fowler]]
* [[Steve Cradock]]
* [[Oscar Harrison]]
* Raymond Meade
|past_members = * Damon Minchella
* [[Dan Sealey]]
* [[Andy Bennett (musician)|Andy Bennett]]
}}

'''Ocean Colour Scene''' (often abbreviated to '''OCS''') is an English [[Rock music|rock]] band formed in [[Birmingham]] in 1989.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.oceancolourscene.com/biography | title=Ocean Colour Scene - Biography }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.concertarchives.org/bands/ocean-colour-scene|title=Ocean Colour Scene Concert & Tour History (Updated for 2023) &#124; Concert Archives}}</ref> They have had five top 10 albums, including a number one in 1997. They have also achieved seventeen top 40 singles and six top 10 singles to date.

==History==
===Early days (1990–1995)===
Ocean Colour Scene was formed from two other bands disbanding; the Boys (Steve Cradock) and Fanatics (Simon Fowler, Damon Minchella, Oscar Harrison). Fanatics had released an [[Extended play|EP]] titled ''Suburban Love Songs''.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography">{{cite book
| first= Martin C.
| last= Strong
| year= 2000
| title= The Great Rock Discography
| edition= 5th
| publisher= Mojo Books
| location= Edinburgh
| pages= 709–710
| isbn= 1-84195-017-3}}</ref>{{When|date=March 2024}} The name was decided upon when the band went through books in a library looking for words they liked.<ref name=":0" /> OCS signed to !Phffftt Records in 1990.<ref name="Ocean Colour Scene Biography">{{cite web|url=http://www.oceancolourscene.com/band_biography/biog|title=Ocean Colour Scene Biography|access-date=6 August 2009}}</ref>

Their first single, "Sway", was released in September 1990. When their [[record label]] was swallowed up by larger company [[Phonogram Records|Phonogram]] their eponymous début album was [[remix]]ed, against the band's wishes, to fit in with the [[baggy]]/indie-dance musical trend of the time. The album was largely deemed a failure.<ref name="Ocean Colour Scene Biography"/> Being in dispute with their label, the band was forced back onto [[unemployment benefits]], with no real direction and only able to write new music with no outlet for it.

In 1993, the start of the turnaround occurred. [[Paul Weller]] invited the band to support him on some dates of his tour. On the back of these performances, Weller invited guitarist [[Steve Cradock]] to play on one of his singles, and vocalist [[Simon Fowler]] to sing on his album ''[[Wild Wood]]''.<ref name="Ocean Colour Scene Biography"/> Cradock was asked to play live with Weller on his tour, and the money Cradock made allowed the band to keep paying rent for a studio.<ref name=":0">{{Citation |title=OCEAN COLOUR SCENE: From Broke To The Big Time |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z32y54grp3k |access-date=2024-03-11 |language=en}}</ref>

===Britpop fame (1995–2000)===
The band recorded a [[demo (music)|demo]] that was sent to various industry figures. After hearing this tape, [[Noel Gallagher]] invited the band to play with [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]] on their 1995 tour. This support slot brought OCS to the attention of more record labels, and eventually in late 1995, the band signed with [[MCA Records]].<ref name="Ocean Colour Scene Biography"/>

With the explosion of the Britpop scene, OCS's music became nationally and internationally known. Their second album ''[[Moseley Shoals]]'' was released to mixed-to-positive reviews, containing four hit singles and reached No.&nbsp;2 in the [[UK Albums Chart]].<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> They also played at one of the [[concerts at Knebworth House]] supporting Oasis in August 1996.

''[[Marchin' Already]]'', the follow-up to ''Moseley Shoals'', went to No.&nbsp;1 in the UK Albums Chart,<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> displacing Oasis' ''[[Be Here Now (album)|Be Here Now]]'' at the top of the charts in 1997. In 1998 they headlined their own arena tour in support of ''Marchin' Already'' and played three sold out nights at [[Stirling Castle]], Scotland.

''[[One from the Modern]]'' was released in 1999, and peaked in the UK Albums Chart at No.&nbsp;4. The record spawned three top 40 singles, "[[Profit in Peace]]", "[[So Low (Ocean Colour Scene song)|So Low]]" and "[[July (Ocean Colour Scene song)|July]]".<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/>

A Greatest Hits album, ''Songs for the Front Row'', was released in 2001.<ref name=chart>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20011125005646/http://www.chartattack.com/DAMN/2001/11/2002.cfm "CD REVIEWS: Creed, The Smashing Pumpkins, Robbie Williams and many more"]}}. ''Chart Attack'', 20 November 2001</ref>

===Post-Britpop (2001–2008)===
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2024}}
After splitting with bassist Damon Minchella, the band continued to record and perform.  Releases in 2001 (''[[Mechanical Wonder]]''), 2003 (''[[North Atlantic Drift (album)|North Atlantic Drift]]''), 2005 (''[[A Hyperactive Workout for the Flying Squad]]'') and 2007 (''[[On the Leyline]]'') continued the trend of releasing new material every two years.

2004 saw the band release their first [[live album]], ''Live: One for the Road''. The album was a compilation of nineteen live tracks taken from various concerts. In 2006 the band released a live acoustic album, ''Live at the Jam House'', which consisted of fifteen live tracks and also contained four new songs in "Great Man in Waiting", "The Word", "Still Trying" and "Matilda's England".
[[File:Ocean Colour Scene, Guilfest 2004 (11861681306).jpg|thumb|Ocean Colour Scene performing at [[Guilfest]] in 2004]]

The band also released a live album in December 2006, which was recorded at Birmingham Academy and spread over two discs. People attending the gig were able to purchase the recording straight afterwards.

===Recent years (2009–present)===
{{More citations needed section|date=February 2024}}
In 2009, the band went into the studio with producer Gavin Monaghan, known for his work with [[Editors (band)|Editors]], [[Scott Matthews]] and [[The Twang]], to work on a new album, ''[[Saturday (Ocean Colour Scene album)|Saturday]]'', with a release date of 1 February 2010 to mark the 21st anniversary of the band. The album had a working title of 'Rockfield', named after [[Rockfield Studios|the studios where it was recorded]], but it was released as ''Saturday'' - both "Rockfield" and "Saturday" being tracks thereon.

On 2 November 2009, the band released a free downloadable version of a new song, "Mrs Maylie". "Magic Carpet Days", the first single from ''Saturday'', was released on 25 January, followed by the album a few days later. The album charted at No.&nbsp;35 on the UK Albums Chart. A second single, "Saturday", was released in May 2010 but it failed to chart. On 24 July 2010 they performed at the [[Wickerman Festival]].

On 11 October 2010, the band released a 4-CD box set, ''21'', to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the band. It included many previously unreleased tracks and a brand new song entitled "Twenty One".

In March 2011, the band released a 15th anniversary special edition of their 1996 hit album ''Moseley Shoals''. It consisted of the full album, b-sides and live tracks. The band played a full UK tour in support of the re-release. December saw the limited edition release of a double CD/DVD release of the band's Moseley Shoals gig at [[O2 Academy Birmingham]], which was filmed on 26 February 2011. They performed an acoustic set at Lanford Live in 2011 for the [[Teenage Cancer Trust]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.langfordlive.org/meet-the-bands/ |title=Meet the Bands |work=Langford Live |access-date=2012-12-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809150108/http://www.langfordlive.org/meet-the-bands/ |archive-date=9 August 2011  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/what-s-on/ocean_colour_scene_to_rock_langford_court_1_1016646 |title=Ocean Colour Scene to rock Langford Court |first=Tom |last=Wright |date=8 September 2011 |work=Weston, Worle, & Somerset Mercury |location=Weston-super-Mare |publisher=Archant Community Media Ltd. |access-date=2012-12-24}}</ref>

In December 2012, the band announced the forthcoming release of their tenth studio album, ''[[Painting (album)|Painting]]'', which was released on 11 February 2013. They also played at V-festival where ''[[Inbetweeners]]'' actor [[James Buckley (actor)|James Buckley]] performed "The Circle" with them in Chelmsford and at The Electric Picnic Festival in Stradbally, Ireland.

In 2014 a special edition of ''Marchin' Already'' was released on a 2 CD edition and a special deluxe 4 disc box set which included a DVD of their live performance at Stirling Castle in 1998. Early 2015 saw the band celebrate their 25th anniversary with some acoustic concerts around the UK. They released a double CD live album which was recorded at the Manchester concert on the tour.

The following year, in 2016, the band announced several special concerts around the UK to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their 1996 hit album ''Moseley Shoals''. They also played several dates in Australia for the first time in their career.

On 22 June 2016, the band officially announced that Scottish musician Raymond Meade would be joining the band permanently on bass, following the departures of both Dan Sealey and Andy Bennett. Meade had already played live with the band since the start of the year.

In November 2018 the band unveiled their first new material in five years since the release of ''Painting''. The four track EP was released on 10" vinyl and available only at the band's Christmas shows. The EP received a 5 stars rating from Flick of the Finger, with the publication stating that 'Lushly textured, these four compelling and diverse new offerings are nothing short of brilliant.'<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.flickofthefinger.co.uk/new-releases/2018/ocean-colour-scene-unleash-new-ep-this-november/|title=Ocean Colour Scene Unleash New EP This November - Flick of the Finger|date=2018-10-14|work=Flick of the Finger|access-date=2018-11-12|language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 2023 the band released a career-spanning box set entitled ''Yesterday, Today 1992–2018'', which contained all their studio albums and 5 bonus CDs, totalling 230 tracks. The set also came with a 72-page book. A companion vinyl box set was also released, covering their first three studio albums from 1992–1997. In May, a follow-up vinyl set was released, covering the three studio albums released between 1999 and 2003. August saw the release of the final box set, covering the remaining four albums from 2005 to 2013.

== Collaborative work ==
Most band members have supported and collaborated with other artists during the group's existence. [[Simon Fowler]], along with members of [[Echo & the Bunnymen]], [[Space (English band)|Space]] and [[The Spice Girls]], was part of the [[Supergroup (music)|supergroup]] England United who recorded the [[List of England national football team songs|official song]] for the [[England national football team]]'s World Cup campaign in the [[1998 FIFA World Cup]]. "([[(How Does It Feel to Be) On Top of the World]]" reached number 9 in the [[UK Singles Chart]]. Steve Cradock plays regularly with [[Paul Weller (singer)|Paul Weller]],<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.nme.com/news/paul-weller/22211|access-date=22 April 2008|date=13 February 2006|title=Weller plays intimate gig|magazine=[[NME]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://line6.com/artists/286/|title=Damon Minchella|publisher=Line6.com|access-date=22 April 2008 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080311100329/http://line6.com/artists/286/ <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 11 March 2008}}</ref> as well as with [[Amy MacDonald (singer)|Amy MacDonald]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/music/music-news/2007/10/05/amy-macdonald-i-heard-paul-weller-whistling-my-song-86908-19901641/ |title=Amy Macdonald: I Heard Paul Weller Whistling My Song|date=5 October 2007|author=Dingwall, John|newspaper=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]}}</ref>

During their peak (around the time of the ''Moseley Shoals'' release) OCS also regularly performed on stage with [[Noel Gallagher|Noel]] and [[Liam Gallagher]] of Oasis, with whom they were on tour at the time. One particular performance of note with the Gallaghers was a rendition of [[The Beatles]]' "[[Day Tripper]]", which was included as a live [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] to "[[The Circle (song)|The Circle]]". The song was also included on the B-side [[compilation album]], ''[[B-sides, Seasides and Freerides]]''. Noel Gallagher previewed an advance copy of the song during an interview on [[BBC Radio 1]] with [[Disc Jockey|DJ]] [[Jo Whiley]]. The interview mainly focused on Oasis's then forthcoming gig in the grounds of [[Knebworth House]], where Ocean Colour Scene was one of the supporting acts. Over 2.6 million people applied for tickets for the shows, making it the most in-demand concert in UK history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.knebworthhouse.com/rock/the90s.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071130221202/http://www.knebworthhouse.com/rock/the90s.htm|url-status=dead|title=Knebworthhouse.com|archivedate=30 November 2007}}</ref> There was a combined audience of over 250,000 people.

At a 2011 gig at the University of East Anglia, Ocean Colour Scene was joined on stage by former footballer [[Dion Dublin]], an amateur percussionist, who accompanied them on The Dube, an instrument he invented.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9409982.stm | work=BBC News | title=Dublin reveals musical side | date=28 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-Manchester Utd footballer Dion Dublin launches new musical instrument |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095936/https://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/49469 |work=NME.com |publisher=IPC Media |date=28 January 2010 |access-date=29 January 2010 }}</ref>

==Timeline==
{{#tag:timeline|
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PlotArea   = left:120 bottom:100 top:0 right:5
Alignbars  = justify
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period     = from:01/06/1989 till:{{#time:d/m/Y}}
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Legend     = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3
ScaleMajor = increment:5 start:1990
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1990

Colors = 
 id:vocals    value:red         legend:Lead_vocals,_harmonica
 id:guitar    value:green       legend:Guitar,_backing_vocals
 id:bass      value:blue        legend:Bass
 id:drums     value:orange      legend:Drums,_percussion
 id:piano     value:purple       legend:Piano,_backing_and_lead_vocals
 id:studio    value:black       legend:Studio_album
 id:live      value:gray(0.7)   legend:Live_album
 id:bars      value:gray(0.95)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

LineData =
 layer:back
 color:live
 at:07/12/2002
 at:20/08/2004
 at:06/05/2006
 at:17/12/2006
 at:26/02/2007
 at:18/04/2015
 at:22/07/2017
 layer:back
 color:studio
 at:25/05/1992
 at:08/04/1996
 at:15/09/1997
 at:13/09/1999
 at:09/04/2001
 at:07/07/2003
 at:21/03/2005
 at:30/04/2007
 at:01/02/2010
 at:11/02/2013

BarData =
 bar:SF text:"Simon Fowler"
 bar:SC text:"Steve Cradock"
 bar:AB text:"Andy Bennett"
 bar:DM text:"Damon Minchella"
 bar:DS text:"Dan Sealey"
 bar:RM text:"Raymond Meade"
 bar:OH text:"Oscar Harrison"

PlotData =
 width:11
 bar:SF from:01/06/1989 till:end        color:vocals
 bar:SF from:01/06/1989 till:end        color:guitar width:3
 bar:SC from:01/06/1989 till:end        color:guitar
 bar:SC from:01/06/1989 till:end        color:piano width:3
 bar:SC from:01/06/2010 till:22/06/2016 color:bass width:7
 bar:AB from:08/04/2004 till:01/02/2015 color:guitar
 bar:DM from:01/06/1989 till:01/10/2003 color:bass
 bar:DS from:01/10/2003 till:01/06/2010 color:bass
 bar:DS from:01/10/2003 till:01/06/2010 color:guitar width:7
 bar:DS from:01/10/2003 till:01/06/2010 color:piano width:3
 bar:RM from:22/06/2016 till:end color:bass
 bar:OH from:01/06/1989 till:end        color:drums
 bar:OH from:01/06/1989 till:end        color:piano width:3
 bar:OH from:01/06/2010 till:22/06/2016 color:bass width:7
}}

==Discography==
{{Main|Ocean Colour Scene discography}}
* ''[[Ocean Colour Scene (album)|Ocean Colour Scene]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Moseley Shoals]]'' (1996)
* ''[[Marchin' Already]]'' (1997)
* ''[[One from the Modern]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Mechanical Wonder]]'' (2001)
* ''[[North Atlantic Drift (album)|North Atlantic Drift]]'' (2003)
* ''[[A Hyperactive Workout for the Flying Squad]]'' (2005)
* ''[[On the Leyline]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Saturday (Ocean Colour Scene album)|Saturday]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Painting (album)|Painting]]'' (2013)

==See also==
*[[Concerts at Knebworth House]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.oceancolourscene.com Official website]
* {{Discogs artist}}

{{OceanColourScene}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ocean Colour Scene| ]]
[[Category:English alternative rock groups]]
[[Category:Baggy groups]]
[[Category:Britpop groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1989]]
[[Category:Madchester groups]]
[[Category:Fontana Records artists]]
[[Category:Island Records artists]]
[[Category:Sanctuary Records artists]]
[[Category:Cooking Vinyl artists]]
[[Category:Live Here Now artists]]