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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). Rourke subsequently left the line-up.

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

History

The idea to form a band centred on three bass-players came out on a drunken night, and was started by Hook and Mani as "a reaction because our groups New Order and Primals had been stalled". 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". In 2006 the band recorded the theme song for the Channel 4 Radio program The Tube, an instrumental called "The Tower".

In a 2006 interview with Argentine newspaper Página/12, Hook expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the band, "We've already written 17 tracks and 's coming along very well. We hope to finish it soon." He also explained why he was so determined 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.'"

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, as a digital download in March 2010 and on CD in August. A full album, titled It's a Beautiful Life, 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 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" 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". Mounfield finally appeared to devolve himself from Freebass by stating he "Can't be doing with talentless nostalgia fuckwit whores". 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?"

Discography

Studio albums

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

EPs

• 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
• Two Worlds Collide – The Instrumental Mixes (2010), 24 Hour Service Station

Singles

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

References

1. ^ Monger, James Christopher. "Freebass biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
2. ^ "Supergroup looking for singer". Nme.com.
3. "Hooky's leading man". Archived from the original on 11 November 2012.
4. ^ "New Order Online - A New Order / Joy Division Web Site". Neworderonline.com.
5. "Radio X". Radio X.
6. Robinson, Paul (23 October 2006). "Radio revives the video star". Theguardian.com.
7. "Freebass". Archived from the original on 17 December 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2008.
8. "Freebass' Release Two Worlds Collide EP With American Label". Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
9. "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.
10. "Hook's wallet visible from space". Twitter.com.
11. "Ian Curtis cadaver". Twitter.com.
12. "Fuckwit whore". Twitter.com.
13. "Mani apologises 'unreservedly' to Peter Hook for Twitter outburst". Nme.com. 13 September 2010.
14. "24hourservicestation.com". Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2010.

External links

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

• English alternative rock groups
• Musical groups established in 2005
• British rock music supergroups
• 24 Hour Service Station artists
• Musical groups disestablished in 2010
• 2005 establishments in the United Kingdom
• 2010 disestablishments in the United Kingdom