Supergrass
Supergrass are an English rock band formed in 1993 in Oxford. For the majority of the band's tenure, the line-up consisted of brothers Gaz (lead vocals, guitar) and Rob Coombes (keyboards), Mick Quinn (bass, backing vocals) and Danny Goffey (drums, backing vocals). Originally a three-piece, the band was officially joined by Rob Coombes in 2002.
This article is about the band. For the album, see Supergrass (album). For the witnesses who betray information about associated criminals, see Supergrass (informant). For the film, see The Supergrass.
Supergrass
Oxford, England
1993–2010, 2019–2022 (on hiatus)
- Parlophone
- Sub Pop
- Backbeat
- Island Def Jam
- Capitol
- Supergrass
- Cooking Vinyl
- The Echo Label
The band signed to Parlophone Records in 1994 and produced I Should Coco (1995), the best-selling debut album for the label since the Beatles' Please Please Me. Their first album's fourth single, "Alright", was an international hit. The band went on to release five albums: In It for the Money (1997), Supergrass (1999), Life on Other Planets (2002), Road to Rouen (2005) and Diamond Hoo Ha (2008), as well as a compilation called Supergrass Is 10 (2004).
In August 2009, the band signed to Cooking Vinyl and began work on their seventh studio album, Release the Drones. The album remains unreleased and unfinished. On 12 April 2010, the band announced that they were splitting up due to musical and creative differences.[1] The group disbanded after four farewell gigs, the final one at La Cigale, Paris, on 11 June 2010.[2]
The band reformed in 2019, initially to perform at Pilton Party followed by a "secret" gig at Oslo in Hackney, London.[3][4] The band made their final appearance of their reunion to date with a performance in honour of Foo Fighters' recently deceased drummer Taylor Hawkins at his tribute concert, performing some of Hawkins' favourite songs from Supergrass's catalogue. Hawkins had previously expressed his love of the band, and had even made a cameo drum appearance at one of their concerts.[5][6][7]
The Jennifers
Solo projects[edit]
During 1998, Coombes and Quinn were invited to play on Dr John's Anutha Zone album (they appear on the track "Voices In My Head"),[48] whilst Goffey contributed to the debut album by Lodger (which also featured his partner Pearl Lowe and members of the band Delicatessen).
Danny Goffey has also embarked on a solo project between Supergrass engagements called "Van Goffey" which saw tracks being released via MySpace in August 2006, the first three being "Crack House Blues", "I Feel so Gaye" and "Natalie Loves the F". He plays drums on the charity football song "Born In England" by a collective of musicians called Twisted X, which charted at number 8 in the UK Charts in 2004. Danny Goffey was also a drummer on the 2004 charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?", along with members of Radiohead and the Darkness under the name Band Aid 20.[49]
In July 2008, Coombes joined Foo Fighters on stage during a show that saluted the Who's musical career, VH1 Rock Honors. Coombes performed vocals on the Who's classic song "Bargain".
In 2007 and 2008, while Mick Quinn was still recuperating from his injury, Danny Goffey and Gaz Coombes were performing as the duo Diamond Hoo Ha Men, the name taken from the band's sixth album and its lead single (see above).[50] They appeared in character as Duke Diamond and Randy Hoo Ha to play gigs at small venues. Gigs included an appearance at the Apple Store on London's Regent Street, which featured Mick Quinn's first appearance in the band since his injury. He appeared on stage introduced by Gaz as Biff Hymen.[51]
Goffey and Coombes were members of side-project the Hotrats (originally the Hot Rats). They released an album of covers produced by Nigel Godrich called Turn Ons on 25 January 2010. A cover of "Drive My Car" by the Beatles appears in an advert for Orange, a fragrance by Hugo Boss.[52] Since Supergrass announced they were to split, the Hotrats have joined with Air to perform The Virgin Suicides live for the first time, over several concert dates.[53][54] A deluxe 3CD / 1DVD box-set of the Hot Rats album was scheduled for release in June 2020.[55]
In May 2010, Mick Quinn formed the DB Band with former Shake Appeal bassist Fab Wilson. The band released their first EP "Stranger in the Alps" on 17 September 2011.[56] They have toured the Netherlands, France[57] and appeared at Oxford's Truck Festival in Steventon.
Gaz Coombes completed his first solo album, Here Come the Bombs, at his home studio in Oxford.[58] The album was recorded with Sam Williams, who produced 1995's I Should Coco for Supergrass, and released on 21 May 2012. Coombes' second album, Matador, was released 26 January 2015, charting at No. 18 on the UK Albums Chart[59] and nominated for the 2015 Mercury Music Prize.[60] Coombes released a third studio album, titled Worlds Strongest Man on Caroline Records in 2018.
In 2015, Mick Quinn began playing as touring bassist for Swervedriver, whose members Adam Franklin and Jimmy Hartridge were childhood friends of his in Oxford.[61] He would eventually join the band as a full member in 2017, appearing on the band's 2019 album Future Ruins.[62]
