1990s Britpop legends Shed Seven are back on the road with their biggest tour to date. The York band that scored chart hits in the 1990s with Going For Gold, Getting Better and Chasing Rainbows couldn’t be happier as founder member Rick Witter tells Andy Howells:
“We are becoming an old war horse. It’s a satisfying feeling to still have the opportunity to put on sizeable tours in this day and age.
“I guess what we wrote way back then has been taken to heart by the fans, as wherever we play it’s a joy to see people singing their hearts out. It makes our job that little bit easier, special and worth it.”
The band recently marked the 20th anniversary of their seminal singles collection, Going For Gold with a remastered reissue on Digital Download, CD and on Gold-coloured vinyl! A victory lap of the band’s historic Britpop years, the release features tracks written and recorded by the original line-up of Shed Seven, bringing together the very best of the band’s first three studio albums, Change Giver, Maximum High, & Let It Ride, plus the twelve Top 40 singles clocked-up from their formation up to 1999. The album was remastered at London’s Abbey Road Studios.
Rick continues:
“It was good fun remastering those songs from the back catalogue. It kind of brings home just how many hits we had back in the day. But most satisfying is the fact we had a new album (Instant Pleasures) out a couple of years ago which went top 10 so we can still cut it.”
“Apparently, we had more chart hits in 96 than any other act in the U.K. We had a run of singles that we still play now and enjoy. I’d say surviving it was probably the best achievement. They were heady days.”
Despite a brief sabbatical in the early noughties, Shed Seven have constantly toured. Their music like many of their contemporaries such as Oasis and Blur hasn’t dated and remains an inspiration with younger bands. Does Rick have any advice he’d give to bands starting out?
“I would tell any young band to have belief and speak from the heart. If you believe in what you are doing, it’s only a matter of time before people catch on.”
The current tour which includes dates at Llandudno’s Venue Cymru on December 6, Cardiff Uni’s Great Hall on December 16 and Bristol’s 02 Academy on December 18 also features special guests, The Twang, marks the 25th anniversary of their first album release and will feature a mix of Shed Seven classics as well as choice cuts from Instant Pleasures.
Rick says of the forthcoming dates:
“We like to put on a show, so expect loud music and a bit of dad dancing! Again, we have a sizeable back catalogue, and to be honest at the majority of gigs there is a lot of love in the room which makes playing any of them a pleasure.”
Tickets for all shows are on sale now via http://www.gigsandtours.com / http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk