nialler9

The world of music was left without another bunch of heroes when the Beta Band called it quits in 2004. They were a band who set off on their own path and were much admired by their peers and critics alike. From the ramshackle, bizarre and sometimes wobbly debut album, the solid but less experimental “Three EPs” to the excellent “Hot Shots II” and the refined aural pleasure of “Heroes to Zeros”, listening to a Beta Band album is nothing if not engaging. I managed to catch the Beta Band at Oxegen three or four years ago and again for the farewell tour in Dublin at the tail end of 2004, which was a celebration of the Beta Band’s inspiring career. They are innovative musicians and their live shows were full of instrumental experimentation. One of my fondest memories of both of those gigs is during the song ‘Broke’ when all four members of the band play a break from the song on two drumkits in unison spectacularly. But for all the critical acclaim or praise that was lumped on them, one factor remained steadfast - They did not sell enough records.

Steve Mason singer with the band has said in an interview that they were getting paid a grand a month each, and ended up owing the record label roughly £1.5 million. Mason also says that he was suffering from heavy depression “60 percent of the time”. So they decided to end it. No-one was really sure if we would hear music from them again and talking to the bass player Richard Greentree after the farewell concert in Dublin only confirmed suspicions - he said he would be going back to be a carpenter! One of the most influential bands of the late nineties / early Millennium and one of the members had resigned himself to a life without a music career. Hmm.. not promising.

Don’t fret though, every good musician deserves a second chance and thankfully ALL members of the Beta Band are currently involved in other projects. Firstly Mason is back with his King Biscuit Time side-project now a full solo career. The album “Black Gold” was released during May and is as good as the aforemented Beta Band albums. You may have heard the anti war dancehall-tinged single “C I AM 15″ but to assume the rest of the album follows the same rhythms would be a mistake. It is a melodic and melancholy album where Mason’s depression has reared his head again. Much of the songs here are about a relationship which parallelled his eight years in the Beta Band and at times he is looking for re-assurance within himself and others by singing “Love me, love me, love me” and at other times his black dog gets the better of him - “Loneliness, sadness, joyless, lifeless”. In fact in the weeks preceding the album release he posted a message on the King Biscuit Time MySpace page saying simply:

“Peace to you all. I’m out of here. It’s been amazing but I’ve had enough. The mountain beat me and sadly you too. That don’t mean you should give up. It just wasn’t me. Over and out, Steve.”

He then cancelled his tour and went missing for a few weeks, or at least refused to communicate with his PR or record label for two weeks. It appeared that the self-confessed “reclusive, depressive maniac” had lived up to his own perceptions of himself. Thankfully he reappeared on MySpace with message entitled ’support’:

“I want to say thank you all so much for the messages of support and love. Ithas been a whacked out time for me and the messages meant so much, really.

“I’m very lucky to have such people who are into the moosic I make. Thank you. I do feel a lot better now and will return. Want to apologize for cancelling the tour but it was not possible to do it at the time. But that will be happening at some point.

Working with a friend on her music right now which is helping me get back into it. Album came out Monday, very happy with it
and hope you get on it. Peace and general warm vibrations to you all, Steve.”

So it appears that the guy is suffering badly with depression as well as struggling with the machinations of the music industry. I sincerely hope Mason can continue to make music as good as he does but without suffering for his art.

As for the other members of the Beta Band, two are currently involved in a band called the Aliens who have an EP out at the moment entitled Alienoid Starmonica with the infectious single “Robot Man” currently receiving plays on radio and TV. Listen below. And the carpenter turned bass player turned possible carpenter again is involved with one of the Aliens in another band under the title The General and Duchess Collins and you can check out their myspace page here.

King Biscuit Time - Izzum

King Biscuit Time - Impossible Ride   

The Aliens - Robot Man

The Beta Band - Dr. Baker

The Beta Band - To You Alone

The Beta Band - Broke

[Buy King Biscuit Time - Black Gold album]

[Buy the Aliens EP]

[Buy The best of Beta Band]

Related Tags:
The Beta Band
King Biscuit Time
The Aliens