Bleach, BBC Radio 1 and dodgy sunglasses: the story of Star 69...
Here’s a blast from the past – me, a goofy kid with bleached blonde hair, caught forever in time thanks to a photo by the brilliant Julian Butcher. (Yes, that’s me second from the left, looking like I just missed the auditions for a Britpop boy band.) Honestly, I look like I was either about to join a punk band or sell dodgy knock-off sunglasses on Camden Market. Turns out it was the former – sort of, although I definitely bought a few dodgy pairs of sunglasses along the way.
Star 69 was a short-lived but memorable band formed in London in 1994, fronted by the magnetic singer-songwriter Julie Daniels. Julie, who at the time was married to musician Francis Dunnery, brought a sharp, heartfelt songwriting style that became the band's signature. She started the band with guitarist Richard Corden, who she’d recruited early on from an Ad in the Melody Maker.
The rest of the line-up came together through a mix of old friendships and good timing. My old friend Patrick Hannan 'Patch', best known as the drummer for The Sundays, signed on to handle drums for Star 69 and invited me to join soon after.
Our early days were spent shaping the band's identity at Studio Poisson, the recording space run by Patch’s brother Nick Hannan. Nick, a talented bass player and engineer in his own right, would later become a world-class front of house engineer, mixing for legends like Siouxsie and the Banshees. Back then, though, we were just a gang of hopefuls trying to bash out songs and get a decent cup of tea between takes.
We recorded a batch of demos at Studio Poisson that captured the raw energy and emotional punch we were chasing. Those recordings helped us land a deal with Organic Records, the independent label run by David Steele, formerly of Virgin Records. Our publishing connection through Chrysalis, and particularly the support of Jeremy Lascelles, played a major role in opening that door.
We released two singles in the UK, scored airplay on BBC Radio 1 (which felt like winning the lottery at the time), and even played the Reading Rock Festival – the kind of gig you dream about when you are sitting on your amp in a rehearsal room wondering if anyone will ever care.
In October of 1995, we packed our bags (and a frankly alarming amount of hair product) and headed to Los Angeles to record our debut album with legendary producer and engineer Don Smith, known for his work with Tom Petty, Keith Richards, and Cracker. Patch unfortunately had to stay behind in the UK to make another Sundays record, so we called in a bit of a drummer dream team: Brian MacLeod, Chad Fischer, and Denny Fongheiser all played on the album, each bringing their own magic.
Once tracking was done, the album was mixed by Tom Lord-Alge, who basically ruled alternative rock radio at the time, turning guitars and heartbreak into airwave gold. The final polish came courtesy of mastering wizard Eddy M Schreyer.
The album was funded by Chrysalis, once again with incredible support from Jeremy Lascelles. After a whirlwind of label meetings (and more bad coffee than I care to remember), we signed with Radioactive Records, the legendary label run by Gary Kurfirst, who had guided the careers of Talking Heads, Blondie, and The Ramones, to name a few.
Star 69’s story might have been short, but it was packed with great songs, endless laughs, a few questionable fashion choices, and a ton of heart. Looking back, it feels like the perfect snapshot of a wild, brilliant time when everything seemed possible, and sometimes actually was.
Produce Like A Pro
Bleach, BBC Radio 1 and dodgy sunglasses: the story of Star 69...
Here’s a blast from the past – me, a goofy kid with bleached blonde hair, caught forever in time thanks to a photo by the brilliant Julian Butcher. (Yes, that’s me second from the left, looking like I just missed the auditions for a Britpop boy band.) Honestly, I look like I was either about to join a punk band or sell dodgy knock-off sunglasses on Camden Market. Turns out it was the former – sort of, although I definitely bought a few dodgy pairs of sunglasses along the way.
Star 69 was a short-lived but memorable band formed in London in 1994, fronted by the magnetic singer-songwriter Julie Daniels. Julie, who at the time was married to musician Francis Dunnery, brought a sharp, heartfelt songwriting style that became the band's signature. She started the band with guitarist Richard Corden, who she’d recruited early on from an Ad in the Melody Maker.
The rest of the line-up came together through a mix of old friendships and good timing. My old friend Patrick Hannan 'Patch', best known as the drummer for The Sundays, signed on to handle drums for Star 69 and invited me to join soon after.
Our early days were spent shaping the band's identity at Studio Poisson, the recording space run by Patch’s brother Nick Hannan. Nick, a talented bass player and engineer in his own right, would later become a world-class front of house engineer, mixing for legends like Siouxsie and the Banshees. Back then, though, we were just a gang of hopefuls trying to bash out songs and get a decent cup of tea between takes.
We recorded a batch of demos at Studio Poisson that captured the raw energy and emotional punch we were chasing. Those recordings helped us land a deal with Organic Records, the independent label run by David Steele, formerly of Virgin Records. Our publishing connection through Chrysalis, and particularly the support of Jeremy Lascelles, played a major role in opening that door.
We released two singles in the UK, scored airplay on BBC Radio 1 (which felt like winning the lottery at the time), and even played the Reading Rock Festival – the kind of gig you dream about when you are sitting on your amp in a rehearsal room wondering if anyone will ever care.
In October of 1995, we packed our bags (and a frankly alarming amount of hair product) and headed to Los Angeles to record our debut album with legendary producer and engineer Don Smith, known for his work with Tom Petty, Keith Richards, and Cracker. Patch unfortunately had to stay behind in the UK to make another Sundays record, so we called in a bit of a drummer dream team: Brian MacLeod, Chad Fischer, and Denny Fongheiser all played on the album, each bringing their own magic.
Once tracking was done, the album was mixed by Tom Lord-Alge, who basically ruled alternative rock radio at the time, turning guitars and heartbreak into airwave gold. The final polish came courtesy of mastering wizard Eddy M Schreyer.
The album was funded by Chrysalis, once again with incredible support from Jeremy Lascelles. After a whirlwind of label meetings (and more bad coffee than I care to remember), we signed with Radioactive Records, the legendary label run by Gary Kurfirst, who had guided the careers of Talking Heads, Blondie, and The Ramones, to name a few.
Star 69’s story might have been short, but it was packed with great songs, endless laughs, a few questionable fashion choices, and a ton of heart. Looking back, it feels like the perfect snapshot of a wild, brilliant time when everything seemed possible, and sometimes actually was.
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