Altered States (UK band)
Altered States were a London based alternative Dark Wave / Gothic / Rock band first formed in 1985 with the original members being Yig Hughes, Rob Ryan and Martyn Wimbury and were active in different forms throughout the period 1985-2006. They should not be confused with other bands sharing the same name as described on UK Festival Guides[1] website.
Formation, First Line-Up and Debut Releases[edit]
Altered States formed in 1985 when singer and guitarist Yig (Mark) Hughes was introduced to bass player Rob Ryan and drummer Martyn Wimbury in a pub in the east end of London. They played some initial gigs under the name Dark Asylum before changing it to Altered States in 1986. Hughes, who had relocated to London from his native Leigh in Greater Manchester, had previously released his own debut solo single in 1983 under the name Yig Yuze[2] featuring the tracks "The Face" and "The World Turns Too Fast" on his own label Nudge Nudge Records.
After a number of showcase gigs organised by their original manager, the band were signed to Ediesta, a sub-label of Red Rhino Records in York owned by Tony K[3] and part of The Cartel distribution network of independent labels, and recorded the tracks that were intended to become their debut album and two singles during a 14 day session in May 1987 at Alaska Street Studios in Waterloo, London, produced and engineered by Ian O'Higgins[4]. The first 12" single to be released from these sessions was "Lowlife"[5] (CALC 046) and included the B-sides "Walls and Fences" and "What's The Matter With Lucy?", the latter of which did not appear on the debut album "Is Anyone Out There?" (CALCLP 31) released shortly afterwards. Following a change of management between the release of the debut single and album, the band embarked on their first UK-wide tour to support the album release in July 1988 called the "Initial Encounters Tour"[6] and began to build a following in the Gothic and Dark Wave scene around the country, which culminated in a headline date at the Hammersmith Palais on the 16th of August.
As a result of a private industry showcase gig at Genetic Studios, co-founder and producer Martin Rushent offered to remix the planned second single release "Drowning Children" - a track also not included on the original 10 track vinyl album release - which was completed over the summer of 1988. However, by this point their record label Red Rhino was in financial trouble and finally went into receivership in December 1988[7], with the remix and second single one of the casualties of their demise. Despite these connections and discussions with other potential record labels, nobody was found who was willing to buy the band out from their Red Rhino contract.
The band continued to play live into 1989 and headlined for the Fields of the Nephilim in June, described by Push[8] in a Melody Maker live review on June 10[9] as "an incredibly physical performance" with "blunt power and stinging melodies". The band recorded one further self-funded demo[10] at Alaska Street Studios in 1989, produced by Johnny Milton, featuring the tracks "Revolution", "The Party's Over" and "Travelling Mind" in an attempt to obtain a new deal, but these only ever appeared on a demo cassette issued by the band. After the break-up of the original line-up, Hughes went on to form another three-piece called League of Nations[11] with bass player Mike Taylor and drummer Dave Thomas - who recorded one three-track demo in 1993, also in Alaska Street Studios and produced by Johnny Milton - while Ryan and Wimbury went on to form Pipedream[12] with Ade Emsley (guitar) and David Leverno (vocals).
Album Re-release, New Line-Up and New Material[edit]
In 1994 Hughes was approached by one of the bands former managers, who had gone on to run an independent CD mail-order business and had become aware of the continued interest in Altered States. Having traced former Red Rhino owner Tony K in Leeds, they had purchased the original master tapes of the 1987 recording sessions, which had not been sold as part of the assets of the label when they went bankrupt in 1988, and were planning to re-release the album on CD form including the Martin Rushent remix of "Drowning Children" and the bonus track from the B-side of the "Lowlife" 12". This duly appeared later in 1994 with the added sub-title "The Complete Alaska Sessions"[13] to mark the inclusion of the extra tracks, on the Primary Recording Company[14] label (PRC 31) and was distributed exclusively via the label.
As a result of the re-release and fanzine interviews[15] and reviews from publications in the UK and mainland Europe, Hughes decided to form a new live line-up of Altered States, which eventually featured Steve Williams[16] on bass and Des Connelly (of Jnr. Mansion Slags[17]) on drums. They made their live UK debut at The Marquee Club on Oxford Street in London on 18th December 1994, the set being filmed by their record label as a promotional item to send to live booking agencies in Europe. This lead in 1995 to the band playing their first ever dates outside of the UK, including the Indietours Festival in Germany that summer, plus further dates in Italy and Ireland. To coincide with these dates, the new line-up of the band recorded the first new Altered States material since 1989, resulting in a three-track CD single "Designer Reality"[18] (PRC 33) released on the Primary Recording Company[19] label, with an accompanying promotional video. The single also featured a second new track "The Absolute" and a re-recording of "The Party's Over" originally included in the 1989 demo cassette and later included on the Asylum Magazine[20] Issue 4 sampler CD. The tracks were again recorded at Alaska Street Studios and produced by Johnny Milton. Live shows continued into 1996 until both bassist Steve Williams left the band and the Primary Recording Company also ceased trading.
Third Line-Up and Second Studio Album[edit]
Hughes had already started working on further new material that was planned to become the bands second studio album around the time that the second line-up and record label ceased, but following a freak road accident while crossing the road near his Brixton home and suffering multiple leg fractures, worked stopped. Over the following years continued poor health and financial limitations meant work on the new material and developing a further line-up of the band was slow, but during this time Hughes started to work with both Andrew Proctor (bass) and Hunter Barr[21] (keyboards and rhythm guitar) who would join with Hughes and Connolly to create a four-piece line-up of the band for the first time. Two self-released promotional CD singles appeared - the 2001 "Xv.Iii.Mmi"[22] which was sold by the band during their tour that year, and "Dancing With Irony"[23], which was issued as a limited edition CD for their appearance at the Judgement Day Festival 2003 in Dornbirn, Austria.
Eventually released on their own label Smashed Up Music[24] in 2004, the ten-track CD album "Designer Gene Pool"[25] became the bands' second and final studio album. The album featured their version of long-time live favourite "Eleanor Rigby" and the track "Letting Go" was featured on the German compilation CD "Dark Awakening Volume 5"[26] in 2006. As Miranda Yardley says in her "Band of the Week"[27] feature in Terrorizer Magazine of September 2010 "All the trappings of the Altered States style remain, but somehow a new intensity evolved, and Yig’s voice seemed to have matured with wisened emotion. This line-up played some shows, but somehow appeared less committed than the previous incarnations. And thus faded away again, but leaving a trail of loyal fans clutching whatever product they could lay their hands on or afford (the debut album still sells for around £50-£80 on eBay!!)."
Discography[edit]
| Title | Format | Year | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Lowlife" | 3 track 12" single | 1987 | Ediesta Records |
| "Is Anyone Out There?" | 10 track vinyl LP | 1987 | Ediesta Records |
| "Revolution" | 3 track demo cassette | 1989 | unreleased |
| "Is Anyone Out There? - The Complete Alaska Sessions" | 13 track CD album | 1994 | Primary Recording Company |
| "Designer Reality" | 3 track CD single | 1995 | Primary Recording Company |
| "Xv.Iii.Mmi" | 3 track promo CD single | 2001 | self-released |
| "Dancing with Irony" | 4 track promo CD single | 2003 | self-released |
| "Designer Gene Pool" | 10 track CD album | 2004 | Smashed Up Music |
Members[edit]
| Name | Instrument | Years Active | Related Bands |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yig (Mark) Hughes | Vocals / Guitar | 1985-2006 | Yig Yuze, League of Nations |
| Rob Ryan | Bass | 1985-1990 | Pipedream |
| Martyn Wimbury | Drums | 1985-1990 | Pipedream |
| Steve Williams | Bass | 1994-1996 | Nine Day Decline |
| Des Connolly | Drums | 1994-2006 | Jnr. Mansion Slags |
| Andrew Proctor | Bass | 1997-2006 | |
| Hunter Barr | Keyboards / Rhythm Guitar | 1997-2006 | KnifeLadder |
References[edit]
- ↑ "Altered States". www.ukfestivalguides.com. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
- ↑ "YigYuze". Discogs. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
- ↑ "Tony Kostrzewa: Founder of Red Rhino Records". The Independent. 2011-10-23. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
- ↑ Inner sleeve credits on the album "Is Anyone Out There?" by Altered States (CALCLP31)
- ↑ "Discogs - Altered States "Lowlife" 1988". Discogs. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ From tour news section of Sounds magazine, 9 July 1988.
- ↑ "Dead Rhino - indie distributor in receivership" article in Sounds magazine, 17 December 1988
- ↑ "Articles, interviews and reviews from Push: Rock's Backpages". www.rocksbackpages.com. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
- ↑ Altered States, The Marquee, London - live review by Push in Melody Maker, June 10 1989.
- ↑ Credits from original demo cassette inlay, Altered States, 1989.
- ↑ Credits from original demo cassette inlay, League of Nations 1993.
- ↑ "Pipedream "About" page". Pipedream. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Discogs - Altered States, The Complete Alaska Session, 1994". Discogs. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Discogs - profile page Primary Recording Company". Discogs. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Lowlife Magazine Issue 7, Pheonix Hitch interview with Yig Hughes of Altered States, 4 July 1994.
- ↑ "Goth So White? | Black Representation in the Post-Punk Scene". Post-Punk.com. 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
- ↑ "Jnr. Manson Slags". Discogs. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
- ↑ "Altered States (3) - Designer Reality". Discogs. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
- ↑ Inlay notes and credits from Altered States "Designer Reality" CD EP (PRC 33) 1995.
- ↑ From original copy of Asylum Magazine Issue 4, 1995, featuring 15 track sample CD.
- ↑ "Hunter Barr". Discogs. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
- ↑ Altered States – Xv.Iii.Mmi (2001, Demos, CDr), retrieved 2021-10-03
- ↑ Altered States – Dancing With Irony (Judgement Day Special) (2003, CD), retrieved 2021-10-03
- ↑ From credits on inlay from original CD album copy "Designer Gene Pool" (sum002) 2004.
- ↑ "Altered States (3) - Designer Gene Pool". Discogs. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
- ↑ Dark Awakening Vol. 5 (2006, CD), retrieved 2021-10-03
- ↑ "Band of the Week - Altered States". Terrorizer. 2010-09-28. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
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