Audioweb
Audioweb are a rock/reggae/electronica band based in Manchester, England. They formed in 1991, originally as The Sugar Merchants.
Personnel
- Martin "Sugar" Merchant (vocals)
- Sean McCann (bass)
- Robin File (guitar)
- Robert "Maxi" Maxfield (drums)
Career
The lead vocalist Martin Merchant sings or 'toasts' vocals on their music. They scored two Top 40 hits in the UK Singles Chart - "Policeman Skank...(The Story Of My Life)", and a cover version of The Clash's "Bankrobber".[1] Famous admirers of the group were U2 and Ian Brown. Audioweb supported U2 at Wembley Stadium in August 1997. Prior to this Stadium gig they supported Cast at Glasgow's famous Barrowlands in March 1997. They also supported Madness at Madstock '96 at Finsbury Park, London. Audioweb released their material on the Mother Records label.[1]
The band split up in 1999. Bassist McCann played for Ian Brown and Badly Drawn Boy and releases his own music under the name Fellow Traveller; Maxfield has drummed for Ian Brown since 2001; File has been working with the singer-songwriter Finley Quaye; while Merchant's new Manchester band, SupaJamma have released 2 singles 'Madaboutit' & 'It's Alright', and mini album 'That Was Then, This is Now' mini album, on Stereokill Recordings in September 2011. Merchant is also the vocalist on the theme tune for the BBC show 'Rastamouse'.
Audioweb reformed in 2016. The band's first live performance after reforming was on 18 June 2016 at Manchester City FC's Etihad Stadium supporting the Stone Roses.
Discography
Albums
Track listing - 1] Sleeper (5.15) 2] Yeah? (4.00) 3] Into My World (4.20) 4] Faker (4.26) 5] Who's To Blame (4.05) 6] Time (4.18) 7] Jah Love (3.58) 8] Bankrobber (3.40) 9] Lover (4.30)
A UK special edition of the album included a live CD; the six song disc included live versions of "Yeah", "Into My World", "Time", "Lover", "Sleeper" (performed at the Reading Festival, August 1996) and "Faker" (as performed at BBC Radio One Sound City festival, held in Leeds in April 1996).
- Fireworks City (1998)[1]
Singles
- "Sleeper" (1995) UK #74
- "Yeah?" (1996) UK #73
- "Into my World" (1996) UK #42 US #10
- "Sleeper" (remix) (1996) UK #50
- "Bankrobber" (1997) UK #19
- "Faker" (1997) UK #70
- "Policeman Skank... (The Story of My Life)" (1998) UK #21
- "Personal Feeling" (1998) UK #65
- "Get Out of Here" (1998)
- "Test the Theory" (1999) UK #56[1]
References
External links
- Republic of Audioweb - unofficial Audioweb fansite
- Fellow Traveller
- Republic of Audioweb - MySpace page
- 'SupaJamma' Martin Merchants new band- MySpace page