Pale Fountains, The

Formed in Liverpool in the early 80s, these 60s-influenced melodic pop/rockers had an unusual instrumental line-up and were probably best known for wearing short baggy trousers.

Despite signing to Virgin this highly-touted group never really broke out of their cult status.

Their highest national chart position was #46 with Thank You in 1982.

Mick Head joined up with his brother, John, to form Shack from the ashes of the Pale Fountains. Shack signed with the independent Ghetto Recording Company and released their debut album, Zilch, in 1988.

Experts at the cleverly understated melodic guitar pop song, the band laid low until reappearing with a single in 1991.

Waterpistol was released in 1995 on the German independent record label, Marina, and the band called it a day shortly thereafter. The album was later re-released with new artwork on the Red Flag Recording Company label in 2007.

The Head brothers – along with bassist Ren Parry and drummer Iain Templeton – reformed Shack in 1998, releasing HMS Fable (1999) and reaching the Top 25 on the UK albums chart.

Parry was replaced by Guy Rigby on bass for … Here’s Tom With the Weather (2003). Wilkinson rejoined in 2005, replacing the departed Rigby.

The band signed to Noel Gallagher’s Sour Mash record label and in May 2006 they released the album …The Corner of Miles and Gil (which is named after two of the Head brothers’ heroes, Miles Davis and Gil Evans).

In February 2008, Mick Head reformed the Pale Fountains for two critically acclaimed live shows in Liverpool and London. The members of the reformed band were Michael Head, John Head, Martyn Campbell, Andy Diagram, Thomas ‘Jock’ Whelan and Iain Templeton.

Shack played together again in June 2010 at a charity event.

Michael Head
Vocals, guitar
Andy Diagram 
Trumpet
Chris McCafferty 
Bass
Thomas Whelan 
Drums