Shed Seven

Shed Seven formed in York (England) in 1990 with frontman Rick Witter, Joe Johnson on guitar and keyboards, bassist Tom Gladwin and drummer Alan Leach. Johnson was later replaced by guitarist and songwriter Paul Banks.

Their live shows attracted favourable press attention with complimentary comparisons to The Smiths, ultimately leading to a six-album deal with Polydor Records in October 1993.

Debut single, Mark, was released in March 1994 but failed to make the UK Top 40. The follow-up single, Dolphin (June 1994) peaked at #28 and brought about Shed Seven’s first Top of the Pops appearance. Their third single, Speakeasy, entered the UK charts at #24 and gave them their biggest hit to date.

The band released their debut album, Change Giver, in September 1994, producing three Top 40 singles. The high point for Shed Seven came with their seventh single, Going For Gold, which entered the UK chart at #8. A sold-out thirteen-date Autumn tour followed.

Throughout the 90s the band released two more studio albums – A Maximum High (1996) and Let It Ride (1998) – along with a greatest hits compilation, Going For Gold (1999) which featured brand new songs Disco Down and High Hopes.

Paul Banks departed in December 1999, with the band citing “musical differences” for the split. He was eventually replaced by original guitarist Joe Johnson, while part-time keyboardist Fraser Smith was also added to the permanent line-up in time for their fourth studio album, Truth Be Told (2001), which spawned the singles Cry For Help and Step Inside Your Love.

Shed Seven returned to the charts in 2003 with Why Can’t I Be You? which reached #23 but proved to be their last single release and the band announced their split via a statement issued through the official Shed Seven website on 23 November 2003.

Since 2007, Shed Seven have sporadically reformed for reunion concerts and recorded a new album in 2017 (Instant Pleasures).