Catch (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Catch


Img_capt = Catch in Bangkok,Thailand
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = England
Genre = Alternative
Pop
Years_active = 1997–1999
Label = Virgin
Associated_acts =
URL =
Current_members = Toby Slater
Wayne Murray
Ben Etchells

Catch, famous for the 1990s pop song "Bingo", were an indie-pop group consisting of Toby Slater (vocalist and keyboardist), Wayne Murray (bassist and vocals) and Ben Etchells (guitarist). The band were signed to Virgin Records and released two singles - "Bingo", which reached #22 in the UK Singles Chart, and "Dive In", which got to #41.

History

Reputedly formed when Slater, Murray and Etchells kissed the same girl at a party; Catch were, in fact, formed from the ashes of Brattish, Slater's first band, formed in 1994/95, which also included Etchells. Brattish rehearsed the Catch material extensively, paid for by interested A&R men, but never gigged. Slater also was a driving-force behind the short-lived "Romo" movement in the autumn/winter of 1995, DJ-ing at "Arcadia".

"Bingo" was Catch's biggest hit, and resulted in the band appearing on "Light Lunch", "The Paul Ross Show" (performing three songs live), and many Saturday morning TV shows. Slater also presented some shows on MTV around this time. An album was quickly released in Indonesia due to the band's popularity there, but was never released in the UK due to Slater being unhappy with it at the time. The band visited Jakarta for a promotional tour and performed acoustically for fans.

Despite finding success in the Far East, the band achieved only one Top 40 hit single in the UK, and disbanded after completing their only album. A UK album was due for release, with different tracklisting to the Indonesian issue, but this was never released. It is not known whether the UK album was fully completed or not, a working title was believed have been "Victim Support".

Slater moved to Los Angeles and began a solo career. Returning to London he formed a group featuring former members of the UK band Salamanda, and began recording and gigging, under his own name. The Toby Slater Band released one CD single "Consumption" and other mp3s via the website, but gigging activity stopped in 2003. During this time Slater set up a discussion list to inform fans of the band's activity, which was still active fairly recently. [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/careinthecommunity/]

More recently Slater has formed a band under the name Kunta Kinte, but have now changed their name to Tough Love.

Trivia

In the early hours of August 31,1997, the video for "Bingo" was being featured on the ITV Chart Show on ITV before it faded out to be replaced by a news report giving the then sketchy details of the road accident that killed Princess Diana. It can be seen here. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qePrqKtnKNU]

Discography

ingles

* "Bingo" (#22 UK, September 1997)
* "Dive In"

Albums

* "Catch" (Indonesian only release - now out of print).

External links

Current Projects

* [http://www.toughloveband.com Tough Love]
* [http://www.kuntakinte.co.uk Kunta Kinte]
* [http://www.whiterussians.co.uk/ White Russians] www.myspace.com/whiterussians
* [http://www.myspace.com/aboycriedwolf Boy Cried Wolf] (myspace.com page)
* [http://www.tobyslater.com TobySlater.com]