Venini

Infobox musical artist
Name = Venini


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Origin = Sheffield, England
Genre = Britpop, Indie rock, Artrock
Years_active = 1998 – 2001
Label = Bikini Records
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Current_members = Debbie Lime Russell Senior Nick Eastwood Rob Barton Danny Hunt Charlie Collins Michael Ash Nick Burke (Nikki Trash)
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Venini were a British guitar band formed in late 1998. They were formed by guitarist and violinist Russell Senior after his departure from Pulp, and also featured Debbie Lime (vocals), Nick Eastwood (bass), Rob Barton (drums), as well as help from Danny Hunt (keyboards). Charlie Collins of Clock DVA was a part time member on woodwind. Hunt's involvement ceased when his band Ladytron began to release records, and he was replaced by Michael Ash.

Gaining much press due to Senior's Pulp connection, the band's awkward, experimental brand of artpop was lauded by some but received lukewarm reception in the music press. They released just three singles during their lifetime - "Mon Camion" (1999), "Carnival Star" (1999) (both on the band's own Bikini Records) and the "Unshaker EP" (2000), which was available only via mail order from the band's website.

Senior himself left towards the end of the band's life, planning to take a more managerial role, and was replaced with Nick Burke (also known as Nikki Trash), but this new line up never came to anything and the band announced their split in 2001.

Lime and Ash formed a shortlived new band called Tokyo Lucky Hole after Venini's demise, and Ash now works as a sound engineer in Sheffield, and continues to work in experimental music, including a project with Charlie Collins called Cerberus. Lime went on to form KCasino. She is now married to actor Drew Rhys Williams and they live in London and run an experimental theatre company together called Labrat. She is also training to be a counsellor.Eastwood formed Hiem with former All Seeing I singer Bozz, which have released a number of well-received singles. Barton and Burke both play in the Human League's live band.

Russell Senior announced before Venini's split that he was quitting music to open an antique shop, but in recent years he has played guest violin with The Long Blondes.

Releases

* Mon Camion/ St. Tropez (June 21, 1999)
* Carnival Star/ Carnival Star (Version II) (November 1, 1999)
* Unshaker/ Exotic Night/ Hoboken (September 29, 2000)