Earl Brutus

Earl Brutus were a British indie rock band that emerged in the 1990s. They were formed in 1993 by Rob Marche, Jamie Fry, Nick Sanderson, Stuart Boreman and Gordon King

History

They were renowned for their chaotically raucous and visually entertaining live shows, which often featured unusual stage props, including messages and slogans that were displayed on revolving garage forecourt signs, written in neon lights or spelt out using funeral wreaths.

Musically, Earl Brutus's sound incorporated a diverse range of influences, including elements of early 1970s UK glam rock, the electronica of Kraftwerk, and the ramshackleness of the Fall. Their lyrics concentrated on the mundane side of modern British life while at the same time exploring its dark and seedy underbelly.

Despite receiving favourable press interest for the band's live shows, albums and singles, Earl Brutus failed to gain commercial success or widespread recognition and remained cult figures. Live shows were augmented by the presence of Shinya Hayashida in the band, who was employed to stand on stage and headbang or shout random abuse at the audience. They recorded a live session for Jeff Cooper (http://www.jeffcooper.uk) at Hallam FM for his 'XS' Show (later to become radio station Radio2XS) on 4 January 1998.