The Music was an English alternative rock band, formed in Kippax, Leeds in 1999. Comprising Robert Harvey (vocals, guitar), Adam Nutter (lead guitar), Stuart Coleman (bass) and Phil Jordan (drums), the band came to prominence with the release of their debut album, The Music, in 2002. The band released two further studio albums, Welcome to the North (2004) and Strength in Numbers (2008), before parting ways in 2011.^[1]

Career [link]

The Music all met at Brigshaw High School except Phil Jordan who went to Garforth and began playing in 1999 as Insense. In 2001 the song Take the Long Road and Walk It circulated as a demo before being released by Fierce Panda as a 1000-copies-only single, a rarity from its day of release. Around this time the NME and Steve Lamacq were describing them as the best unsigned band in Britain. The band were quickly signed by Hut, who released their first EP You Might as Well Try to Fuck Me.

In 2002, following another EP (The People) they released their eponymous début album which reached #4 in the UK album charts. Their début single was re-issued as part of a two-disc set to promote the album, and reached #14 in the singles chart. Two further singles from the album, Getaway and The Truth is No Words reached #26 and #18 respectively. June 2003 saw them filling in for an absent Zwan on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival.^[2]

In autumn 2004, they released their second album Welcome to the North and the accompanying single Freedom Fighters, before touring with Incubus. August 2005 saw the band play at the dual-venue V Festival. In late 2006 they played a few UK gigs and subsequently posted on their site the video new song entitled, Fire, which would eventually be released on Strength in Numbers two years later. The site also featured a video for unreleased track Kill 100 by X-Press 2 featuring Robert Harvey.

The band signed a new deal with Polydor in 2007 and spent the rest of the year recording their third album with producers Flood and Paul Hartnoll.

During this time Harvey also revealed the reason for the band's extended absence. On The Music's official website, he told of his initial abuse of drugs in his mid-teens: "the addiction began to sit into its groove. At first it was a joy then later became a habit and a way of escaping". He later quit drugs, but around the time of the band's second album, had replaced the addiction with alcohol: "Drinking became the place to hide. I'd have a bottle of wine before 7pm, then go out and make a fool of myself. The next day was always panic and more questions it took a close friend to say to me 'Robert, you are depressed'". He sought help at the end of 2005, and undertook a program that included medication.^[3]

In June 2008, the band released their comeback single Strength in Numbers, and the album Strength In Numbers the following week.

In January 2010, the band began demoing material for their fourth studio album. The album was due for release sometime 2011.^[4] However, Harvey left the band in September 2010, and following a series of final farewell shows, The Music split up in August 2011.^[5][6][7]

Harvey has since gone on to work with The Streets, collaborating on the album Computers and Blues. Mike Skinner of The Streets and Harvey also released a Christmas song in December 2010, called Scrooge And Marley – I Don't Want It To Be Me.^[8]

On March 31, 2011, The Music announced a series of farewell gigs on their website. The band played three shows in Japan July 25–27. They then played Brixton Academy London, England on August 4, before bringing the curtain down on their career with two home town gigs at the O2 Academy in Leeds on 5 and 6 August.^[9]

On April 21, 2011 the band released the newest and final song of their career on their official website. "Ghost Hands" was recorded for their now scrapped fourth studio album sessions. Talking about the single lead singer Robert Harvey said:

"We love the track and it just seemed a shame to leave it gathering dust for ever. It's good to go out with something positive and new and we think it deserves to see the light of day. Hopefully the fans will agree - again we want to thank everyone who's been with us on this journey and look forward to celebrating an amazing ten years this summer."^{[citation needed]}

Following the end of their final tour, the band, in conjunction with Concert Live, released The Last Dance: Live which captures the gigs from August 4th and 6th respectively. A DVD of the latter will also be released.

Band members [link]

• Robert Harvey – vocals, guitar
• Adam Nutter – lead guitar
• Stuart Coleman – bass guitar
• Phil Jordan – drums

Discography [link]

Studio and compilation albums [link]

Singles and EPs [link]

• ¹ The People E.P. reached #35 on the UK Indie Chart.^[22]
• ² The Truth Is No Words single was released in Australia a double A-side with The People E.P.^[19]
• ³ Welcome to the North reached #3 on the UK Download Chart.^[22]

DVDs [link]

• Live at the Blank Canvas (1 September 2003)
• Welcome to Japan (18 July 2005)
• The Last Dance: Live (August 2011)

References [link]

External links [link]

• Official UK site
• Official US site
• The Music on Myspace
• The Music – Leeds Music Scene
• The Music at Allmusic
• Unofficial French site
• Adam Nutter Interview with Liberation Frequency June 08