Northern Uproar

Northern Uproar are an English rock band from Heald Green, Stockport. They formed in 1995 and initially disbanded in 1997. The band reunited in 2006 and are currently working on their fourth album. They released three albums and a number of singles, several of which charted in the UK Singles Chart. Their biggest selling single was the double A-sided "From A Window" / "This Morning", which peaked in the UK's Top 20 in February 1996.^[1]

Career

The band formed in 1995 with Leon Meya (vocalist, bassist), Paul Kelly (guitarist), Jeff Fletcher (guitarist), and Keith Chadwick (drummer). Still in their teens and without a recording contract, the band drew praise from the music magazines NME and Melody Maker, following several energetic live performances at the Roadhouse in Manchester.

After a bidding war, the group eventually signed with Heavenly Records and in Monnow Valley Studio in Monmouth they recorded songs with Manic Street Preachers' James Dean Bradfield as producer and Dave Eringa as co-producer.

The band released their first single, "Rollercoaster", in late 1995 and appeared on Granada TV. The track peaked at #41 in the UK Singles Chart.^[1] The group's next single, "From a Window", peaked at number 17.^[1] During this period of initial success the band made the cover of Melody Maker, and also appeared on the BBC TV programme Top of the Pops. At around the same time, Meya was featured in tabloid newspapers due to a rumoured relationship with the 1980s pop singer Sinitta.

In April 1996, Northern Uproar's self-titled debut album was released and the group toured the United Kingdom and Japan. In 1997, they began recording their second full-length album, Yesterday Tomorrow Today, featuring songs co-written with the band's guitar technician, Nigel Banks. This album was not as commercially successful as their debut effort.Although it was well received by the UK music press

In 1998 the band issued a fittingly entitled final single, "Goodbye", before parting company with heavenly records . The band toured Japan for a second time and recorded demo's for a third album . These remained unreleased however as the band split up in 1999 .

In 2004 Meya, and lead guitarist Fletcher, returned to the live circuit under the Northern Uproar name, with two shows in the Manchester area, performing both new and old songs. A reunion was mooted but nothing emerged in 2005. However, the band officially reformed in 2006 with Meya, Fletcher and Meya's cousin, Noel on drums. A new album, Stand and Fight, was released in July 2007, on the independent record label, Tiny Rebel, preceded by an album launch gig on March 14 at the Manchester Academy. A full UK tour followed. In October 2007 the band supported The Coral at the Oxford Carling Academy. They were invited after Meya met their frontman, James Skelly, on Channel 4's Transmission show.In addition to this the band performed at a number of festivals in southern Spain .A video including footage of these shows was released for the song 'Nothin' you can do'.

On the 27th May 2011 Northern Uproar headlined the 'This Feeling' Britpop night at The Vibe Bar London , tickets for the event sold out after it was featured in The Sun newspaper and the N.M.E .Leon Meya appeared on the Steve Harris show on XFM on the 26th of May 2011 , he spoke of the time he had spent living in Barcalona writing a new album and of the bands plans to release new material though the Soundcloud website ,as well as the possibillity of more live shows in the summer

On the 30th june 2011 Northern Uproar performed at the AAA Shaun Ryder + friends Exhibition , by the Manchester based Photographer Karin Albinsson . The band were featured in the exhibition alongside Shaun Ryder , Noel Gallagher, David Bowie, Howard Marks and others.

On the 8th July 2011 Northern Uproar played to a sold out Sound Control, Manchester as special guests of Rochdale based band Proud Mary (band) .

In September 2011 Leon Meya gave an interview to music blog Mr Scott:Music, where he gave an update about the recording of the new album, saying "The aim is to deliver an amazing album to the people who want it. We get asked at every gig when there's gonna be new stuff... so it's for those people!"

Northern Uproar have announced that their fourth album will be funded via Pledge music as well as anouncing more live shows.

Members

• Leon Meya (current)
• Jeff Fletcher (current)
• Paul Kelly
• Keith Chadwick
• Noel Meya
• Nick Harty
• Chris Gorman (current)
• Alex Stubbs (current)

Discography

Albums

• Northern Uproar (1996) - #22 UK
• Yesterday Tomorrow Today (1997)
• Stand and Fight (2007)^[1]

Singles

• "Rollercoaster/Rough Boys" (October 5, 1995) - #41 UK
• "From A Window/This Morning" (January 25, 1996) - #17 UK
• "Livin' It Up" (April 1, 1996) - #24 UK
• "Town" (June 1, 1996) - #48 UK
• "Any Way You Look" (May 1, 1997) - #36 UK
• "A Girl I Once Knew" (August 1, 1997) - #63 UK
• "Goodbye" (October 20, 1997)^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 397. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 

External links

• Northern Uproar's official MySpace entry