We can confirm the rumours bouncing around the North Devon area that Reef will be
playing The Factory on Saturday 7th March as part of their 2015 UK tour with new
guitarist Jesse Wood.
Even though all 4 members of REEF had West Country connections, it wasn't until each
individual separately moved to London in 1993 that the band was born. Gary Stringer,
Jack Bessant, Kenwyn House and Dominic Greensmith ended up living together on the
outskirts of west London and using Gary's bedroom as their rehearsal room soon
started touting for gigs.
Within 6 months the band had attracted interest from many major record labels and
soon recorded some demo's, which although financed by Sony offshoot S2, were
released on 7 inch single using an independent mark during 1994. This single
containing the songs 'good feeling' B/W 'choose to live' was picked up on by Paul
Weller who offered the band a support slot on his 'wild wood' tour. REEF signed with
Sony S2 later that year and were flown out to New York to record a TV advert for the
then new technology of the Sony mini disc.
1995 saw REEF tour with Soundgarden and by invitation with The Rolling Stones as the
band built up a reputation as electric live performers. 'good feeling' was released
again, (this time through S2) and scored as the bands first of their 9 top 40
singles, preceding their gold selling debut album 'Replenish' which peaked at *9
in the UK charts.
In 1996 the band were able to show off their football skills as they entered and won
the 2nd SOCCER SIX CUP, seeing off competition from Blur and Oasis, before beating
Apollo 440 (the previous years winners) in the final. Work also started on the
follow up to 'Replenish' in the form of the 1997 release 'Glow'.
Produced by George Drakoulias, 'Glow' was recorded both at London's Abbey Road
studios and Sound City in Los Angeles. On the week of it's release 'Glow' went
straight to number 1 in the UK album charts and spawned the bands biggest hit 'place
your hands' along with 3 other top 40 singles. The album also provided a platform
for the band to tour all over the world as well as here at home, with REEF
headlining the other stage at Glastonbury festival alongside appearances at
Glasgow's T in the park and both V festivals.
In early 1999 Reef released their third album 'Rides'. Recorded at Ocean Way Studios
in Los Angeles (The Beach Boys 'Pet Sounds' and Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' were
also recorded here) and working again with 'Glow' producer George Drakoulias, the
band set about making a more expansive sounding record, swapping instruments on some
songs and adding new sounds on others (David Campbell the father of the American
artist Beck, for example added the string arrangements for this work). The album
reached *3 in the uk and contained the top 20 single 'I've got something to say'.
The autumn of the year 2000 saw REEF release their fourth studio album 'Getaway'
under the stewardship of a new producer, Al Clay (Pixies/Stereophonics). Although
critically well received, this album didn't have the same commercial success as
earlier REEF records but still made *15 in the album charts and included the upbeat
hit 'set the record straight'.
After successfully working 'Getaway' around the world for over a year REEF stepped
off the touring circuit and disappeared to the West Country to concentrate on
writing songs for a new record. Progress was leisurely, as REEF enforced their own
pace on proceedings at arms length from the record label in London.
During the last months of 2002 and reunited with George Drakoulias in Ocean way
studios, REEF recorded 5 of these songs to tape. Released in early 2003 alongside
the previous 9 top 40 hits and a cover of the apt Kenny Roger's song 'just dropped
in (to see what condition my condition was in) these recordings made up the final
REEF album 'Together'.
Each member of the band has pursued their own musical path in various guises since
2003, (STRINGERBESSANT/ BLACK SWAN EFFECT/ GOLDRAY/THEM IS ME amongst others) but
after over 6 years without playing as REEF, 2010 saw the band reunite for a run of
sell out shows throughout the UK as well as slots at Glastonbury and the isle of
Wight festivals.
In June 2012 REEF released an all-encompassing box set of the band's recorded work
through Metropolis Music.
In recent years the band have continued to play summer festivals and also added
another successful UK tour at the end of 2013 along with recording what would be a
last 2 songs with guitarist Kenwyn House at Distillery recording studios in
Wiltshire. Approached by film director Heidi Greensmith to write new material for
the forthcoming Vortex Pictures release "Winter", the band wrote the rock song
'Barking at trees' for the film and have backed it with the 2nd new song entitled
"you got it". Both songs will be released on 7'' vinyl and cd single during
November 2014.
Deciding to concentrate solely on his band "GOLDRAY' Kenwyn House played his last
show with REEF at Donington Park on April 20th 2014. Auditions were held in London
and Somerset that same month and in May 2014 it was announced that Jesse Wood (the
Ronnie Wood band/Faces/Red Racer) was to be the new guitarist for REEF.
The band played their first show together on May 31st 2014 at Wychwood festival in
Gloucestershire and have started work writing a new studio album.
REEF announce UK club tour for March 2015.
www.reefband.com
www.facebook.com/reefmusic
twitter.com/reefband
Tickets: £16.50 + booking fee www.thefactoryvenue.co.uk
Tickets: £16.50 + booking fee www.thefactoryvenue.co.uk
Age recommendation: All ages - under 16s to be accompanied by an adult.
Doors: Saturday 7th March 2015 - 8pm