Colours of One

Colours of One
Colours of One performing at Cardiff University in September, 2011
Background information
Origin	Bridgend, Wales, UK
Genres	Alternative, rock
Years active	2003–present
Labels	Rogues Gallery
Website	Colours of One
Members
Michael Simmonds Paul Jones Rhys Hart Matthew "Miff" Tuck Ben Hughes
Past members
Chris Dower Ben Humphreys

Colours of One are a five-piece alternative rock band from the surrounding areas of Bridgend, Wales. From the beginning of 2008 their line-up consisted of lead vocalist Michael Simmonds, bassist Chris Dower, guitarists Matthew "Miff" Tuck and Rhys Hart, and drummer Paul Jones; until summer 2011 when bassist Chris Dower parted ways with the band, to be replaced with Ben Hughes.

The band's name is inspired by a lyric in Incubus' song 'Redefine'. The line is "So modify this third rock from the sun by painting myriads of pictures with the colours of one".

History

'Evil i' and Kicks EP (2007-2009)

Having been dabbling in various musical projects during school, and playing a number of local gigs, after finding a steady line-up, the band was re-launched in early 2008 under the new name of 'Evil i', a play on the common expression ‘evil eye’; on the basis that much of the band's lyrics at that time were observational in the form of social critiques; and so the band was effectively acting as an 'evil eye'. 'Eye', however, was flipped to 'i', reflecting that social criticism must be accompanied by self-criticism as each individual cannot help becoming a product of their surroundings.

The band took their energetic and adrenaline-fueled live shows all over the UK, and throughout this busy year, the band continued to write new material to add to their next planned mini-album. In March 2009, the band decided that another name change was imminent, since they felt the name 'Evil i', whilst relevant to the lyrical material being written at the time, was misrepresentative of their sound, suggesting a more metallic and heavier sound than the band actually produced. The band eventually decided on the name Colours of One.

Colours of One and Bad News Makes Big Noise (2009-Present)

In 2009, the band set up an independent record label called Rogues Gallery Records, with the intention of allowing the band to keep control and legal ownership over all their own material and as a means to gain a wider release for their new mini-album, entitled 'Bad News Makes Big Noise'. The CD was released digitally on November 29, 2009, but after securing a distribution deal with Cargo Records in 2010, was physically released into stores across the UK and Europe on 17 May 2010.^[1] The mini-album received favourable press across numerous music sites,^[2][3] webzines and online music stores, and has been critically acclaimed by Classic Rock and Rocksound magazines. Tracks from the album have had considerable airplay on many radio stations all over the UK, including TotalRock in London, Ian Camfield's show on XFM and BBC Introducing in Wales with Bethan Elfyn.^[4] They have also been featured in Kerrang!'s Local Heroes section. They also featured in cult music & fashion publication, Disorder magazine, in February 2011.[10]

Colours of One have been playing extensively all over the UK throughout 2010 and 2011, playing alongside many up-and-coming bands such as Wales' Tiger Please, Straight Lines (band), Attack! Attack! UK and Dopamine (band) as well as Starseed (band)^[5] and Jurojin from London.

As of summer 2011, the band have started writing and recording material for a follow-up CD, with the working title "Anthemusa", named after the Island of Sirens in Homer's Odyssey. Songs from this upcoming release have started to appear in live shows throughout 2011, most notably 'Echoes'.

At the end of 2010, 'Bad News Makes Big Noise' was included in the BBCs "Top Welsh Albums of 2010",^[6] alongside Lostprophets, Bullet for My Valentine and Manic Street Preachers.

Members

Current

• Michael Simmonds - lead vocals
• Matthew "Miff" Tuck - guitar
• Rhys Hart - guitar
• Ben Hughes - bass guitar
• Paul Jones - drums & percussion

Former

• Ben Humphreys - bass guitar
• Chris Dower - bass guitar

Discography

Mini-album

• "Bad News Makes Big Noise" - Released 17 May 2010

EPs

• 2004 "Splinter"
• 2008 "Kicks"

References

^{[7] [8] [9]}

1. ^ http://www.cargorecords.co.uk/release/11594
2. ^ May, Phill. "New Releases News & Reviews". Rockmidgets.com. http://www.rockmidgets.com/releases.php?p=true&q=colours+of+one&id=4303. Retrieved 2011-08-08. 
3. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
4. ^ 00:00 (2010-09-16). "Radio 1 Programmes - BBC Introducing in Wales with Bethan Elfyn, Houdini Dax and Bright Light Bright Light". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tpp6y. Retrieved 2011-08-08. 
5. ^ About author Vivers. "Rogues Gallery presents… Colours Of One / Starseed / Firetone : Barfly, Cardiff : 09.03.10". The Joy Collective. http://www.thejoycollective.co.uk/blog/gigs/rogues-gallery-presents-colours-of-one-starseed-firetone-barfly-cardiff-09-03-10/. Retrieved 2011-08-08. 
6. ^ James McLaren. "Wales Music: Lostprophets lead your top Welsh albums of 2010". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/walesmusic/2010/12/lostprophets-top-welsh-albums-2010.shtml. Retrieved 2011-08-08. 
7. ^ http://www.roomthirteen.com/cgi-bin/feature_view.cgi?FeatureID=830
8. ^ http://www.roomthirteen.com/live_reviews/6904/Colours_Of_One_Attack_Attack.html
9. ^ http://www.roomthirteen.com/live_reviews/6706/Colours_Of_One_FeedMe_Music_P.html

External links

• Colours of One Official
• Colours of One on Facebook
• Colours of One @ Myspace