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Gomez
On Tour190,317 listeners (3,147,898 plays)
indie, alternative, rock, indie rock, british… see all
United Kingdom (1996 – present)
Gomez is an English indie rock band. Their first album, Bring It On, won the Mercury Music Prize in 1998.
The genesis of Gomez was the meeting of four friends from Southport. Guitarist and vocalist Ian Ball and drummer Olly Peacock had previously played together in a local heavy metal band called Severed. They joined with guitarist / vocalist / keyboardist Tom Gray and bassist Paul Blackburn. Ian Ball met vocalist / guitarist Ben Ottewell (from Matlock Bath in Derbyshire) at Sheffield University, where they were both studying.
The band played their first gig together in late 1996 in Leeds without a formal name. The band left a sign out for a friend of theirs whose surname was Gomez to indicate that it was the site of their first gig. People saw the sign and assumed that the band’s name was Gomez - the name stuck.
The band started recording four-track demos in a garage in Southport soon after. A bidding war erupted when they sent the demos to recording labels, with the band finally signing with Virgin Records’ subsidiary, Hut, in 1997.
Gomez’s career trajectory has led to the band’s name taking on a new meaning. Also known as “Mercury Poisoning”, To “do a Gomez” now means to release a debut album so successful and to such unanimous praise that expectations are raised to the point where it is impossible to follow it. This is in reference to the fact that whilst Bring It On is still regarded as one of the best British albums of the late nineties, its follow-ups have met a mixed critical reception and disappointing sales.
The genesis of Gomez was the meeting of four friends from Southport. Guitarist and vocalist Ian Ball and drummer Olly Peacock had previously played together in a local heavy metal band called Severed. They joined with guitarist / vocalist / keyboardist Tom Gray and bassist Paul Blackburn. Ian Ball met vocalist / guitarist Ben Ottewell (from Matlock Bath in Derbyshire) at Sheffield University, where they were both studying.
The band played their first gig together in late 1996 in Leeds without a formal name. The band left a sign out for a friend of theirs whose surname was Gomez to indicate that it was the site of their first gig. People saw the sign and assumed that the band’s name was Gomez - the name stuck.
The band started recording four-track demos in a garage in Southport soon after. A bidding war erupted when they sent the demos to recording labels, with the band finally signing with Virgin Records’ subsidiary, Hut, in 1997.
Gomez’s career trajectory has led to the band’s name taking on a new meaning. Also known as “Mercury Poisoning”, To “do a Gomez” now means to release a debut album so successful and to such unanimous praise that expectations are raised to the point where it is impossible to follow it. This is in reference to the fact that whilst Bring It On is still regarded as one of the best British albums of the late nineties, its follow-ups have met a mixed critical reception and disappointing sales.
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See moreVideos
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Top Tracks
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See The World
full track
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How We Operate
full track
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| 5 |
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Get Myself Arrested
full track
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| 8 |
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We Haven't Turned Around
full track
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| 9 |
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| 10 |
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Whippin' Piccadilly
full track
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| 11 |
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Make No Sound
full track
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| 12 |
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Here Comes The Breeze
full track
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| 13 |
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Love Is Better Than a Warm Trombone
full track
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Hamoa Beach
full track
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Top Albums
Shoutbox
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FJRabon wrote:
the best "album" is 5 men in a hut. most material from gomez = best.
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recklssprincss wrote:
Lucky to have seen that! Main stage and Acoustic tent, Glastonbury 1998. Amazing!
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bob_average wrote:
god, i wish i could see them perform all of bring it on! that's my favourite album of theirs and they are SO GOOD live!
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daveando wrote:
I named my dog after you. Love this band
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Bowen72 wrote:
Lead singer's voice is very reminiscent of John Martyn...which is a good thing! Gomez have better melodies though!! ;)
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kilamunkyz wrote:
Gonna see them play all of bring it on in Manchester...will be amazing
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idlehollow-tank wrote:
Would love some opinions from music lovers http://www.last.fm/music/Barricades+Rise
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BrandedCow wrote:
Saw them open for Dave Matthews Band on the 9th in Tampa. I need to get some of this music, its really good.
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LacunaZero wrote:
Does anyone know what their setlist was for the Summerfest gig?
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TrePsycho wrote:
There is no point comparing their albums. They are all just good...none of them are better or worse then others. THANKYOU
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matthewgair wrote:
http://www.last.fm/music/Matthew+Gair
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idlehollow-tank wrote:
Would love some opinions from real music fans http://www.last.fm/music/Barricades+Rise
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lincredible wrote:
how we operate ≠ best gomez album. no more like this please lads - thanks muchly.
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idlehollow-tank wrote:
Would love some opinions from music fans http://www.last.fm/music/Barricades+Rise
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miablu wrote:
new songs added from an artist similar to Gomez. check it out.. http://www.last.fm/music/David+Loris
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idlehollow-tank wrote:
IS THIS THE UK's NEXT BIGGEST THING http://www.last.fm/music/Barricades+Rise or simply a great band
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mattyabsley wrote:
great band, time to go and get myself arrested :-)
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sergioforg wrote:
gomez is definitely one of the best groups ive never heard. i love catch me up
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tim2005 wrote:
No European tour this summer? Can't wait to see them live.
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cowkicker wrote:
how we operate = best gomez album. more like this please lads - thanks muchly.
Listeners
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brunofrank
Listening now
to We Haven't Turned Around… -
educesar
Listening now
to Stag O'Lee (BBC Radio… -
mousefitzgerald
Listening now
to Me You And Everybody -
Joephix
Top Listener
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atomicharcoal
Top Listener
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Razamatazz
Top Listener
Events
- Aug 28 Gomez The Plug, Sheffield, United Kingdom
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Aug
29
Electric Picnic 2008
Stradbally Estate, An Sráidbhaile, Ireland
157 shouts
| 469 attendees -
Aug
29
Hydro Connect Festival
Inveraray Castle, West Kames, United Kingdom
91 shouts
| 199 attendees
Recent Activity
- jeanniewong, Kachna_m, echobastard and 10 other people added Gomez to their libraries. 10 hours ago
- Arkytoothis tagged Gomez with ‘indie’. Wednesday evening
- Arkytoothis, hainezee, MissMorrelli and 1 other person added Gomez to their libraries. Wednesday evening
- discounter tagged Gomez with ‘alternative’. Wednesday afternoon
- tsliedrecht, Sarahdav and Erixer added Gomez to their libraries. Wednesday morning
- ep08 tagged Gomez with ‘electric picnic 2008’. Wednesday morning
- jess-jess-jess, sallsaaa, PC6700 and 3 other people added Gomez to their libraries. Wednesday morning
- JumbleJack created the Russian wiki page for Gomez. Tuesday morning
- Adere added Gomez to the lineup of Pukkelpop 1998 at @THE ZOO, kempische steenweg 106 hasselt. Tuesday morning
- kmunes, ktreu, Fuzzanova and 6 other people added Gomez to their libraries. Tuesday morning
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