Pop group Beautiful South split

BBC Entertainment News

 

Pop group The Beautiful South - known for such melodious hits as Song For Whoever, A Little Time, Perfect 10 and Rotterdam - have split.

In a two-line statement, the Hull-based band, formed by former members of the Housemartins, attributed their break-up to "musical similarities".

 

"The band would like to thank everyone for their 19 wonderful years in music," the statement said.

 

The band's last album Superbi reached number six in the UK album chart.

But their most recent single - 2006's The Rose of My Cologne - barely bothered the singles chart, peaking at 99.

 

Known for their jovial melodies and darkly humorous lyrics, the Beautiful South were formed at the tail end of the 1980s by Paul Heaton and Dave Hemingway.

 

Their debut album, 1989's Welcome to the Beautiful South, reached number two in the UK and set the band's jaunty yet melancholy tone with such songs as I'll Sail This Ship Alone and You Keep It All In.

 

A Little Time - featuring original female vocalist Briana Corrigan - became their only UK number one in 1990.

 

The band's greatest success, however, came in 1994 with the release of Carry On Up the Charts.

A greatest hits compilation, it rode high in the album chart for several months and sold more than 1.8 million copies in the UK.

 

The same year saw Corrigan replaced by former supermarket worker Jacqui Abbott, who was herself replaced in 2003 by Allison Wheeler.

 

The band took a hiatus in 2001, during which time Heaton recorded a solo album under the pseudonym Biscuit Boy.

 

More recently, band member Dave Rotheray has formed his own group, Homespun, with vocalist Sam Brown.

 

Please pay your respects to The Beautiful South here!

 

 

I was never ever a fan... and I have a TERRIBLE story about Paul Heaton which makes it impossible for me to watch him with a straight face ;)

A shame really, they have had some great pop songs. :(

:( Don't Marry Her :wub:

To be honest they had run out of steam in the last five years.

 

The last single I remember of their's was "Manchester" which I thought was not very good for them.

 

Here is my favourite single by them performed in the appropriately intimate surroundings of a pub:

 

Old Red Eyes Is Back

 

I feel this is a great shame. I've always like The Beautiful South. Paul Heaton is such a talented songwriter and singer. Time and time again he has produced the goods with great singles and great albums. His solo project was also good. He's a very witty and intelligent guy. Their last album ironically titled 'Superbi' was also very good. The lead single 'Manchester' was superb with a great video. I've got a video and have heard suggestions that Paul Heaton will be reviving his solo career this time under his actual name. I really hope that is true.

They supported Robbie Williams's when I saw him last year but I got delayed and missed them. Only heard the end. Perfect 10 and Rotterdam are both brilliant :wub:

I was never ever a fan... and I have a TERRIBLE story about Paul Heaton which makes it impossible for me to watch him with a straight face ;)

 

can you post it or is it rude?

I feel this is a great shame. I've always like The Beautiful South.

 

why is it a shame, show em the money in about 5 years and they will reform. they always do :lol:

 

Paul Heaton is such a talented songwriter and singer.

 

wonder if he'll get any credits on the next James Morrison album :lol:

can you post it or is it rude?

 

mm...not rude as such.... vile, though.

 

He was booked to do Jools Holland's show quite a few years back... and he turned up at the studios absolutely obliterated drunk.... then got more drunk on the hospitality booze - and proceeded to $h!te his pants.

 

Unfortunately, he had no spare trousers... and after a frantic search for replacement trews, a friend of mine, who worked on the show at the time, had to LEND Paul Heaton his trousers for them to record the show :puke2: Apparently, Heaton's performance was fine, though, despite him being blasted :rolleyes: .

mm...not rude as such.... vile, though.

 

He was booked to do Jools Holland's show quite a few years back... and he turned up at the studios absolutely obliterated drunk.... then got more drunk on the hospitality booze - and proceeded to $h!te his pants.

 

Unfortunately, he had no spare trousers... and after a frantic search for replacement trews, a friend of mine, who worked on the show at the time, had to LEND Paul Heaton his trousers for them to record the show :puke2: Apparently, Heaton's performance was fine, though, despite him being blasted :rolleyes: .

 

 

legend

 

:lol:

Sad news, i liked them, and Paul's previous group The Housemartins.

I will look forward to hearing his solo stuff.

 

News article now up on front page.

Their best song was "Song For Whoever", never really liked them as a band, but Perfect 10 isa decent track

Yeah, Old Red Eyes is Back is easily their best record. In fact, I wish they had stopped after 'Carry On Up The Charts' instead of subjecting us to 13 years of tripe.

Sad news, i liked them, and Paul's previous group The Housemartins.

 

maybe they will reform now, seeing as Palookaville is now discounted to £2 :lol:

 

btw saw the picture of the band in the metro today, they look more like a Northern Pub Pool team than a popular music group, dont you agree?

My favourite from them is "Perfect 10"... great tune! I guess they weren't being successful with their latest efforts, that might have caused the split!

I guess they weren't being successful with their latest efforts, that might have caused the split!

Their last album 'Superbi' actually did quite well and charted at number 6. It has sold fairly decently as well. The lead single from it was the brilliant 'Manchester' which also had a really great video however, it sadly just missed out on the top 40 charting at number 41. The second and final single from the album was 'Rose Of My Cologne'. This had no video and no airplay whatsoever so it charted at number 96 however, despite both of these singles not doing very well, they have never really been a singles group and have always been more of an album selling group. They have also just completed yet another successful selling tour so they have always been successful.

I loved Rotterdam and Don't Marry Her. :D Shame about their split. :(

A very good late 80s/90s band, I remember Carry On Up The Charts being Number 1 for an age!

 

Perfect 10, Rotterdam and Song For Whoever are ace B)

 

I guess all bands have their day eventually though....

Ha! No chance of a Housemartins reformation if they want Fat Boy Slim back on bass!