Reef (band)

During 1994 and 1995, Reef supported Paul Weller, The Rolling Stones and Soundgarden, amongst others.

Both the "Good Feeling" and "Naked" singles came from Reef's 1995 release, their now gold debut album Replenish. The album was recorded in the remote Cornish Sawmills recording studio and in a studio in Bath.

"We wanted our first album, Replenish, to be a really honest statement. Four people playing in a room and getting something that’s totally their own. It was recorded in the most basic way possible. Minimal room sounds. Up until recently, all I used for effects was a wah-pedal and I only used that on two songs," said guitarist Kenwyn House.

In summer 1995 came a four-track single release entitled "Weird". It was non-commercial and Reef had said it was aimed at fans. "Sunrise Shakers", one of the B-sides to "Weird", was later featured in snowboarding film Day Tripper, by independent film maker Christian Stevenson. Stevenson, known for his films about extreme and free sports, was later to direct a promotional video for Reef, for their "Sweety" single in 1999.

The follow-up to Replenish was 1997's Glow with the band using more varied instruments. Glow was produced by The Black Crowes' record producer, George Drakoulious and engineered by Jim Scott, in Los Angeles. It spawned the hit singles "Place Your Hands", "Come Back Brighter", "Consideration" and "Yer Old" which increased Reef's profile in the UK and abroad. On the week of its release, Glow went straight to number 1 in the UK Albums Chart.

"Place Your Hands", released on 21 October 1996, was Reef's most successful single to date, reaching number 6 in the UK Singles Chart. The song explains the grief that Stringer felt following the death of his grandfather and easing the pain of death. The video for "Place Your Hands", directed by David Mould, features the band members on pulleys and wires to create an energetic aerial display.

During their touring in late 1996, Reef were supported by Feeder, who were relatively new.

In early 1999, Reef released their third album, Rides, recorded at Ocean Way Studios in Los Angeles, used by The Beach Boys for Pet Sounds and Michael Jackson for Thriller. They swapped instruments on some tracks, with Stringer and Greensmith playing guitar and Bessant singing on one song. Working again with Glow producer George Drakoulias, the band also enlisted the skills of David Campbell (father of American artist Beck) for the string arrangements. Rose Stone of Sly and the Family Stone fame features as a backing singer. Jack told NME magazine that the album was showing a more mature side to Reef but they were still having fun, using slide guitars, and trying to achieve a "filmic" feel to some tracks.[2] The album was very well received by critics, but did not match the earlier success of its predecessor Glow.

The fourth album and most commercial work yet, Getaway was released by Sony in 2000, and was produced by Al Clay, who has also produced for the Pixies and Stereophonics. "Set The Record Straight" was the highlight of the album, and this track was also used as the theme tune for the BBC Television drama series Red Cap, starring Tamzin Outhwaite.

The "Superhero" single released in the same year, features a video of an impromptu gig held at Bessant's Hoxton Square flat, in London, in the summer of that year. Bessant was vacating the property and used the opportunity to hold a small gig with a select guest list, predominantly from the music industry. One notable guest was Andrea Corr, whilst also in attendance were BBC Radio 1, plus Kerrang! and NME magazines.

The third and final release from Getaway was "All I Want," a ballad, and substantially different from the first two releases. Despite good airplay on Radio 2, the single only peaked at number 51 in the UK charts. The video features the members of the band stranded in a drifting lifeboat, drawing straws for who would sacrifice themselves to save the others.

Late 2000 saw Reef facing legal action from the U.S. company South Cone Inc. for infringement of their trademark, Reef Brazil (as found on sandals and footwear), on the basis that T-shirts, and other merchandising such as stickers, caps and keyrings could cause confusion in the marketplace. The South Cone action failed on account of their mark actually being REEF BRAZIL rather than REEF, and because their primary business and reputation was with the sale of sandals and footwear. Also important to the outcome was the fact that Reef (the band) were using the T-shirts and other items as marketing for the band rather than trying to promote the T-shirts (or any other clothing, including footwear) as a commodity in themselves.[3] Reef (the band) were awarded £1000.

During 2001, after a low key tour supporting Texas, they took a long summer break, in North Devon, to write new material for their fifth album. The self-financed sessions were deliberately performed at arm's length from their record label and the music industry in general, and Reef enjoyed the opportunity to return to their earlier, more basic approach to making music. In an interview to the BBC, Bessant said "It's a harder sound, like when we first came out - a deep sound, heavy, I really like that."[4] Whilst they had a lot of new material, Sony forced Reef to only use around a third of this material as part of a greatest hits offering entitled Together - The Best of Reef released in January 2003. Jack Bessant denounced the complete lack of support from Sony and Kenwyn House called the release "a kiss of death."[5] Many fans felt the new material had been some of their best work for some time.

At the end of 2001 Reef played the Surfers Against Sewage Christmas Ball, in Bournemouth. They had previously played the SAS summer ball in 1995 in Newquay. In January 2003, their drummer Greensmith quit the band on the eve of a major UK tour, and as the greatest hits were released. He was replaced by the relatively unknown Nathan Curran. Curran had also drummed for Basement Jaxx, Lady Sovereign and Gorgon City It was on this tour that the Live DVD was recorded at Bristol’s Carling Academy. Around this time Reef also appeared on the BBC's re:covered programme covering Black Sabbath’s "War Pigs", which appeared as a B-side to "Waster", Reef's last single, and their only single on the Snapper Music record label.

Headlining the Falmouth Regatta Week, on 15 August 2003, was to be the final live Reef appearance, before the band split up. In total they have had eight UK Top 20 singles.

"Place Your Hands" remains a party and compilation favourite. Reef played a small parody of this for Chris Evans TFI Friday show in the late nineties, for a feature called ‘It’s Your Letters’. Evans claimed that the band had contacted him to stop playing the clip, as fans were apparently singing along at gigs, but these allegations were largely unfounded. However Evans later denied the claims stating he was misquoted. Indeed, the band had written to Evans, however Gary Stringer explained it differently, "We don’t want people to think that’s all we’re about" and went on "... he’s gone on telly and said we storm offstage whenever someone in the crowd sings that version of it. But no-one ever does sing that version. I think he thinks his influence and power is a lot more widespread than it actually is."[6]

They also played at the Reading Festival in 1999 and have had several appearances at Glastonbury Festival, and its local offshoot the Pilton Party held every year in September for local residents.

Reef took a long break from their constant touring. Stringer appeared at the Bristol Academy as a guest DJ on 28 February 2004.

On 3 April 2006 Martin Gilks, their former manager and The Wonder Stuff drummer, was killed in a motorcycle accident. He died aged 41, from internal injuries at St George's Hospital, Tooting, London. Gilks managed Reef with his brother Tank, alongside other bands, through their management company Furtive Mass Transit Systems. The original Reef line-up reformed to play three songs at the memorial in April 2006.

Stringer and Bessant formed a new band, Them Is Me. Other members include Jonas Jalhay on guitar (other bands: Lady Sovereign, Imma) and Nathan "Tugg" Curran on drums (ex-Reef, Basement Jaxx, Kano). Stringer and Bessant continue with their original roles as singer and bass player respectively. Having rehearsed in London over the summer, they played their first gig at the Sandsifter bar in Gwithian near Hayle, Cornwall, on 14 September 2007. After several low-key venues in Cornwall, they recorded some demo tracks at a recording studio in Monmouth. Stringer and Bessant have an acoustic project called "StringerBessant" with both musicians playing acoustic guitars. Their debut album Yard was released on "Xtra Mile Recordings" on 12 July 2010.

In April 2010, Reef had a reunion tour consisting of six UK concerts. The warm-up appearance at The Monto Water Rats in London, was their first in seven years. The band also performed at the 2010 Isle of Wight Festival, Cornbury Festival and Glastonbury Festival. They were supported on that tour by Irish band Young Aviators.[7]

On 7 August 2011, Reef played before the Community Shield final between Manchester City and Manchester United.

In May 2012 they played at Lakefest festival.[8] and on 29 July, Reef headlined the annual Steelhouse Festival in Ebbw Vale, Wales.

On 10 April 2014 Kenwyn House announced he would be leaving Reef to concentrate on working with his new band Goldray, and that his last appearance with Reef would be on 20 April. On 7 May 2014 Jesse Wood, Guitarist for The Ronnie Wood Band and son of Ronnie Wood was hired to replace Kenwyn House.[9]

In 2014, Gary Stringer and Jack Bessant (as part of their StringerBessant project) did a song with Czech pop-singer Anna K.[10]

From 21 August to 9 October Reef undertook a UK tour, culminating in a sold-out gig at the Guildhall in St. Ives, Cornwall. This last performance was recorded in preparation for a new live album and DVD. For several numbers, the band brought in a backing choir from The Academy of Music and Theatre Arts (AMATA) at Falmouth University. Glow producer George Drakoulias and Gary Stringer spoke to BBC Radio Cornwall about the tour for a spot on David White's morning show.

In February 2016 the band went on tour joined by keyboardist Andy Wallace and in March 2016 the band released the single "How I Got Over", debuting the song on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2. The single features a gospel choir recorded in Los Angeles and the video shows the band surfing in Cornwall.[11] Various backing singers are used on each subsequent tour.

In April 2016, the band were announced as the opening act for two of the Coldplay concerts in June 2016 at Wembley Stadium.[12] In April and May 2018, the group went go on a tour of the UK. On 4 May, the group released their fifth album, Revelation.[13] On 27 June 2018, Greensmith announced his retirement from the band, via a post on Instagram,[14] and was replaced live by Guillaume Charreau [15]