View source for The Sea Urchins

{{Short description|Indie pop band from England}}
{{other uses|sea urchin (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name                = The Sea Urchins
| image                 =
| caption            =
| image_size            =
| background          = group_or_band
| alias               =
| origin              = [[West Bromwich]], [[England]]
| instrument          =
| genre               = [[Indie pop]]
| occupation          =
| years_active        = 1986–1991
| label               = [[Sarah Records]]
| associated_acts     = The Low Scene<br />Delta
| website                 =
| current_members     =
| past_members        = James Roberts<br />Robert Cooksey<br />Simon Woodcock<br />Patrick Roberts<br />Bridget Duffy<br />Mark Bevin<br />Darren Martin
}}
'''The Sea Urchins''' were an [[indie pop]] band from [[West Bromwich]], [[England]] formed in 1986.<ref name="Strong">Strong, Martin C. (1999) "The Great Alternative & Indie Discography", Canongate, {{ISBN|0-86241-913-1}}</ref> They were the first band to release a single on [[Sarah Records]].
==History==
The initial line-up was James Roberts (vocals), Simon Woodcock (guitar), Robert Cooksey (guitar), Mark Bevin (bass), Bridget Duffy (tambourine, organ), and Patrick Roberts (drums).<ref name="Strong" /> Their first two releases were flexi discs given away with fanzines in 1987.<ref name="Larkin">Larkin, Colin (1998) ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Indie & New Wave'', Virgin Books, {{ISBN|0-7535-0231-3}}, p. 371-2</ref> Bevin left, to be replaced by Darren Martin.<ref name="Strong" /> Their "Pristine Christine" single was the first [[Sarah Records]] release, and is highly coveted among vinyl record collectors. With the following year's double-A-side "Solace"/"Please Rain Fall" they began to show more mod-rock influences.<ref name="Larkin" /> Both singles were successful in indie terms, but Sarah Records were unwilling to commit to an album, and Duffy and Martin left.<ref name="Larkin" /> Woodcock took over on bass, with James Roberts adding guitar.<ref name="Larkin" /> The band released one more single for Sarah ("A Morning Oddyssey" in 1990), but disagreements about the next single saw them move on to Cheree Records, who issued "Please Don't Cry" in 1991.<ref name="Larkin" /> The band split up in summer 1991.<ref name="Larkin" /> Two albums were subsequently released; Sarah Records issued a compilation of the band's material for the label, including the flexi-disc tracks, as ''Stardust'' in 1992, while Fierce Recordings issued a live album in 1994.
James Roberts, Cooksey, and Woodcock later formed the band Delta.<ref name="Lazell">Lazell, Barry (1997) "Indie Hits 1980-1989", Cherry Red Books, {{ISBN|0-9517206-9-4}}</ref> James Roberts, Patrick Roberts, and Robert Cooksey also formed The Low Scene.<ref name="Strong" />
== Members ==
*James Roberts (born 4 March 1968) - vocals, acoustic guitar
*Robert Cooksey (born 14 November 1969) - lead guitar
*Simon Woodcock (born 2 December 1969) - rhythm guitar, bass
*Bridget Duffy (born 28 June 1970) - vox organ, tambourine (1986–1989)
*Patrick Roberts - drums
*Mark Bevin (born 21 January 1970) - bass (1986–1987)
*Darren Martin - bass guitar (1987–1989)
== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
*''Stardust'' (1992), Sarah
*''Live in London'' (1994), Fierce
=== Singles ===
*"Pristine Christine" (1987), Sarah ([[UK Indie Chart|UK Indie]] No.&nbsp;11)<ref name="Lazell" />
*"Please Rain Fall"/"Solace" (1988) Sarah (UK Indie No.&nbsp;4)<ref name="Lazell" />
*''Recorded 30.10.88'' (1988), Fierce
*"A Morning Odyssey" (1990), Sarah
*"Please Don't Cry" (1991), Cheree
=== Compilation appearances ===
*"Cling Film" on ''The Kvatch flexi'' (1987), Kvatch
*"Summershine" on ''Sha-La-La Flexi 5'' (1987), Sha La La
*"Pristine Christine" on ''There And Back Again Lane'' (1995), Sarah
*"Pristine Christine" on ''Rough Trade Shops Indiepop 1'' (2004), Rough Trade
*"Pristine Christine" on ''CD86'' (2006), Sanctuary
==References==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* [http://twee.net/bands/seaurchins.html The Sea Urchins on TweeNet]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sea Urchins}}
[[Category:Sarah Records artists]]
[[Category:English indie pop groups]]
[[Category:Jangle pop groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1986]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1991]]
[[Category:People from West Bromwich]]
[[Category:1986 establishments in England]]