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gmoneyguy · 05-18-2006, 12:42 AM

Steven, Richard, Colin, and Chris spent all of 1998 recording their fifth studio album, a release that reflected the band's move towards a more song orientated sound. At the time of recording, the band had no record deal, but later that year they signed to the Snapper/K-Scope label and in March of 1999, the album "Stupid Dream" was issued, supported by a lengthy tour of the UK, Italy, Greece, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, France, Poland, and the USA. The three singles taken from the album - "Piano Lessons," "Stranger By the Minute," and "Pure Narcotic" - all achieved mainstream exposure in the US and in Europe and appeared well placed in the UK independent charts and on radio station playlists. Although initially the album was such a departure that some older fans were unsure, it brought the band many new fans and went on to become the band's best selling and most acclaimed release to date.

The time spent looking for a record deal had not been wasted and only a few months after the release of "Stupid Dream," the band were ready to begin work on a follow up, recorded during the transition into the new millennium and completed in February 2000. With string arrangements provided by Dave Gregory of XTC, "Lightbulb Sun" built on the mix of songwriting, soundscaping, and rock dynamics of "Stupid Dream," but developed it into something altogether more intense and organic, a band confidently in control of their sound. The album was released in May, 2000, preceded by the single "Four Chords That Made a Million." A sold out show at the Scala in London began a short run of UK shows, to be followed later in the year by European festival dates and a major tour supporting Dream Theater.

The band continued to tour through the end of 2000 and the start of 2001, including their first major tour of Germany. A special double CD edition of the Lightbulb Sun album was issued in Israel and Germany, and in May, "Recordings," a limited edition collection of EP tracks and out-takes from the previous two albums, was released as the band's final release under their Snapper/KScope contract. In June 2001 the band played a short US tour, culminating in a sold out show at the Bottom Line in New York City. Shortly afterwards Porcupine Tree announced that they had signed a new international record deal with Lava/Atlantic Records.

In February 2002 Porcupine Tree's first ever line-up change occurred when drummer Chris Maitland departed after eight years with the band. The band welcomed extraordinary drummer and long term acquaintance Gavin Harrison to the line-up.

In March, as a major retrospective box set of the band's early work, "Stars Die - the Delerium Years 1991-97" was released, the band commenced recording their first major label album, drawing from a pool of 30 new songs written by Steven in the previous two years. Sessions took place in New York and London, with veteran engineer Paul Northfield (Rush, Ozzy Osbourne, Hole) and string arranger Dave Gregory also playing major roles in the making of the record. Mixing of the new album was completed in LA in May with Tim Palmer.

The eagerly awaited new album, "In Absentia," was released by Lava Records in September 2002 (European release Jan 2003). It was the band's most accomplished and complete work to date, featuring a much heavier sound on some tracks, but also some of the band's most beautiful and fragile works. The album received great praise worldwide and went on to become the band's best selling album shifting over 100,000 copies in it's first year of release, and charting in several European countries. The band also released a 5.1 surround sound version of the album, mixed by legendary Grammy award winning producer Elliot Scheiner, which went on to win the award for best 5.1 mix at the 2004 Surround Sound Music awards in LA. To promote the album the band undertook four tours of Europe and North America, including one with acclaimed Swedish metal band Opeth. On tour the new line up of the band was further augmented by additional touring vocalist/guitarist John Wesley.

During these tours the visual element of the band's performance was taken to new heights with the involvement of filmmaker and photographer Lasse Hoile, who created a dark and surreal visual counterpoint to the PT's music. The long promotional campaign for In Absentia ended on November 30th as the band played a homecoming show to a sold out London Astoria.

During 2003, Porcupine Tree also set up their own label and on-line store. The first release on the Transmission label was a studio session recorded for XM Radio, Washington, followed in 2004 by a recording from Polish radio in 2001. The band plan to use the label to issue a series of well recorded and packaged live and exclusive studio recordings.

2003 also saw the start of a lengthy reissue / remaster campaign, with many of the early albums expanded to double CDs. These reissues included a rerecorded / remixed version of the "Up the Downstair" album, and the reissue of "Stupid Dream" and "Lightbulb Sun" on Lava/Atlantic.

In early 2004 the band embarked on the recording sessions for an ambitious new Porcupine Tree album, "Deadwing", their second for Lava/Atlantic. The album takes it's inspiration from a film script (and hopefully later a film) written by Steven with his filmmaker friend Mike Bennion. With the album sessions completed in November 2004, and the band's total worldwide sales now approaching half a million units, demand for new music from the band was at an all time high, and increasing media coverage, word of mouth and fan-power continued to create interest in Porcupine Tree on a massive scale throughout the world.

"Deadwing" is scheduled for release in Europe and the US during the spring of 2005 as both a stereo and 5.1 surround sound album, preceded by the release of 2 singles, "Shallow" in the US, and "Lazarus" in Europe. The tour to promote the album commences in the UK at the end of March, and will continue throughout the year.

Discography:
[URL="http://sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=2175"]
Deadwing[/url]
March 2005
[URL="http://sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=491"]
In Absentia[/url]
September 2002
[URL="http://sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=4120"]
Stars Die : The Delerium Years 1991-1997[/url]
March 2002

Recordings
May 2001
[URL="http://sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=3590"]
Lightbulb Sun[/url]
May 2000
[URL="http://sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=3388"]
Voyage 34: The Complete Trip[/url]
April 2000
[URL="http://sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=1992"]
Stupid Dream[/url]
March 1999

Metanoia
December 1998

Coma Divine - Recorded Live in Rome
October 1997
[URL="http://sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=1740"]
Signify[/url]
September 1996

The Sky Moves Sideways
February 1995

Up the Downstair
May 1993

[URL="http://sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=3682"]On the Sunday of Life[/url]
July 1991

Also the re-release of Stupid Dream came out on the 15th.

05-18-2006, 12:42 AM	#3
gmoneyguy Remember you're unique Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Just like anybody else. Posts: 32,426	Steven, Richard, Colin, and Chris spent all of 1998 recording their fifth studio album, a release that reflected the band's move towards a more song orientated sound. At the time of recording, the band had no record deal, but later that year they signed to the Snapper/K-Scope label and in March of 1999, the album "Stupid Dream" was issued, supported by a lengthy tour of the UK, Italy, Greece, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, France, Poland, and the USA. The three singles taken from the album - "Piano Lessons," "Stranger By the Minute," and "Pure Narcotic" - all achieved mainstream exposure in the US and in Europe and appeared well placed in the UK independent charts and on radio station playlists. Although initially the album was such a departure that some older fans were unsure, it brought the band many new fans and went on to become the band's best selling and most acclaimed release to date. The time spent looking for a record deal had not been wasted and only a few months after the release of "Stupid Dream," the band were ready to begin work on a follow up, recorded during the transition into the new millennium and completed in February 2000. With string arrangements provided by Dave Gregory of XTC, "Lightbulb Sun" built on the mix of songwriting, soundscaping, and rock dynamics of "Stupid Dream," but developed it into something altogether more intense and organic, a band confidently in control of their sound. The album was released in May, 2000, preceded by the single "Four Chords That Made a Million." A sold out show at the Scala in London began a short run of UK shows, to be followed later in the year by European festival dates and a major tour supporting Dream Theater. The band continued to tour through the end of 2000 and the start of 2001, including their first major tour of Germany. A special double CD edition of the Lightbulb Sun album was issued in Israel and Germany, and in May, "Recordings," a limited edition collection of EP tracks and out-takes from the previous two albums, was released as the band's final release under their Snapper/KScope contract. In June 2001 the band played a short US tour, culminating in a sold out show at the Bottom Line in New York City. Shortly afterwards Porcupine Tree announced that they had signed a new international record deal with Lava/Atlantic Records. In February 2002 Porcupine Tree's first ever line-up change occurred when drummer Chris Maitland departed after eight years with the band. The band welcomed extraordinary drummer and long term acquaintance Gavin Harrison to the line-up. In March, as a major retrospective box set of the band's early work, "Stars Die - the Delerium Years 1991-97" was released, the band commenced recording their first major label album, drawing from a pool of 30 new songs written by Steven in the previous two years. Sessions took place in New York and London, with veteran engineer Paul Northfield (Rush, Ozzy Osbourne, Hole) and string arranger Dave Gregory also playing major roles in the making of the record. Mixing of the new album was completed in LA in May with Tim Palmer. The eagerly awaited new album, "In Absentia," was released by Lava Records in September 2002 (European release Jan 2003). It was the band's most accomplished and complete work to date, featuring a much heavier sound on some tracks, but also some of the band's most beautiful and fragile works. The album received great praise worldwide and went on to become the band's best selling album shifting over 100,000 copies in it's first year of release, and charting in several European countries. The band also released a 5.1 surround sound version of the album, mixed by legendary Grammy award winning producer Elliot Scheiner, which went on to win the award for best 5.1 mix at the 2004 Surround Sound Music awards in LA. To promote the album the band undertook four tours of Europe and North America, including one with acclaimed Swedish metal band Opeth. On tour the new line up of the band was further augmented by additional touring vocalist/guitarist John Wesley. During these tours the visual element of the band's performance was taken to new heights with the involvement of filmmaker and photographer Lasse Hoile, who created a dark and surreal visual counterpoint to the PT's music. The long promotional campaign for In Absentia ended on November 30th as the band played a homecoming show to a sold out London Astoria. During 2003, Porcupine Tree also set up their own label and on-line store. The first release on the Transmission label was a studio session recorded for XM Radio, Washington, followed in 2004 by a recording from Polish radio in 2001. The band plan to use the label to issue a series of well recorded and packaged live and exclusive studio recordings. 2003 also saw the start of a lengthy reissue / remaster campaign, with many of the early albums expanded to double CDs. These reissues included a rerecorded / remixed version of the "Up the Downstair" album, and the reissue of "Stupid Dream" and "Lightbulb Sun" on Lava/Atlantic. In early 2004 the band embarked on the recording sessions for an ambitious new Porcupine Tree album, "Deadwing", their second for Lava/Atlantic. The album takes it's inspiration from a film script (and hopefully later a film) written by Steven with his filmmaker friend Mike Bennion. With the album sessions completed in November 2004, and the band's total worldwide sales now approaching half a million units, demand for new music from the band was at an all time high, and increasing media coverage, word of mouth and fan-power continued to create interest in Porcupine Tree on a massive scale throughout the world. "Deadwing" is scheduled for release in Europe and the US during the spring of 2005 as both a stereo and 5.1 surround sound album, preceded by the release of 2 singles, "Shallow" in the US, and "Lazarus" in Europe. The tour to promote the album commences in the UK at the end of March, and will continue throughout the year. Discography: [URL="http://sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=2175"] Deadwing[/url] March 2005 [URL="http://sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=491"] In Absentia[/url] September 2002 [URL="http://sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=4120"] Stars Die : The Delerium Years 1991-1997[/url] March 2002 Recordings May 2001 [URL="http://sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=3590"] Lightbulb Sun[/url] May 2000 [URL="http://sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=3388"] Voyage 34: The Complete Trip[/url] April 2000 [URL="http://sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=1992"] Stupid Dream[/url] March 1999 Metanoia December 1998 Coma Divine - Recorded Live in Rome October 1997 [URL="http://sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=1740"] Signify[/url] September 1996 The Sky Moves Sideways February 1995 Up the Downstair May 1993 [URL="http://sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=3682"]On the Sunday of Life[/url] July 1991 Also the re-release of Stupid Dream came out on the 15th. Last edited by gmoneyguy; 05-18-2006 at 12:46 AM.