Kula Shaker

Kula Shaker

Kula Shaker are a London-based band formed in 1995. Their line-up includes Crispian Mills, Alonza Bevan, Jay Darlington, Paul Winter-Hart and Harry Broadbent. The group is associated with britpop, psychedelic rock, neo-psychedelia, raga rock and rock, and their sound combines 1990s Britpop with 1960s psychedelic rock, along with Indian pop influences and hard rock.

Career

The band first forms with Crispian Mills on vocals and guitar, Alonza Bevan on bass and vocals, Jay Darlington on organ and vocals, and Paul Winter-Hart on drums. Harry Broadbent later joins after Darlington leaves. Kula Shaker disbands in 1999 and later reforms, remaining active thereafter.

Recordings and reception

Their debut album, K, appears in the United Kingdom in 1996 and becomes the fastest-selling debut album since Oasis’s Definitely Maybe. It sells 850,000 copies in the UK and a further 250,000 in the US. The band also gains international top 40 success with the singles “Hey Dude” and “Hush”, and “Tattva” also reaches the top 40.

The second album, Peasants, Pigs and Astronauts, appears in 1999 but does not match the success of K, despite a slightly higher marketing budget. Later in 1999, Mills says the band is breaking up because of pressure from their label and a wish to move on.

Later activity

The group announces a further reformation in 2006 and begins by touring smaller venues in the UK while preparing an iTunes-exclusive EP. Their third album, Strange Folk, appears in 2007, followed by Pilgrim's Progress in 2010. During this period they also release a Christmas single.

Related work

Crispian Mills is also known for solo work and for his role in The Jeevas.