The Boo Radleys

The Boo Radleys

The Boo Radleys are a British alternative rock group from Wallasey, United Kingdom, formed in 1988. Their line-up includes Sice, Martin Carr, Tim Brown, Rob Cieka and Steve Hewitt. The band is associated with alternative rock, britpop, dream pop, indie rock, neo-psychedelia and psychedelic pop, and they are also linked with shoegaze, indie and indie pop.

Origins and name

The group takes its name from Boo Radley, the reclusive character in Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird. They begin as an experimental indie band and are briefly associated with the Britpop movement.

Early releases and line-up changes

The original line-up features singer and guitarist Sice, guitarist and songwriter Martin Carr, bassist Timothy Brown and drummer Steve Hewitt. After the band's first release, the rare Ichabod and I, Hewitt is replaced by Rob Cieka.

In 1992 the band releases Everything's Alright Forever. Their 1993 album Giant Steps brings them to a wider audience in the UK and is released on Creation Records, alongside acts such as The Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream and My Bloody Valentine.

Later career

Wake Up! appears in 1995 and receives critical praise, although the band does not break through in the United States and is later dropped by its US label, Columbia. During this period, Sice releases a solo album, First Fruits, under the name Eggman.

The band then releases the heavier C'mon Kids in 1996. It splits in 1999, a few months after Kingsize is released.

After the band

After the split, Martin Carr forms Brave Captain and releases several albums. Sice later forms Paperlung in 2005, despite having previously said he would never play again.