The Shamen

The Shamen are an Aberdeen-based group active from 1986 to 1999. They begin as an experimental act rooted in psychedelia and indie rock before becoming associated with acid house, techno and the wider dance crossover between rock and electronic music.

Origins and early line-up

The group forms in Aberdeen in 1985 under the name Alone Again Or, before adopting the Shamen name. The original line-up consists of Colin Angus, Derek McKenzie, Keith McKenzie and Peter Stephenson. Their early work draws on 1960s psychedelia, with influences including Love, Pink Floyd and the 13th Floor Elevators.

Their first album, Drop, appears in June 1987 and reflects that psychedelic direction. By 1987, Angus is developing an interest in early house music and new studio technology, and the band begins combining rock guitars, techno, hip-hop rhythms and sampled voices into a more hybrid sound that influences later indie-dance acts.

Line-up changes and move into acid house

Derek McKenzie leaves in late 1987. Will Sinnott joins in October 1987 on bass and keyboards, which allows Angus to concentrate on vocals and guitar. The first recording to feature Sinnott is Knature of a Girl. The single Jesus Loves Amerika shows a stronger techno influence, and by this stage Angus and Sinnott are engaged with the acid house scene in London.

Keith McKenzie and Peter Stephenson leave after the January 1989 release of In Gorbachev We Trust. Angus and Sinnott then relocate to London and take part in the emerging rave scene.

Synergy, Phorward and early rave success

In 1989 the group launches the Synergy tour, a club-based live event combining performances by The Shamen and other acts with DJ sets, including appearances from Mixmaster Morris. The tour lasts nearly two years. That year also sees the release of the mini-album Phorward, described as an important acid house release.

The 1990 album En-Tact brings singles including Move Any Mountain, Hyperreal and Make It Mine. Around this time rapper and DJ Mr C, whose real name is Richard West, appears with the group and becomes a full member later on.

Will Sinnott’s death and commercial peak

In May 1991, while the band is in Tenerife filming a video for Move Any Mountain, Will Sinnott drowns in an accident off the coast of La Gomera. The group continues with the support of his family. Mr C is now a full member, and Jhelisa Anderson contributes guest vocals on the 1992 album Boss Drum.

Boss Drum includes the spoken-word collaboration Re:Evolution with Terence McKenna and the group’s best-known single, Ebeneezer Goode. The song becomes controversial because of drug-related wordplay in its refrain and lyrics, but remains at number one in the UK for four weeks. Other charting singles from this period include Boss Drum and Phorever People.

Later albums and recordings

During the Boss Drum era, the group issues a large number of remix singles, EPs and albums, including the Face EP, the S.O.S. EP, On Air and Different Drum. On Air presents live performances of material from En-Tact and Boss Drum as heard on BBC radio, while Different Drum consists of alternate versions of every track from Boss Drum. Singles from this period also include LSI (Love Sex Intelligence) and Re:Evolution.

In 1995 the band releases Axis Mutatis with Victoria Wilson James replacing Jhelisa Anderson on vocals. Early special editions include the bonus disc Arbor Bona Arbor Mala, an ambient album. The group continues into the late 1990s with a more experimental approach.

The penultimate studio album, Hempton Manor, follows a split with One Little Indian and is recorded in seven days to complete the band’s contract. The titles of its tracks form an acrostic reading “F**k Birket”, a reference to label founder Derek Birket and the band’s conflict with the label over commercial direction. Their last album, UV, appears in 1998 and is released independently, combining modern techno production with the group’s earlier song structures.

Style and legacy

The Shamen are associated with acid house, club music, dance, EDM, electronic and electronica. Their work moves from psychedelic rock into acid house and techno, and they become known for helping shape the dance/rock crossover. The membership over time includes Colin Angus, Derek McKenzie, Keith McKenzie, Peter Stephenson, Will Sinnott, Richard West and Victoria Wilson James.