The Coral biography
The Coral are an English band formed in 1996 in Hoylake on the Wirral Peninsula in England. The band first emerged during the early 2000s (decade) and found success with their debut album The Coral (2002) and follow up Magic and Medicine (2003). The band continued to record and tour throughout the decade releasing the albums The Invisible Invasion (2005) and Roots & Echoes (2007).
In 2008, guitarist Bill Ryder-Jones left the band however The Coral continued as a five-piece. Their sixth album Butterfly House was released in 2010.
History
1996-2000: Formation and early years
Meeting at Hilbre High School in West Kirby on the Wirral Peninsula, the six friends would meet at each others' houses and the school music room where they would watch films, listen to music and play guitars. After leaving school they went on to jobs and university before quitting both to take up the band full time.
In 1996, Ian Skelly and Paul Duffy began jamming together using the name Hive. Ian's older brother James Skelly, Bill Ryder-Jones and Lee Southall joined soon after. The band briefly changed names to Oracle
before settling on The Coral and the line-up was completed with the addition of Nick Power who joined in 1998.
According to Deltasonic head Alan Wills he first encountered the band in a rehearsal room where they were playing pool. He thought they "looked cool" and decided to go and see them live. At that point the band hadn't released any records or have a fanbase.
The band started as prominent members of the Liverpool music scene, playing many gigs around the city. The Coral's distinctive musical style has strongly influenced many other of the Liverpool-based label's acts, including The Zutons, The Dead 60s and The Rascals.
2001-2002: Breakthrough and debut album
Hailed as the first English band of the "guitar group revival" the band released the critically acclaimed EPs
Shadows Fall,
The Oldest Path, and
Skeleton Key in 2001. Their eponymous debut album
The Coral, released in 2002, reached number five on the UK Albums Chart and was nominated for the Mercury Prize the day after its release. A successful UK tour and festival slots followed along with the singles "Goodbye" reaching number twenty-one in the UK Singles Chart and "Dreaming of You" reaching number thirteen. The single "Dreaming of You" was included in the United States sitcom "Scrubs" episode My Monster. The Coral also performed "Dreaming of You" live on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. In October 2010, on the eighth season of Strictly Come Dancing, Matt Baker and his professional partner Aliona danced a Quickstep to "Dreaming of You" as well.
2003-2005: Continued success and touring
After a hectic year they took it easy with recording yet again another critically acclaimed album
Magic and Medicine in 2003 reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart, once more followed with UK, European, American and Japanese tours and a one-off festival Midsummer Nights Scream held on the New Brighton promenade and held an impressive line up of the then hottest up-and-coming bands. Singles from the album, "Don't Think You're the First", "Pass It On", "Secret Kiss" and "Bill McCai" reached number ten, number five, number twenty-five and number twenty-three on the UK Singles Chart respectively. The single "Pass It On" was also included in the United States sitcom "Scrubs", in the episode My Turf War. Released in 2004. In certain editions it came as a bonus disc to Magic and Medicine. It's much darker than Magic & Medicine, providing a psychedelic trip of sound and crazy outlandish melodies and guitar riffs.
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