Hope of the States

MEMBERS:
Sam Herlihy (vocals/guitar)
Anthony Theaker (guitar)
Paul Wilson (bass)
Mike Siddell (violin)
Simon Jones (drums)

Chichester West Sussex doesn’t normally spring to mind as the birth place of modern bands, but Hope of the States have changed all that; Sam Herlihy (vocals/guitar), Anthony Theaker (guitar) and James Lawrence (guitar) grew up in this corner of England, and with Paul Wilson (bass) began playing their type of music in the late 80’s, early 90’s. Parlophone signed them, and they began recording their music at Abbey Road Studios. From their naïve beginnings, they later formed Hope of the States in 2000, the name coming from Albert Deutsch’s “The Shame of the States” (1948), a book shrouded in controversy which ridiculed the mental health system in the U.S. Their somewhat political outlook manifested itself in their use of military uniform, symbolising their bond with each other and their hatred of the lack of compassion amongst the human race. The band became a 6 piece with the addition of Mike Siddell (violin) and Simon Jones (drums), and the influence of Radiohead became all to apparent. The sell out limited edition “Black Dollar Bills” in the Summer of 2003 was a precursor to the festival season where the band played Glastonbury, Reading, and Leeds. Sony then signed them up and their second single “Enemies/Friends” got to number 25 in the Uk’s Singles Charts. In January 2004, tragedy struck when guitarist James Laurence committed suicide. Nonetheless, the band continued on course, playing the V Festival in August 2004 to great acclaim.

DISCOGRPAHY:
Singles:
Nehemiah
The Red The White The Black The Blue
Enemies/Friends
Black Dollar Bills

Album: The Lost Riots