Felt (band) - History

History

Over the course of its ten-year existence, the band included classically-trained guitarist and co-songwriter Maurice Deebank (who left in 1986), keyboard player Martin Duffy and bassist-turned-lead guitarist Marco Thomas.

Felt recruited the services of Robin Guthrie as producer for their album Ignite the Seven Cannons, which remains one of the group's most popular albums. Deebank left the band after this album to pursue a solo career. The single "Primitive Painters" features backing vocals from Guthrie's Cocteau Twins partner Elizabeth Fraser.

With the arrival of Martin Duffy (later of Primal Scream), keyboards (especially the electronic organ) became a more important part of the band's sound, and they dominate the band's two instrumental albums, Let the Snakes Crinkle Their Heads to Death and Train Above The City (the latter not featuring Lawrence in any capacity except for naming the tracks). It was during this period that the band recorded Forever Breathes The Lonely Word and the follow-up Poem of the River.

In 1989 Lawrence declared it had been his intention all along to release ten singles and ten albums in ten years and, having done so, announced the end of Felt. After releasing their last album and undertaking a short tour the band split up. Lawrence went on to form Denim and, later, Go Kart Mozart.