Chapterhouse (band)

Chapterhouse
Chapterhouse c. 1991
Background information
Origin	Reading, England
Genres	Shoegazing, alternative rock, dream pop
Years active	1987–1994, 2008–2010
Labels	Dedicated, Cherry Red
Associated acts	Mojave 3, Slowdive, Cuba, Tunng, Biocom, Inner Sleeve, The Bikinis
Website	www.chapterhouse.info
Members	Andrew Sherriff Ashley Bates Russell Barrett Stephen Patman Simon Rowe
Past members	Steve Wren Jon Curtis

For the religious buildings, see Chapter house

Chapterhouse were a British shoegazing/alternative rock band from Reading, Berkshire, England. Formed in 1987 by Andrew Sherriff and Stephen Patman, the band began performing alongside Spacemen 3. They released two albums entitled Whirlpool (1991) and Blood Music (1993). After the band split in 1994, Sherriff later formed Biocom. The group temporarily reformed in 2008 after being asked to join Ulrich Schnauss onstage to perform his cover version of their song "Love Forever" at the Truck Festival in Oxfordshire. The band finished the brief reunion with two shows in London (2009-2010) and tours in the USA and Japan in 2010.

The band comprised Andrew Sherriff (born 16 May 1969, Wokingham, England; guitar/vocals), Stephen Patman (born 8 November 1968, Windsor, Berkshire, England; guitar/vocals), Simon Rowe (born 23 June 1969, Reading, Berkshire; guitar), Jon Curtis (bass) and Ashley Bates (born 2 November 1971, Reading; drums).

Chapterhouse took the unusual step of rehearsing and gigging for well over a year before recording even a demotape. Initially lumped in with the British acid rock scene of the time, a mistake hardly rectified by the band's early performances supporting the rather laidback Spacemen 3. Chapterhouse eventually escaped from one genre only to find themselves thrust amongst the shoegazing groups of the early 1990s (with Lush, Moose, Ride and Slowdive)

Bassist Jon Curtis left early on to study, being replaced by Russell Barrett (born 7 November 1968, Vermont, United States) who also fronted his own garage band, the Bikinis. Chapterhouse eventually signed to the newly formed Dedicated label, releasing a series of singles, including "Pearl", which featured guest vocals by Rachel Goswell of Slowdive and reached No. 67 in the UK Singles Chart.