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Rialto (band)

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Rialto
OriginLondon, England
GenresAlternative rock, Britpop[1]
Years active1997–2002, 2023–present
LabelsEastWest
China Records
Eagle Records
Koch Records (US)
MembersLouis Eliot
Jonny Bull
Julian Taylor
Past membersPete Cuthbert
Toby Hounsham
Anthony Christmas

Rialto are an English rock band formed in London in 1997. They released their self-titled debut album in 1998, followed by their second and final album, Night on Earth, in 2001. Their single "Untouchable" reached the top 20 in the UK Singles Chart.[2][3] In the summer of 1998, Rialto became the first ever UK chart band to release a single exclusively through the internet.[4][5][6]

Despite finding favour with music critics, with Melody Maker anticipating "a fairytale future of Oasis-like proportions", the band were famously dropped by their label East West, a Warner Music Group imprint, a month before the release of their heavily promoted eponymous debut album, denting the group's chances of major commercial success. Neil McCormick noted that Rialto were "among the most critically acclaimed and highly touted new groups to emerge" of the late 1990s, making "carefully crafted, Beatlesque pop, with an epic, cinematic sound and slightly sinister lyrics". The group gained a following in East and Southeast Asia, particularly in South Korea where their debut reached the number one spot in the album charts.[7][8]

Biography

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Rialto formed from the remains of the band Kinky Machine, who featured frontman Louis Eliot, guitarist Jonny Bull and drummer Anthony Christmas.[9] Kinky Machine released two albums: their self-titled debut in 1993 (Oxygen/MCA Records) and Bent in 1994. In 1995, the band signed to East West Records and released the single "London Crawling" which turned out to be the last release under that ame. The lineup for this last single saw a renewed band lineup, with drummer Julian Fenton replaced by Anthony Christmas.

Still signed to East West Records, Eliot, Bull and Christmas continued working on new material through 1996 and added bassist Julian Taylor, second drummer Pete Cuthbert and keyboardist Toby Hounsham to the linep. In 1997 released their first singles, "When We're Together" and "Untouchable."[9] The latter was re-released in January 1998 and cracked the Top 20 in the UK Singles Chart. Despite the anticipated arrival of their self-titled debut album, East West Records dropped them from their label, with China Records releasing the album on 13 July 1998 instead.[9]

A six-track EP, Girl On A Train, followed in 2000, receiving accolades from NME and Q magazines. By the time Rialto gathered to make a second album, Hounsham and Christmas had left the group, leaving them as a four-piece. The band released their second and final album, Night on Earth, in 2001.

Although plagued with bad luck in Britain, the band ultimately found an audience in East and Southeast Asia, notably South Korea, where they displaced Celine Dion's "My Love Will Go On" from the number one spot with double Platinum album sales for Rialto. The group's strong Asian following would see Eliot play concerts in Hong Kong and Singapore when he went solo in 2004.[10]

On 19th April 2023, it was announced that Rialto have reformed, and would be performing at the Shiiine On Weekender festival in November 2023.[11]

Post-band activities

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Following the band's original split, Eliot released his solo debut, the Everybody Loves You When You're Dead EP, in 2002, followed by his full-length debut, Long Way Round, on Iodine Records in 2004. In 2010, he released Kittows Moor under the name Louis Eliot and The Embers. Since 2011, Eliot has toured extensively as a full time member of Grace Jones's band.

In 2014, Eliot and Lily Allen teamed up to cover the late Tarka Cordell's "Shelter You" for a compilation album commemorating his life.[12] Eliot helped Cordell write the song originally and the chords echo Rialto's "Summer's Over".

Bull co-wrote the song "Friday Night" with Lily Allen at his studio in southwest Portugal. The song ended up on her debut album Alright, Still.

Toby Hounsham now plays keyboards for The Stranglers and Mungo Jerry.

In November 2023, Rialto played the Britpop and Madchester-focused festival the Shiiine On Weekender at Butlin’s Minehead Arena alongside acts like The Rifles, The Primitives, Sleeper, Martin McAloon and The Supernaturals.[13]

Band members

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  • Louis Eliot – lead vocalist, guitar, songwriter
  • Jonny Bull – guitar, programming, backing vocals, producer
  • Julian Taylor – bass, backing vocals and trumpet
  • Pete Cuthbert – drums
  • Toby Hounsham – keyboards (1997–2000)
  • Anthony Christmas – drums (1997–2000)

Discography

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Albums

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  • Rialto (1998) – UK No. 21
  • Night on Earth (2001)

EP

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  • Girl on a Train (2000)

Singles

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  • "When We're Together" (1997)
  • "Monday Morning 5.19" (1997) – UK No. 37
  • "Untouchable" (1998) – UK No. 20
  • "Dream Another Dream" (1998) – UK No. 39
  • "Summer's Over" (1998) – UK No. 60 [2]
  • "Anything Could Happen" (2001) - UK No. 85
  • "London Crawling" (2001)

References

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  1. ^ Alice Jones, "Laugh at Britpop if you will, but it was the unforgettable and glorious sound of my youth", Independent, 25 April 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  2. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 460. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. ^ "RIALTO | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com.
  4. ^ "Rialto become a house band". NME. 26 April 2000. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Caught in a musical web". BBC News. 6 July 1998. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  6. ^ "Pulp fiction". Lancashire Telegraph. 4 July 1998. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  7. ^ "Dropped from a great height". The Daily Telegraph. 11 July 1998. Archived from the original on 26 February 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Interview with Louis Eliot of Rialto". PopMatters. 27 April 2002. Archived from the original on 4 January 2003. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  9. ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (2000). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 330/1. ISBN 0-7535-0427-8.
  10. ^ "Rialto and Louis Eliot live". inspiracy.com. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023.
  11. ^ https://retropopmagazine.com/rialto-reunite-for-first-live-gig-in-over-20-years/
  12. ^ "Lily Allen contributes track to new charity compilation – listen". NME. 31 January 2014. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  13. ^ "Shiiine on Weekender Announces Full Line up for Eighth Butlin's Minehead Arena Festival 17th to 19th November 2023". 24 April 2023.
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