The Loft notched up an impressive list of firsts as Creation Records’ artists back in the mid-80s. The first Creation band on TV, the first to top the independent singles chart, the first to be invited on to a major UK tour, and the first Creation band to record a coveted BBC radio session – for Janice Long’s Radio One show in 1984. Then they infamously split up mid-song, at the Hammersmith Palais, in front of 3,000 people, on the threshold of serious success.
Now the band is reunited; as their status as one of the UK’s most influential guitar bands of the 80s continues to grow and to influence a host of younger artists. Thirty nine years after that acrimonious split, it seemed the time was right to record their debut album. ‘Dr Clarke’ is the first single from it, released today, and this is the first opportunity to view its video.
‘I love how Ruth (Tidmarsh)’s video has captured the seriousness, closeness, and the enjoyment we all had making the record. The song itself is about any one of those slightly dubious charismatic types who manage to get people doing things they maybe don’t actually want to do’. (Pete Astor)
Last year, after selling out show London’s MOTH club and a heralded appearance at the Glas-Goes Pop festival, the group was invited by BBC 6 Music’s ‘Riley & Coe’ to record its fourth BBC session, at Maida Vale’s famous Studio 4. Within six months the session was rush released by Precious Recordings of London on glorious ten inch vinyl.
Enter Hamburg-based Tapete Records who, hearing rumours about new Loft material, snapped up the album, and signed the band without hearing a single note.
The album was recorded in August in Hackney at Famous Times, produced by Dexys’ Sean Read with the original Loft line up of Pete Astor (guitar /vocals) Andy Strickland (guitar), Bill Prince (bass) and Dave Morgan (drums).
The ten song collection Everything Changes, Everything Stays The Same is released by Tapete on 14th March, 2025 (CD/LP/DD). The band tours the UK in March. Preorder and tickets here.
Bucketfull Of Brains 