Part of the Britpop explosion, Shed Seven were formed in York in 1990 from the ashes of the band Brockley Haven. Comprised of vocalist Rick Witter, bassist Tom Gladwin, guitarist Joe Johnson and drummer Alan Leach, they entered several local Battle of the Band competitions and were signed to Polydor Records in 1993. Around the same time, Johnson left the group and was replaced by guitarist Paul Banks.
Shed Seven’s debut double A-side Mark/Casino Girl came out in early 1994 and was followed by Dolphin, which cracked the UK’s top 30 singles chart. The success of their third single Speakeasy led to TV appearances that greatly increased their profile.
By the end of 1994, Shed Seven's debut studio album Change Giver was released. Featuring a series of unapologetically upbeat rock songs, it peaked at No.16 on the UK albums chart and spawned the hits Where Have You Been Lately? and Ocean Pie.
Inspired by bands like The Smiths, Blur(Opens in new tab), Oasis and Morrissey(Opens in new tab), Shed Seven were also praised for their own sound, which showcased structured guitar melodies and soaring vocals.
In 1996, Shed Seven unveiled their follow-up A Maximum High, preceded by the lead singles Where Have You Been Tonight?, Getting Better and Going For Gold. The album got even stronger reviews than its predecessor, and the band spent the next two years touring the UK and Ireland.
Their third album Let It Ride was released in 1998, with the greatest hits collection Going For Gold following in 1999.
In the early 2000s, Shed Seven left Polydor Records, plus Banks departed and was replaced by Johnson, who had played with them in the early 1990s. They released their fourth album Truth Be Told with Artful Records in 2001.
Shed Seven announced they would split in 2003, after concluding a hugely successful tour to thank their fans that resulted in the release of their first live album, Where Have You Been Tonight? The band reformed in 2007 and went on a reunion tour that included each member of the line-up from throughout the years.
Shed Seven released their fifth album Instant Pleasures in 2017. Featuring their first new material in 16 years, the record peaked at No.8 on the UK albums chart.
In 2020, the band self-released the live album Another Night, Another Town capturing their performances from 2018’s headline show at Castlefield Bowl in Manchester and their 2019 tour. In late April 2021, Shed Seven announced they’d be celebrating that album as well as the 25th anniversary of A Maximum High with a UK tour in November and December 2021.
In 2023, Shed Seven announced their first studio album in more than six years with the release of A Matter Of Time set for 12 January 2024. The album will come out in the band's 30th anniversary year, and will follow a major headline tour planned for autumn 2023.
Shed Seven released the chart-topping Liquid Gold in 2024, reinventing some of their classic hits with an orchestra. To celebrate its release the band announced a series of outdoor shows for summer 2025, including TK Maxx Presents Scarborough Open Air Theatre on 14 June, Castlefield Bowl Manchester on 4 July and Millenium Square Leeds on 11 July.
