Yan (Jan Scott Wilkinson) - Vocals, guitar
Noble (Martin Noble) - Guitar
Hamilton (Neil Hamilton Wilkinson) - Bass, vocals, guitar
Wood (Matthew Wood) - Drum
Phil Sumner - Cornet, Keyboards
Abi Fry - Viola
Yan, Hamilton and Wood are school friends from Kendal in Cumbria. They were in a number of bands together while at school, but after finishing his exams Yan moved to study at Reading University, where he met guitarist Noble. A few years later Hamilton and Wood moved down to join them and form a band.
They played some gigs and produced a 4 track demo in Reading as British Air Powers, before relocating to Brighton in search of a more vibrant music scene. "British Sea Power" was actually the name of one of these demo tracks, and was eventually reworked into Carrion. In Brighton, BSP amassed a strong local following, due mainly to their own club night called "Club Sea Power". The club nights featured many different support bands, and other forms of entertainment such as a 1930s fashion show, and were most frequently hosted at the Freebutt and the Lift (the latter has now closed down).
Their debut single, Fear of Drowning, was issued in limited numbers of their own Golden Chariot label. The artwork for the B side "A Wooden Horse" borrows heavily from the dust cover of the 1950 book "The Wooden Horse" that details the escape of Allied POWs during WWII. Geoff Travis of Rough Trade Records saw the band live and in September 2001 signed them to his label. A number of singles were issued on the label, and Eamon (Eamon Hamilton) was recruited to play live keyboards in autumn 2002.
The Decline of British Sea Power, the band's debut album, was released in June 2003 to critical acclaim. A single from the album, "Carrion", became the band's first Top 40 single. The album only charted in the lower reaches of the UK Album Chart, but turned out to be a word of mouth success, shipping well over 60,000 copies over the following two years and allowing them to play sell-out UK tours to venues of over 1,000 people.
The follow-up, Open Season, was released in early April 2005, and also enjoyed wide critical praise. It showcased a more accessible, produced sound and charted at #13 in the UK Albums Chart. Lead single It Ended on an Oily Stage charted at #18 in the UK Singles Chart a week earlier.
British Sea Power have a reputation for elaborate and well-thought out live shows and won the 2004 Time Out London Live Band of the Year award. The stage is often decorated with foliage and plastic birds and sets generally finish with a semi-improvised song called "Rock in A", which sometimes lasts for over 20 minutes. Various members often climb riggings and tear down the foliage, Eamon walks around the audience beating his marching drum, and a ten-foot bear, Ursine Ultra, occasionally makes an appearance - often taking a beating from various band members. This has become one of the signatures of the band. Their tours often include unusual venues such as the Scillonian Club on the Isles of Scilly, Grasmere Village Hall, the St. John Boste Social Club in Kendal, Cumbria and Carnglaze Caverns in Cornwall.
The band have built up an eccentric image in interviews and press releases; some of which is based on fact, other times merely whimsical building of outward personas. This has included giving journalists grid references at which to meet them, and expressing obsessions with Field Marshal Montgomery and bird watching.
The band has a fiercely loyal and devoted hardcore fanbase, sometimes referred to as the Third Battalion.
At the beginning of 2006, it was announced that Eamon had left British Sea Power to concentrate on his own band Brakes. The group spent part of late 2006 working on new material in Montréal, and are preparing a DVD.
In 2007, American Laundromat Records announced that British Sea Power would record a version of the Pixies' "Caribou" for an album called "Dig For Fire - A Tribute To Pixies."
In October 2007, the band went on tour throughout the east coast of America to showcase their new 5-track EP, Krankenhaus EP. In November 2007, they toured a variety of unusual locations in the UK including a seaside cafe in Saltdean, East Sussex; a ferry across the River Mersey, Liverpool; the Tan Hill Inn, the UK's highest inn; All Saints Church in Newcastle-upon-Tyne; and White Mischief, an indoor festival mixing live bands with unusual vaudeville acts.
Their Krankenhaus? EP was released digitally for purchasable download in October 2007 and was released on CD and vinyl on November the 20th. Their third album, Do You Like Rock Music? was released on 14th January 2008 in the U.K. and scheduled for release on 12th February 2008 in the U.S. Prior to their tour in support of Do You Like Rock Music? (visiting Ireland, UK, Belgium, Holland, Germany and US), Wood injured his back and had to be temporarily replaced by Tom White of Electric Soft Parade and Brakes fame.
In January 2008 the keyboard and cornet player ended up in hospital after being knocked unconscious when he attempted a stage dive. The crowd at Leeds Irish Centre failed to catch Phil Sumner, who jumped off a 12-foot PA system landing head first. The press department at Rough Trade Records reported "The impact knocked him out. Thankfully an ambulance was quickly summoned and he was whisked away, bloody and unconscious and despite a concussion, a broken molar and a maze of stitches in his chin, a very groggy Phil is expected to make a full recovery." In spite of this, he returned to the stage with the rest of the band a day later in Kendal.
In February 2008, the band appeared on Later with Jools Holland, playing Waving Flags, Canvey Island and No Lucifer. They were ably accompanied by a small number of the London Bulgarian Choir and a display of Cumbrian wrestling. The band are also scheduled to play at Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds, Latitude, T in the Park and Bestival.
In May 2009, British Sea Power released their fourth album, Man of Aran. Several tracks on this album are remakes of older songs, such as the main riff from North Hanging Rock which features in the new track Boy Vertiginous. The album comes paired with a DVD containing the Robert J. Flaherty film 'Man of Aran', a silent film with music from the album dubbed in.
In October 2010, British Sea Power released the seven track 'Zeus' ep and announced the release of their next album, 'Valhalla Dancehall' in January 2011.
In November 2011, the band started hosting a regular club evening in Brighton called "Krankenhaus" that recalled some of their Club British Sea Power events. DJ sets, friends of the band and general BSP hijinx.
On 9 August 2021, British Sea Power announced they were changing their name to Sea Power. In a statement the band explained:
"In recent times there’s been a rise in a certain kind of nationalism in this world – an isolationist, antagonistic nationalism that we don’t want to run any risk of being confused with. It’s become apparent that it’s possible to misapprehend the name British Sea Power, particularly if someone isn’t familiar with the band or their recordings. We’ve always been internationalist in our mindset, something made clear in songs like Waving Flags, an anthem to pan-European idealism. We always wanted to be an internationalist band but maybe having a specific nation state in our name wasn’t the cleverest way to demonstrate that. We very much hope the band’s audience won’t be affronted by this adjustment to the name. We’d like to make it clear that removing the word “British” does NOT indicate any aversion to the British Isles whatsoever. We all feel immensely fortunate to have grown up in these islands. Several or our songs are filled with love and awe for this place. We do love these lands. We all still live within the British Isles, but we are now just Sea Power. We feel the name change comes in part from the band’s audience – who at a good show will shout out, “Sea Power! Sea Power!” Maybe this name change has been there for years, shouted in our ears. It’s just taken us this long to realise – to hear what was there in front of us… "
Bad Bohemian
British Sea Power Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You realised each day you're growing old
And the future stretches out there between us
And we decide if we want it to be cold
But don't be a bad bohemian
Don't be a bad bohemian
Don't be a bad bohemian
It's sad now how the glass looks rather empty
The formulation of the elements makes you yearn
What's done is done, and there'll be no redemption
Just periodic tables to be learned
But don't be a bad bohemian
Don't be a bad bohemian
Don't be a bad bohemian
Don't be a bad bohemian
Oh, don't let us die
While we are still alive
Oh, don't let us die
While we are still alive
While we are still alive
Search every default payoff
Search out there looking chaos
We'll do it fast, we'll do it clean and true
Because you're bad, you're bad, you're bad
You know it, and you're bad, you're bad
Don't be a bad bohemian
Oh, don't let us die
While we are still alive
Oh, don't let us die
While we are still alive
Don't be a bad bohemian
Don't be a bad bohemian
Don't be a bad bohemian
Don't be a bad bohemian
Don't be a bad bohemian
The lyrics of British Sea Power's song Bad Bohemian are reminiscent of a midlife crisis - a realization of growing old while the world around us is losing its lustre. The first verse expresses this feeling, with the singer acknowledging that the future lies between them and their loved one, and they get to decide if they want it to be "cold." This line can be understood as a metaphor for their relationship turning stale or passionless over the years.
The chorus, which is repeated multiple times, is a plea to not be a "bad bohemian." This phrase can be interpreted in several ways, but generally, a bohemian is associated with an artistic, free-spirited lifestyle. However, the negative connotation of being a "bad" bohemian implies that this lifestyle is not conducive to a happy, fulfilled life. The song seems to be cautioning against the idea that living a bohemian lifestyle will solve all problems, suggesting that it is important to remain grounded and not lose sight of what is truly meaningful in life.
The second verse continues this theme, with the singer feeling sad about how the world appears to them. They are yearning due to the "formulation of the elements," which could be referring to the science behind everything, leaving little room for the mystery or beauty of life. They acknowledge that there is no chance for redemption, only "periodic tables to be learned."
Overall, Bad Bohemian is a song about the struggle of finding meaning and purpose in life as one grows older, and trying not to lose sight of what truly matters. It is a reminder to stay grounded and not let the pursuit of an unconventional lifestyle take away from the joys of life.
Line by Line Meaning
You said the world was losing all its lustre
You believed that the world was losing its brightness, beauty, and excitement.
You realised each day you're growing old
You understood that every day you are getting older.
And the future stretches out there between us
The future is ahead of us, and it exists as a possibility for everyone.
And we decide if we want it to be cold
We have the power to decide the future, whether it will be bad or good.
But don't be a bad bohemian
Don't be a person who ignores conventional rules and values, but does so in a harmful, negative way.
It's sad now how the glass looks rather empty
It's depressing that life seems unfulfilling and empty.
The formulation of the elements makes you yearn
The scientific explanation of the world makes you long for something more.
What's done is done, and there'll be no redemption
What's happened in the past can't be changed, and there's no way to make it right.
Just periodic tables to be learned
The only thing left to do is to learn about the chemical elements.
Oh, don't let us die
Please don't let our joy, hope, and spirit die.
While we are still alive
While there's still time for us to live fully and experience life.
Search every default payoff
Keep looking for the right solution or outcome, even if it's not the easiest.
Search out there looking chaos
Explore the unknown, the unpredictable, and the disorderly to find something new.
We'll do it fast, we'll do it clean and true
We'll do it quickly, efficiently, and with integrity and honesty.
Because you're bad, you're bad, you're bad
If you continue to act in a harmful or destructive way, you will be seen as a bad person.
You know it, and you're bad, you're bad
You're aware of your negative behavior, and therefore, you're a bad person.
Don't be a bad bohemian
Once again, the message is to not be a person who rebels against the mainstream, but does so in a harmful or negative way.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Jon Scott Wilkinson, Martin Richard Noble, Neil Hamilton Wilkinson, Abigail Helen Fry, Matthew James Wood, Phillip Harry Summer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mitrotsky
When this album first came out, I thought 'Praise for Whatever' was the best song. However, I was wrong. This masterpiece of art is nectar for my ears. From the intro, through every verse, to the outro. Absolutely magnificent.
Wander Almeida
I love it! Pure energy. Good vibes from Brazil.
Vinícius Alves
Such a beautiful song. Can't wait for the new album!
Eulálio
This can make me dance and cry at the same time
Lewis Slade
LOVE IT! TOTAL SEA POWER! YES!
Thiago Avila Borges
Great song. I love this band. :D
Justine S. Harrison
wanna listen to this on vinyl!
Susanne Kopp
Wonderful! Such a nice New Wave Sound. Simple great.
Hugo Herrera
Great song!!!
taliasparkle
Just amazing. Yan's got some serious dad dancing moves.