Catherine Wheel were a four-piece shoegaze/alternative rock band from Grea… Read Full Bio ↴Catherine Wheel were a four-piece shoegaze/alternative rock band from Great Yarmouth, England. The band was active from 1990 to 2000, experiencing fluctuating levels of commercial success, and embarking on many lengthy tours.

Catherine Wheel formed in 1990, comprising singer/guitarist Rob Dickinson (cousin of Iron Maiden legend Bruce Dickinson), guitarist Brian Futter, bassist Dave Hawes, and drummer Neil Sims. Hawes had previously played in a Joy Division-influenced band called Eternal. They took their moniker from the firework known as the Catherine wheel, which in turn had taken its name from the medieval torture device of the same name. The band was often included in the shoegazing scene, characterized by bands that made extensive use of guitar feedback and droning washes of noise, as well as their continuous interaction with extensive amounts of effects pedals on the stage floor.

The band performed a Peel session in early 1991 while still unsigned; two 12" vinyl EPs were released on the Norwich based Wilde Club Records, named after the regular weekly Wilde Club gigs run by Barry Newman at Norwich Arts Centre. They signed to major-label Fontana Records after being courted by both Creation Records and the Brian Eno-run label Opal Records. The band's debut album, 1991/92's Ferment, made an immediate impression on the music press and introduced Catherine Wheel's biggest U.S. hit, "Black Metallic," as well as moderate hit "I Want To Touch You". The album features re-recorded versions of some of the Wilde Club-issued EPs.

The more aggressive Chrome followed in 1993, produced by Gil Norton. With this album, the band began to shed its original shoegazing tag, while still making skillful use of atmospherics, such as on the song "Fripp." In a 2007 interview, Rob Dickinson said that members of Death Cab for Cutie and Interpol told him that without this album, their bands "wouldn't exist."

1995's Happy Days saw the band delving further into metallic hard rock, which alienated a portion of their fanbase, even as it increased their exposure in the United States during the post-grunge era. The single "Waydown," and especially its plane-crash themed video, received heavy play in the U.S. A more sedate strain of rock known as britpop was taking over in the UK, causing C.W. to continue to have greater success abroad than at home.

The B-sides and outtakes collection, Like Cats and Dogs, came out the following year, revealing a quieter, more contemplative side of the band, spanning the previous five years. This carried over into Adam and Eve in 1997, wherein the band scaled back the sonic force of their sound from its Happy Days levels, with clean playing on some songs that featured extensive use of keyboards and acoustic guitars. Alternately, songs like "Satellite" and "Here Comes the Fat Controller" were lush and orchestral in scope.

In 2000, Catherine Wheel re-emerged with a new record label, a new bassist (Ben Ellis); a modified name (The Catherine Wheel); and a new album, Wishville. After mixed reviews, record company turmoil and lacklustre sales, the band went on a still-continuing hiatus.

In March 2010, Ferment was re-released, containing bonus tracks and extensive sleeve notes.

Broken Head
Catherine Wheel Lyrics

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Step inside my head
See how much I see
Feel how much I feel
Just this once I will
Show you something good
A planet with no roof
The leading edge of truth
It's waiting up there

Broken head spilling air what an atmosphere
I really feel such a thrill
Broken mind come alive, imagination shines
I really feel such a thrill ooh ooh

A post euphoric grin
An astronaut I've been
Astronomic feelings
A face like luna, ah

Broken head spilling air what an atmosphere
I really feel such a thrill
Broken mind come alive my invention shines
I really feel such a thrill ooh ooh

Come into the big sleep
Donnez moi la grande surprise
Keep keep the vision clear
Come close and bring it near, it's the mother, the mother

Broken head spilling air what an atmosphere
I really feel such a thrill
Broken mind come alive my invention shines
I really feel such a thrill ooh ooh

Ooh ooh
Aah aah

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Catherine Wheel's "Broken Head" invite the listener to step inside the singer's head and experience the intensity of his imagination. The singer promises to show something good that awaits us, a planet with no roof and the leading edge of truth, which we can reach by exploring his mental world. The title of the song, "Broken Head", may suggest that the singer's head is damaged or dysfunctional in some way, but the lyrics depict it as a portal to new worlds and ideas, a place where imagination reigns supreme. The second verse emphasizes the cosmic nature of the journey, as the singer assumes the role of an astronaut, experiencing "astronomic feelings" and having a face like the moon. The chorus repeats the phrase "broken head spilling air", describing the release of ideas and creativity that comes from exploring the inner world. The song ends with a cryptic phrase, "Donnez moi la grande surprise", which is French for "give me the big surprise", and an invitation to "keep the vision clear" and "bring it near".

Overall, "Broken Head" is a song about the power of imagination and the desire to explore new frontiers. It celebrates the creativity that can be found within each of us and invites us to step outside of ourselves and see the world in a new light. By presenting the inner world as a planet with no roof and the leading edge of truth, the song suggests that there is much to be gained by exploring our mental landscapes, even if it means embracing the brokenness and imperfection of our own minds.

Line by Line Meaning

Step inside my head
Let me show you what's going on in my mind

See how much I see
Understand the depth of my perception

Feel how much I feel
Experience the intensity of my emotions

Just this once I will
I am opening up to you for a brief moment

Show you something good
Demonstrate an optimistic view

A planet with no roof
An open-minded, unbounded outlook

The leading edge of truth
The forefront of genuine knowledge

It's waiting up there
The unknown possibilities of the universe

Broken head spilling air what an atmosphere
My thoughts and ideas are exploding with a creative atmosphere

I really feel such a thrill
The excitement I feel from unleashing my imagination

Broken mind come alive, imagination shines
My broken mind finds inspiration to innovate and shine