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.

Indigo Is Blue
Catherine Wheel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Up from the place where I start
Is a message that you bring
Dashed aside and torn apart
Apologizing as I rise

Sometimes I fade away
Sometimes I fade away
Sometimes I fade away

Sometimes

The shame
I'm never really what I say
I'm looking 'round for something new
To chase the eagerness away
I use the energy to stay
Slowly falling as I fade

Indigo is blue
Indigo is blue

Sometimes I fade away
Sometimes I fade away
Sometimes I fade away

Sometimes I fade away
I fade away

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Catherine Wheel's song "Indigo Is Blue" depict a sense of inner turmoil and conflict. It implies that the singer finds it challenging to keep up with life's demands and expectations, as demonstrated by the lines "The shame/I'm never really what I say." The message they receive from someone, arguably a lover or friend, is cast aside, and the guilt that comes with it lingers, "Apologizing as I rise."

The chorus, "Sometimes I fade away," serves as a reflection of the emotions the singer experiences. He/she feels lost, restless, and as if they are vanishing away. The song's title, "Indigo Is Blue," is repeated throughout, emphasizing that despite the conflicts within, the singer's feelings will always remain true and authentic. Even though indigo is a color that can be misunderstood or labeled as something else, the song implies that no matter what people may perceive, the color is blue, and the singer is what they are.

Overall, the lyrics of "Indigo Is Blue" may signify different things depending on the listener's perspective. However, the song is a testament to the fact that internal struggles, guilt, and remorse are elements that exist in all humans regardless of their background, status, or talent.

Line by Line Meaning

Up from the place where I start
Starting from where I am, rising up

Is a message that you bring
There is a message that you bring and convey to me

Dashed aside and torn apart
Rejected and broken into pieces

Apologizing as I rise
Expressing regret while trying to improve and ascend

Sometimes I fade away
Occasionally, I lose my sense of self and disappear

The shame
The guilt that I carry with me

I'm never really what I say
I am not always truthful or authentic

I'm looking 'round for something new
Searching for novelty and change

To chase the eagerness away
To replace the excitement with something more calm or dull

I use the energy to stay
I utilize my strength to persevere and not give up

Slowly falling as I fade
Gradually declining and disappearing