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.

Salt
Catherine Wheel Lyrics

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Oh safe towards yourself
She wants you with all your heart

Between the always spinning rides
I slowly roll and seem to fly
The taste of salt and spinning ice
The taste of you it brings me high

We miss your shine
It's always time
It's always time
Oh we're only salt
We're only salt
We're only salt

It always felt like suicide
It always takes my life inside
To say I might, to say I will
The hardest part the heart is real

We miss your shine
It's only time
It's only time
It's only salt
It's only seas
It's only time

It's only time
I want to see myself in time
We miss your shine

It's only time
It's only time

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Catherine Wheel's "Salt" suggest a dichotomy between the singer's desire to be true to themselves and another's wish for them to conform. "Oh safe towards yourself, she wants you with all your heart" appears to be the singer urging the listener to stay true to themselves while someone else is hoping for them to change in some way. The image of spinning rides enhances this feeling of disorientation and lack of control in the situation. Meanwhile, the taste of salt and spinning ice produces a sensation of being high or exhilarated, implying that there is a certain thrill to be found in these uncertain moments.

The following verse delves deeper into the singer's emotions, revealing that these moments of uncertainty always feel like suicide and take a toll on their wellbeing. Despite this, they express a desire to push through the fear and make a decision. "To say I might, to say I will, the hardest part the heart is real" suggests that making a choice is difficult precisely because it requires tapping into one's emotions and confronting one's deepest fears. The repeated refrain "we miss your shine" adds a bittersweet note to the song, indicating that something positive has been lost but also holding out hope that it can be regained in time.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh safe towards yourself
Be safe and secure in who you are

She wants you with all your heart
She deeply desires you

Between the always spinning rides
Amidst the constant chaos and unpredictability of life

I slowly roll and seem to fly
I move forward calmly and effortlessly

The taste of salt and spinning ice
The bitter and cold realities of life

The taste of you it brings me high
You are the only bright spot in a harsh reality

We miss your shine
We miss the positive influence you had

It's always time
Time continues on, relentlessly

Oh we're only salt
We are insignificant in the grand scheme of things

It always felt like suicide
Living in this world can feel like a constant battle

It always takes my life inside
It drains my spirit and energy