finetune artist: Kula Shaker

This UK retro-rock band (named after an Indian emperor) formed originally as the Kays then the Lovely Lads in 1994. Despite regular live work, that band was abandoned when the singer left. Ex-Objects Of Desire members Crispian Mills (b. 18 January 1973, Hammersmith, London, England; vocals), Paul Winter-Hart (b. 19 September, Glastonbury, Somerset, England; drums) and Alonza Bevan (b. 24 October 1970, London, England; bass) then regrouped under a new name with Jay Darlington (b. 3 May 1968, Sidcup, Kent, England; keyboards), and embarked on a support tour with Reef that resulted in a contract with Columbia Records. Columbia were evidently impressed by Kula Shaker's commitment to recreating the "authenticity" of 60s bands the Beatles and Small Faces. Their debut single, "Grateful When You're Dead" (a reference to the recent death of Jerry Garcia), immediately entered the UK Top 40 as critics feverishly scrambled to interview them. Mills, the son of 60s actress Hayley Mills and grandson of venerated actor John Mills, did his best not to disappoint them: "By the end of the century we're gonna be the biggest band in the world, and to celebrate we'll play a gig at the Pyramids on the last day of 1999. That's where we're headed."

Listen to Kula Shaker at Finetune.

Hey Dude
Tattva
Govinda
Grateful When You're Dead-Jerry Was There
Mystical Machine Gun