Kula Shaker - Knowledge

33: 1349: 964: 1384:, but from the outset of their career, Kula Shaker polarised UK media opinion. This arguably stemmed from age-old British preconceptions about class and race. Not only were they white youngsters singing about Krishna in Sanskrit, they were seen as coming from privileged middle class backgrounds. Speaking in an interview in 2016, Mills says "When I was in private schools, they called me 'common', and when I was in state schools they called me 'posh'. It made me very cynical about all these labels." At the height of 838:. Mills ditched all his previously recorded material up to that point, though some tracks would later feature as Jeevas B-Sides. They released two albums, toured throughout 2002 and 2003, with some dates in mid-2004. Their records were released on their own Cowboy Musik label in the UK and mainland Europe, and by Sony in Japan. Some tentative work was done for their third album, but when it became apparent during 2005 that the reformation of Kula Shaker would be permanent, the band officially split up. 1127:, "Out on the Highway" was released on 5 November 2007, also only available as a download from the UK iTunes Store. Neither release achieved a placing on the UK chart. The final release of the year came on 14 December – the free download track "Drink Tea (for the Love Of God)" featured Alonza on vocals and a pro-tea drinking message in the lyrics. The track was accompanied by an animated video, released online on the same day, which was produced by animation house Model Robot. 503: 1147: 903: 1003:, England, on 21 December 2005. This was a 'secret' gig and not promoted beforehand; however, blackboards outside the pub announced "Kula Shaker tonight" on the night of the show. As a joke about the nature of secret gigs, Mills told the assembled crowd that the band was called The Garcons whilst wearing a "big hair" grey wig. All sources both official and unofficial have subsequently referred to this gig as a Kula Shaker show. 1078:), was released in Japan on 27 June 2007 through Sony, in Europe on 20 August 2007 through the band's own label, and on 19 February 2008 in North America through Cooking Vinyl. All editions contain at least one bonus track; the Japanese edition contains two further bonus tracks. The track "Song of Love/Narayana" on the album incorporates elements from the tracks "Narayan" and "Climbatize", both of which can be found on 644: 789:

completely against the Nazis, their crimes and any other latter-day form of totalitarianism. For the record I have never been an anti-semite especially as my dear grandmother was Jewish ... I loathe totalitarianism, far right thinking, oppression of all forms, denial of human rights and all things that would limit the free spirit of humankind. I stand for peace, love, generosity and learning.

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run of 300 copies. Despite making a limited impact commercially the album was applauded by the music press, becoming their best reviewed album since their debut. The band played an album release show on 8 July at the Garage in London. A successful tour of the Far East followed with a number of festival dates across Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea and Hong Kong.

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added drums. Jay Darlington was asked to be part of the sessions, but declined the opportunity. At the time of the recording, this was announced on the official Jeevas website as Kula Shaker having reformed to contribute a song to the album and was referred to by Mills as a Kula Shaker reunion in subsequent interviews. Additionally, the

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first week as it crawled in at Number 9 on the album chart, spending only 10 weeks in the UK Top 75. The album went Gold in the UK (over 100,000 copies sold). The third and final single from the album, "Shower Your Love" failed to reignite momentum, stalling at No. 14, even with it having more TV exposure on

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was released. The lead single from the album was "Peter Pan R.I.P", which was released as a free download from the band's official website on 22 April 2010. The album was issued as a standard twelve track CD, as a limited edition deluxe box set, and as a super deluxe box set with a limited production

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in April. This was later released on a limited run of 1000 10" vinyls, sold on certain dates of the band's April/May tour and later from the band's official website. Later still, the EP was released on CD in Japan with a bonus track (the 2006 radio session version of Govinda). Apart from the Japanese

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I think there is no better example of my naivete and insensitivity than the swastika comments ... my comments derive from my long interest in Indian culture, from which the swastika has its origins ... I apologise to those who have been offended by my comment and humbly ask that they accept that I am

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in South-West London. The two went on to play together in a band named Objects of Desire, formed later that year. The band's initial line-up consisted of Mills on lead guitar, Bevan on bass, Richard Cave on drums (until 1990) later Marcus French (aka Frog) on drums, Leigh Morris on rhythm guitar, and

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The band played some further live dates in 2009, starting with a pair of dates in Russia in February and following that up with two headline festival appearances in the summer, at Ypsigrock in Italy and Solfest in the UK. In September the band played a set as part of a fundraising evening to support

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It's official. Kula Shaker has arisen from the bottomless pit. How and why will all be revealed in good time, as this site grows, swells and expands. In the meantime join our mailing list and be the first to find out about secret gigs, free downloads and the inside story on what is sure to be their

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album credits officially state that Kula Shaker appear on the track "Braj Mandala". The sessions for the track went so well that Mills and Bevan began writing together again and making plans for a full-on Kula Shaker comeback that would encompass live touring and the further release of new material.

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The band undertook a small UK tour in the Spring. The tour dates were split into two 'legs', with a pre-tour warm-up show in Milton Keynes. The band played to sell out audiences in smaller venues, playing a mix of new and old material. They also recorded a session for Scottish radio station Clyde1,

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was recorded in 2004 and finally saw release in late 2006. Mills, who masterminded the album, arranged not only that the Jeevas play on two tracks, but he also got in touch with his old bandmate, Alonza Bevan. The two worked on a song together for the album, "Braj Mandala", to which Paul Winterhart

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The band went on to play some festivals in the Summer of 2006 – T in the Park, Fuji Rock, V Festival and Pentaport Festival in Korea – along with a handful of warm-up dates. After this, they played one more live date in 2006, headlining the Purple Weekend festival in Spain at the end of the year.

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was preceded by the single "Mystical Machine Gun" which failed to make as strong an impact on the charts as their previous singles, peaking at Number 14 and only remaining two weeks in the top 40. The album itself followed in March 1999 to mixed reviews, and only sold a mere 25,000 copies in its

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Although Kula Shaker's sound owes a lot to the classic rock bands of 1960s and 1970s, the songs often combine Eastern-influenced sonics ("Govinda") with lyrical themes of a universal spirituality quest, employing ideas of soul and devotion from diverse traditions such as Hinduism ("Tattva"), to

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in London, along with two one-off dates – one in London and one in Spain. Further UK dates and a European tour followed in the Autumn. The band then rounded off the tour commitments for the year with two final performances in November, one at Leicester University and another at The Netherlands'

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EP preceded the album. It was released there on 23 May 2007. The lead track from this release was the album track "Great Dictator (of the Free World)" and a rough animatic-style video was used to promote the song on Japanese music stations. In the UK, the first single from the album was "Second

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After the summer festival dates, it was announced on the band's website that the third Kula Shaker album was underway. Pre-production started in September 2006, with final mixing completed by April 2007. It was produced in collaboration with an all-star team of hit makers & Grammy winners,

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In 2023, the band embarked on a world tour including stops in the UK, Japan, the U.S. and Canada and debuted new material from their upcoming seventh studio album. The new songs that were performed were "Waves", "Gaslighting", "I Don't Wanna Pay My Taxes", "Indian Record Player", and "Natural

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On 6 September 2010 Crispian Mills announced on the band's official website that the band were postponing touring so he could concentrate on a film project to begin in early 2011. The news was received with mixed reaction, many suggesting that the band have missed a great opportunity to gain

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In September of that year, the band announced their split. "I have loved my time with Kula Shaker and have experienced more than I could ever have imagined", Mills commented. "We've had an excellent time and been a very tight band, but there comes a time when you want to do your own thing."

446:. In Indian culture, the name Kulashekhara is thought to be lucky or auspicious, and this appealed to the struggling band. Mills also posited that Kula Shaker's music should follow a more spiritual and mystical direction in future, in line with his own growing interest in the philosophy of 1095:

on 16 July 2007, which included all the tracks from the band's first two albums and a handful of previously released non-album tracks. The band had no input into any aspect of the release and their consent was not obtained for its release. They have been asking their fans not to buy it.

640:" in April 1998, peaking at number 3. A promised album in the summer of that year failed to materialise, and the momentum generated by the single was lost as a result. Fans would have to wait until February 1999 to hear any more new material from the forthcoming second album. 845:

in 2000. As a side project, he formed the band Shep (which included Winterhart on drums). The band played a handful of gigs in 2001–2002 and released some excerpts of recorded music via the web but nothing further was heard of them after 2003. Winterhart joined the band

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joined the band, replacing French on drums. During this period, Crispian and Alonza were also responsible for running the Mantra Shack, a psychedelic nightclub at the back of Richmond ice rink, and consequently, the Objects of Desire would often perform at the venue.

478:" (later re-recorded for their debut album) was released on CD and limited 7" vinyl in January 1996, but it entered just outside the UK Top 75, at number 86. "Tattva" was followed quickly in April by the band's second single, "Grateful When You're Dead", a slice of 1315:

On July 28, 2023, Kula Shaker released "Waves" as their new single and announced additional tour dates in Germany, Belgium and France. After initially postponing their tour dates from February and March 2023, Kula Shaker toured North America in September 2023.

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On 12 November 2010, the band announced they would be recording a Christmas single which would be a double A-side. The single, "Christmas Time (Is Here Again)/Snowflake" was released exclusively as a free download from the band's website on 10 December.

822:. However his UK record label didn't feel the material proposed for release was commercial enough, and so Mills negotiated an exit from his contract with them in 2001, continuing to record for the rest of 2001 without a UK record deal. He played at the 779:

Mills responded to the allegations by fax and his responses were incorporated in the article. Mills admitted having played at "Global Deception", but claimed not to have fully understood the nature of the event. He indicated that he now felt that the

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ran a front page article in April 1997 reprinting Mills' comments and alleging that the guitarist "had dabbled with Nazism". The negative publicity surrounding the incident, along with overexposure in the British media, hurt the band's sales. The

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In late 2021, the band announced on their Facebook page that they had completed their sixth album, which would be a double album consisting of 17 songs due for release in 2022. On 20 December 2021, the band released the

545:", which reached No. 7 in the UK charts in December of that year. "Govinda" was sung totally in Sanskrit, and mixed swirling guitars with traditional Indian music. Total sales for all the singles from 486:

single (entering at No. 35). Music press and public alike finally began to take notice of the band, and this sudden exposure propelled the re-released (and re-recorded) "Tattva" to No. 4 in the

1213:. However soon after the band became locked in a legal dispute with their label which resulted in most of the work for the next album being frozen. In May 2009, work on the new album had recommenced. 1015:

During preparation for their comeback live dates, a new member joined the band – Harry Broadbent. He became the band's new keyboard player, and Kula Shaker were restored to a four-piece once more.

556:, and they subsequently took home the award for "British Breakthrough Act" at the ceremony in February. In the same month they released what would turn out to be their biggest hit, a cover of " 2194: 768:

had used the motto "England will rise again", and had performed at a 1993 conference at Wembley called "Global Deception" at which speakers included renowned conspiracy theorists

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The band played a Japanese tour and further tours of both the UK and mainland Europe at the start of 2008. They went on to play three European festival dates in the summer.

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Kula Shaker announced on 11 January 2006 that they had reformed permanently. They released the following statement on their new official website (which launched that day):

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Sight" released on 13 August 2007, reaching No. 101 on the UK Singles Chart. The single was promoted with a pro-shot video featuring the band as characters from the

607:. The focus during the latter part of 1997 moved to the US where both "Tattva" and "Hey Dude" received airplay exposure. "Tattva" became a minor No. 10 hit in the 2384: 32: 1338:

to feature original keyboardist, Jay Darlington. It is their first album to be released on Bandcamp. This album also marked the band's highest chart position since

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on their own label with additional bonus tracks, interviews and artwork. Only 3000 copies were pressed and it was only available through their official website.

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on his UK Arena dates, then for some smaller headline shows. A new album was scheduled for release in spring 2001 according to Mills' official website and the

588:, in a poll for the 20th century's greatest songs. In the wake of the single's release, some ill-advised remarks on the traditional mystical properties of 2767: 411:. Upon returning to the UK he formed a new band named The Kays, with Bevan, Winterhart, and Mills' cousin Saul Dismont (son of the Bermudian politician 306:, juxtaposed with guitar-heavy, Western rock instrumentation. Despite achieving commercial success, Kula Shaker were unpopular with many critics, with 867:. Mills compiled the track listing for the release and approved the sleevenotes. The compilation included the band's final recorded track, a cover of 1608: 812:

Mills went into the studio in 2000 to work on a solo album. Later that year, he toured with a group of musicians under the name Pi, first supporting

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bonus track, the tracks on the EP were recorded in a very small studio in London right at the beginning of 2006, before Broadbent joined the band.

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Looking back in 2016, Mills said "We thought we were smarter than we were ... that was the innocence of our youth ploughing into the adult world."

1104: 324:. This led to plans for a full comeback, although the reformation was not widely publicised until the beginning of 2006. The band's third album, 2325: 534:

in January 1997. The album went on to sell over 850,000 copies in the UK (double platinum), and a further 250,000 copies in the United States.

2039: 1088:. Narayan was co-written by Mills and included a vocal performance by him. The album reached No. 32 in Japan and No. 69 in the UK. 1406:

often focused on the class angle and ridiculed the band's fascination with Indian culture. Mills commented in 2016, "The musical styles on

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To capitalise on publicity surrounding the band's comeback, the re-release record label Music Club issued a hastily compiled double album

572:), which peaked at number 2. The song also proved successful in the U.S., where it was used on the soundtrack to the blockbuster movie 2266: 1954: 736:

Prior to the release of their second album, the band became the subject of controversy surrounding remarks that Mills had made in the

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On 13 April, 2024 Kula Shaker released the double A-side single “Rational Man/Bringing it Back Home” to support their upcoming tour.

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Kula Shaker's reformation has its origins in sessions for a charity album made with the New Braj Village School (a private school in

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including Tchad Blake (Peter Gabriel, Crowded House), Sam Williams (Supergrass) and Chris Sheldon (The Foo Fighters, The Pixies).

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On 7 December 2022, Kula Shaker tweeted that original keyboardist Jay Darlington is back, and will be playing with them on tour.

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in 2002 as a touring keyboardist (though not an official band member), and remained in that role until the band's split in 2009.

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are mainstream now. people didn't know how to understand it or where to place it, so all that was left to do was deride it."

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Despite the negative publicity, the band pressed on regardless with a set of live shows in the summer of that year, including

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joined the band as resident percussionist and remained with the band until their break-up at the end of 1999. The release of

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era of the late 1990s. The band enjoyed commercial success in the UK between 1996 and 1999, notching up a number of Top 10

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On 2 July 2008 the band announced they were back in the studio working on their fourth studio album with working title

633:, was released in the U.S. for the band's fans there. The six tracks on the EP were all B-sides to earlier UK singles. 2023: 1718: 1682: 1648: 1194: 986:, for young people which includes as part of the curriculum teachings about Krishna and devotional music). The album 950: 1176: 932: 717: 1319:

The band's next single, "Indian Record Player", was released on all major streaming services on October 13, 2023.

720:. The band made a few more festival appearances, including an appearance at V99, as a last-minute replacement for 2320: 574: 399:

The Objects of Desire disbanded acrimoniously in early 1993, after which, Mills went on a spiritual pilgrimage,

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On 28 September 2015 the band announced they are returning in 2016 with a European tour and new album titled

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A live EP featuring four tracks from the band's performance at the iTunes festival was released through the

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The band played UK warm-up dates from early June. They went on to play five festival dates in the summer –

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In May 1995, Mills suggested that the band take the name Kula Shaker, in honour of one of the twelve

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in 2008) did not return to the band when they reformed in 2004 due to his touring commitments with

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After initial disagreements with management, Kula Shaker resurfaced with the UK-only single "

336:, was released in 2010. The band returned with a mostly sold out European tour and new album 260: 246: 2435: 2407: 2295: 403:

around India. The trip had a profound effect on the guitarist, fostering a deep interest in

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In September 1995 Kula Shaker were joint winners of the In The City contest (along with

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and made an appearance on the Billy Sloan show on that station to coincide with this.

830:. At the start of 2002, he began working with Andy Nixon and Dan Mckinna, formerly of 2187:""Twenty years just seems like a natural point of reflection": DiS Meets Kula Shaker" 2019: 1792: 1714: 1678: 1644: 1396: 616: 608: 443: 321: 287: 963: 2827: 2797: 2717: 2079: 1298: 1247:

On 16 September 2011, the band released a 2 CD + 1 DVD 15th anniversary edition of

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Christianity ("Great Hosannah") and even Native American Indian ("Infinite Sun").

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Kula Shaker disbanded in September 1999 but reformed in 2004 for sessions for the

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Pete Frame's Rockin' Around Britain: Rock'n'roll Landmarks of the UK and Ireland

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was officially released on digital, LP and CD formats on 12 February 2016.

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Their first gig back together (as a 3-piece) took place at the Wheatsheaf,

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by Crispian Mills put the band in the firing line of some of the UK press.

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Marcus Maclaine (then Hayley Mills' boyfriend) on lead vocals. In 1991,

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was re-released by Columbia/BMG in 2016 to mark the 20th anniversary.

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After taking an extended hiatus, the band released their sixth album,

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1997 got off to a fine start for the band with four nominations for

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digitally, featuring two cover versions: "Snowflake" by Bucky and "

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considerable exposure on the back of the positive reaction towards

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Henry "Harry" Broadbent – keyboards, organ, piano, backing vocals

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in 2016 which was well-received both by the media and the fans.

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was an early champion of the band, inviting them to support at

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A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations.

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Brimful of Asia: Negotiating Ethnicity on the UK Music Scene

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Mills and Winterhart (obscured) performing with the band at

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On 20 January 2010, the band re-released their second album

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In December 2002, Sony released a best of album, entitled

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The origin of Kula Shaker can be traced back to 1988 when

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