Bristol, UK.
Alternative rock, popular with Goths.
Ideas of spirituality, reality and self-analysis.
Inspired by the Cocteau Twins, Riou and Simpson decided to use drum machines and synths. The Claytown played the Marquee, Astoria and the Town & Country Club and supported The Cult on the 'Sonic Temple' tour, Pearl Jam, The Wonder Stuff, The Damned, Julian Cope, The Godfathers and the Mission. The band left EMI, then split up after three members left, forming another band. Riou and Williams have re-formed the band.
Riou claimed in a 2004-10-28 interview that a famous local clairvoyant advised him to form a band called the Clayton Troop.
Riou used to follow The Ruts, Theatre of Hate and the Killing Joke. A similar following sprung up around Claytown Troupe. Ben used to play songs in a cage at 'The Bastille' - a Bristol cellar club modelled after 'The Batcave'. Sharp's late 1990s band Altastate featured members of Skin (Skunk Anansie)'s backing band.
1984 - formed. Sharp was the first bassist though was young and became the Claytown's first fan instead.
1984? Riou and Keith Simpson write and record a few songs
1985-06 - Riou and Holt meet at a party (they'd been in a band together about three years previously), Holt trials for the Claytown.
1986 - the band supports Fields of the Nephilim, Chatshow and Alien Sex Fiend in a few local gigs.
1986 - on the advice of Tony Newland, A&R man for WEA Records Riou gets rid of Keith and the current bassist and Ben joins.
1986? - Pete & Nicki McCarthy (managers of The Bolshoi) get the Claytown a gig at the Marquee where Abbo (who runs Cat & Mouse,
an indie label and later their manager) and A&R from Beggars Banquet and Island records see them. Soon EMI, Chrysalis and Island are trying
to sign them, Island winning in the end.
1988-11 - Through the Veil beings recording, produced by Ron Fair.
1989-03 - supporting The Wonder Stuf, Jesus Jones, Soul Asylum, Julian Cope, The Godfathers, The Damned and the Mission.
1989-Summer - first single releases.
1992 - last gig, Sharp plays on bass.
2002 (circa) - Roth starts working with Riou.
2004-10 - playing WGW.
release | format | release date | notes | UK | USA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
release | format | release date | notes | UK | USA |
Through The Veil | 1990 | Island | amazon | ||
Through the Veil | import | amazon | |||
Wanted It All / How Can Anybody / Alabama / Feel | import | amazon | |||
Prayer | vinyl | amazon | |||
Through the Veil | amazon | ||||
Wanted It All / How Can Anybody / Alabama / Feel | cd | single. | amazon | ||
Out There | album | ||||