Catherine Wheel is a band hailing from Great Yarmouth, England. They are named after the Catherine wheel.

Catherine Wheel was formed in 1990 and was comprised of singer/guitarist Rob Dickinson (cousin of Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson), guitarist Brian Futter , bassist Dave Hawes , and drummer Neil Sims . They were initially part of the shoegazer scene, characterized by songs that made extensive use of feedback and droning washes of noise, delivered by bands who were virtually immobile on stage.

The band's first album, 1992's Ferment, made an immediate impression and introduced Catherine Wheel's most recognizable song, the ballad "Black Metallic."

Chrome followed in 1993. With this album, the band began to shed the shoegazer tag while still making skillful use of atmospherics. 1995's Happy Days saw the band in full hard rock mode, which alienated a portion of their fanbase even as it increased their exposure in the United States.

The B-sides and outtakes collection, Like Cats and Dogs , came out the following year and demonstrated a quieter, more contemplative side of the band. 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 while retaining the clean, stripped down playing they had begun to favor.

After a three year break, Catherine Wheel reemerged with new bassist Ben Ellis and a new album, 2000's Wishville . After mixed reviews and less-than-stellar sales of the disc, the band went on hiatus.

Discography

Albums

• Ferment (1992)
• Chrome (1993)
• Happy Days (1995)
• Adam and Eve (1997)
• Wishville (2000)

Compilations

• Like Cats and Dogs (1996)