It is strange how some things can stay with you sometimes. One day I wanted to record a edition of The Nelly Nut Show on the CBBC Channel. In my anticipation I began the recording a little early, and there was a preview for Xchange, their guests in the studio that day were the group The Faders. Of course, lots of groups turned up on that show over the years, but this helped me to remember them.
They made the chart in the mid-2000s, in the transition period between CD sales falling and downloads increasing, and maybe there’s a chance that they got lost among all of this. And although The Faders weren’t hugely successful, they were notable for being one of the few all-female groups at the time who played their instruments, meaning that their sound had a harder edge than most.
This also led to some favourable comparisons with the likes of The Runaways. They were a trio in their teens who consisted of vocalist Molly, who had bright red hair (and I believe that I am also right in saying that she is the daughter of chart-topping singer Midge Ure), along with Toy and Chrissie. In April 2005 their debut single “No Sleep Tonight” was released, and reached no. 13, to become their biggest hit in the UK.
This meant that they appeared on Top Of The Pops (just as this show was entering its final rotten year, although they did their best to liven things up). This was also featured on the soundtrack to Veronica Mars, one of those quirky American light-drama series for teenagers (and there were so many of them around this time), which was recently repeated on ITV2.
There was also a video where it looked like they were in this show. I wouldn’t know if they really did meet the cast, or if they were added in after. This was also used in various adverts in America, presumably this was an attempt to try and succeed Stateside, although as far as I’m aware this didn’t really happen. Next in July 2005 was “Jump”, which reached no. 21.
However, their album “Plug In And Play” didn’t make the chart, their label didn’t seem that interested in releasing a third single, and after only a couple of years together, The Faders split not long after. Who will update their MySpace page now? Not much has been heard about any of the members since, and it was a disappointment seeing another group with potential fall by the wayside.
ADAM'S NOSTALGIC MEMORIES 