Ex-Seahorse Chris Helme at Square One in Crewe

Jan 14 2009 by Michael Green, Chester Chronicle

BEST known as frontman with The Seahorses, singer-songwriter Chris Helme goes solo with a tour which comes to Square One in Crewe on Thursday, January 29.

Last spring 2008 saw the launch of his first solo album Ashes which he recorded on his trusty, dusty old four track tape recorder.

Helme first appeared in the public eye fronting John Squire’s post Stone Roses project, The Seahorses.

Releasing their debut album, Do it Yourself, in 1997 it went on to top the UK album charts and was followed by a string of internationally successful singles such as Love is the Law, Blinded by the Sun, You Can Talk to Me and Love Me and Leave Me.

After three years of touring the world, and playing with some of the biggest acts in music, including The Rolling Stones, U2, Oasis and Beck, the band called it a day in 1999.

Helme said: ‘The Seahorses was a fantastic apprenticeship and I’d never change those years, but I started playing music because I wanted to emulate the artists that I grew up listening to like Neil Young, Van Morrison, the Velvet Underground or the Stooges. A; at the end of the day I just didn’t feel we were achieving that.

“Recording Ashes has been fantastic but I’m really looking forward to the freedom to do what I want with these live shows.

“I’ve been writing all year and this will be the first chance I’ve had to play these songs to an audience that hasn’t heard them before and see what happens.”

Doors open at 7.30pm and tickets are priced £7.50.