The Rose of Avalanche is an English alternative rock band from Leeds, West Yorkshire, formed in 1984. They have released ten albums.

History

The band was formed by Phil Morris, Paul James Berry and Alan Davis. The name came from the "rose" for the beauty and the "avalanche" for the power, as a way of describing their music.

The Rose of Avalanche

Before they had played a gig they signed to local independent label LiL, and released two singles: "LA Rain" and "Goddess". Both made the Top 20 of the UK Independent Chart, with "LA Rain" also featuring in John Peel's Festive Fifty in 1985.

The Rose of Avalanche

After this initial success, Fire Records signed the band and the personnel changed. The lineup became Phil Morris, Paul James Berry, Glenn Schultz, Nicol McKay, and Mark Thompson. Mass market exposure came with the support slot on The Mission's 1986–87 World Crusade Tour. This lineup released a further five singles and the first official studio album – Never Another Sunset in 1989.

The Rose of Avalanche

Shultz and McKay left the band in 1989, and new bass player Darren Horner was recruited to replace McKay. This lineup released one EP "A Peace Inside". Further personnel changes occurred in 1990 with Thompson leaving to be replaced by Andy Porter. The final lineup then delivered one EP and two albums, String A Beads in 1990, and ICE in 1991. Before permanently breaking up, the band played live once more in 1993. The lineup consisted of Morris, Horner, and Schultz, and a drum machine.

In 2019, they announced that the band would reform.

Discography

Albums

Rose of Avalanche (1985), Contempo

First Avalanche (1986), Leeds Independent Label - UK Indie No. 3

Always There (1987), Fire

In Rock (1988), Fire - UK Indie No. 10

Anthology (1988), Fire

Live at Town and Country (1988), Contempo

Never Another Sunset (1989), Avalantic - UK Indie No. 10

String 'a' Beads (1990), Avalantic

I.C.E. (1991), Avalantic

LA Rain - The Singles Album (1997), Nectar Records

Singles, EPs

"L.A. Rain" (1985), Leeds Independent Label - UK Indie No. 10

"Goddess" (1985), Leeds Independent Label - UK Indie No. 16

"Too Many Castles In the Sky" (1986), Fire - UK Indie No. 8

"Velveteen" (1986), Fire - UK Indie No. 9

"Always There" (1987), Fire - UK Indie No. 3

Too Many Castles in the Sky/Velveteen double 7-inch EP Re-issue(1987), Fire

"The World Is Ours" (1988), Avalantic - UK Indie No. 8

"Never Another Sunset" (1989), Avalantic - UK Indie No. 19

A Peace Inside EP (1989), Avalantic

I Believe (1990), Rebel Rec

References

English alternative rock groups

English rock music groups