Cable were an English indie rock band originally from Derby, England, who released three albums: Down-Lift the Up-Trodden, When Animals Attack, and Sub-Lingual, on Infectious Records. The band split up in 1999. Formed in 1992 by Matt Bagguley and Darius Hinks, Cable were initially inspired by the art-rock leanings of indie-labels such as Touch and Go, Dischord, Blast First, Southern Records and Shimmy Disc, and also UK artists such as Spacemen 3 and My Bloody Valentine. The first settled line-up was Matt Bagguley, Darius Hinks, Pete Darrington, Neil Cooper and throughout 1993 the band played regularly with underground acts from the U.S In early 1994 their debut single "Sale of the Century" was released on 7", by Derby-based indie-label Krunch! Records. BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel played it on his show saying it was the best thing he had heard that week and phoned the band during the show to invite them to record a session. John Peel remained a loyal fan from that moment on, and altogether the band recorded four Peel Sessions.
Career
1995 - ''Down-Lift the Up-Trodden''
In 1995, Cable released their first album for Infectious Records. Down-Lift the Up-Trodden was produced by ex Membranes frontman John Robb. and in the week of release was played in its entirety on the John Peel show. The band went on to play the Reading Festival and toured the UK with Glasgow's AC Acoustics. At the end of the tour the band were involved in a near-fatal car accident when their bus was hit by a drunk driver at high-speed, flipping the vehicle onto its roof. Drummer Neil Cooper quit the band at that point in order to concentrate on his own projects, and was replaced by Richie Mills
1996-97 - ''When Animals Attack''
In 1996, Cable played over 100 shows with artists such as The Wedding Present, China Drum, Reef and Garageland. They recorded another session for Radio 1, toured Germany and appeared at The Phoenix Festival. In 1997, the band played a concert in Brixton Prison and shortly after flew to New York to record their second album with ex Butthole Surfer, and Shimmy Disc owner Kramer. The album When Animals Attack was recorded in three weeks at Noise New Jersey, and released the following spring. Album track "Freeze The Atlantic" was used as the soundtrack on a TV commercial for 'Sprite' which exposed the band to a much broader audience, and was later released as a single.
1998-99 - ''Sub-Lingual'' and split
In 1998, Cable played a sellout show at South by Southwest then returned to the UK to record another album with Paul Tipler. That same year they were nominated for 'Best New British Band' at the Kerrang! magazine Awards. At the 1998 ‘Sound City’ festival in Oxford, John Peel joined the band onstage and the concert was broadcast live on Steve Lamacq's Radio 1 show. However, in spring 1999 a long simmering legal dispute brought things to an abrupt halt, and on 19 May the band played a packed farewell concert at London Dingwalls, and split. Their third albumSub-Lingual was well received by both the indie & rock press, albeit posthumously. Matt Bagguley now lives in Oslo and plays in Je Suis Animal. Other ex Cable members can be found in Hudson Super Six featuring Pete Darrington, and The Lucky Nine featuring drummer Richie Mills. Mills also now fronts the band MiLL] in which he is vocalist and guitarist. Neil Cooper now drums for the alternative metal band Therapy?.
