NEWS
Symposium return with unreleased track from Greatest Hits ahead of London comeback
25 September 2022
Symposium, the alt-rock heroes of the 90s when they were just teens, have released their first new music in over 20 years – a previously unreleased song called ‘Bleach’, taken from the sessions for their never-to-be second album.
The track features on an upcoming best of album, ‘‘Do You Remember How It Was? The Best of Symposium 1996-1999’ released on 11th November on Cooking Vinyl, which was announced earlier this year alongside the band’s music being available on streaming services for the first time.
On top of this, the band also announced their first show in two decades – a now sold out show at London’s Islington Assembly Hall.
‘Bleach’ shows the direction the band were due to be travelling in before their split - it is angry, heavier, yet assuredly Symposium. It is undoubtedly a song of the turn of the Millennium; Britpop’s influence was waning and in came the sounds of US pop-punk and alt-rock. With its melodic snarl and riff driven sound, in another dimension, ‘Bleach’ would have been a breakout hit on a Tony Hawks video game of the era.
Symposium’s story, and therefore their return this year, is the unlikeliest of tales.
Formed in London as schoolfriends, the group of teens ( consisting of Ross Cummins, Hagop Tchaparian, Joe Birch, William McGonagle, and Wojtek Godzisz) went onto conquer the British music landscape.
Garnering a live reputation that saw Melody Maker proclaim them ‘the best live band in Britain’, Symposium supported the likes of Metallica, Foo Fighters, No Doubt, Deftones, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers; the last of which, they supported at Wembley Arena, two days after they had played at 70-person capacity Dublin Castle.
Symposium’s achievements in just six years of being a band read like a 90’s rock‘n’roll-call; supported by the likes of John Peel, Jo Whiley, and Steve Lamacq on BBC Radio 1, heralded by music mags such as Melody Maker, Kerrang! and NME, and performing on TV shows such as TFI Friday and Top of the Pops.
Now, their Best Of album ‘Do You Remember How It Was? The Best of Symposium 1996-1999’ signals a return of one of the most fun, raucous, and energetic bands of the late 90’s.
Alongside ‘Bleach’, the album includes all of their iconic tracks, including ‘Farewell to Twilight’, ‘Fairweather Friend’, ‘Drink The Sunshine’, and more.
The physical formats will feature never before seen photos of the band, taken by iconic music photographer Scarlet Page.
The release of ‘Do You Remember How It Was?’ alongside their much anticipated addition to streaming services, and their sold-out London show, are a complete fever dream for a certain generation in the 90s who remember where they were the first time they saw Symposium.
The track features on an upcoming best of album, ‘‘Do You Remember How It Was? The Best of Symposium 1996-1999’ released on 11th November on Cooking Vinyl, which was announced earlier this year alongside the band’s music being available on streaming services for the first time.
On top of this, the band also announced their first show in two decades – a now sold out show at London’s Islington Assembly Hall.
‘Bleach’ shows the direction the band were due to be travelling in before their split - it is angry, heavier, yet assuredly Symposium. It is undoubtedly a song of the turn of the Millennium; Britpop’s influence was waning and in came the sounds of US pop-punk and alt-rock. With its melodic snarl and riff driven sound, in another dimension, ‘Bleach’ would have been a breakout hit on a Tony Hawks video game of the era.
Symposium’s story, and therefore their return this year, is the unlikeliest of tales.
Formed in London as schoolfriends, the group of teens ( consisting of Ross Cummins, Hagop Tchaparian, Joe Birch, William McGonagle, and Wojtek Godzisz) went onto conquer the British music landscape.
Garnering a live reputation that saw Melody Maker proclaim them ‘the best live band in Britain’, Symposium supported the likes of Metallica, Foo Fighters, No Doubt, Deftones, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers; the last of which, they supported at Wembley Arena, two days after they had played at 70-person capacity Dublin Castle.
Symposium’s achievements in just six years of being a band read like a 90’s rock‘n’roll-call; supported by the likes of John Peel, Jo Whiley, and Steve Lamacq on BBC Radio 1, heralded by music mags such as Melody Maker, Kerrang! and NME, and performing on TV shows such as TFI Friday and Top of the Pops.
Now, their Best Of album ‘Do You Remember How It Was? The Best of Symposium 1996-1999’ signals a return of one of the most fun, raucous, and energetic bands of the late 90’s.
Alongside ‘Bleach’, the album includes all of their iconic tracks, including ‘Farewell to Twilight’, ‘Fairweather Friend’, ‘Drink The Sunshine’, and more.
The physical formats will feature never before seen photos of the band, taken by iconic music photographer Scarlet Page.
The release of ‘Do You Remember How It Was?’ alongside their much anticipated addition to streaming services, and their sold-out London show, are a complete fever dream for a certain generation in the 90s who remember where they were the first time they saw Symposium.
