The Hoax formed in 1991 and after a few get together jams with a drum machine the four members (Hugh Coltman - Vocals, Jon Amor - Guitar, Jesse Davey - Guitar and brother Robin Davey - Bass) decided it was time to recruit a drummer. They phoned local drum hero Dave Raeburn who was at the time a drum teacher in Trowbridge and asked if he could recommend anyone. Will Lunn, another Trowbridge native was suggested and the first Hoax line up was born.
The bands first gig was supporting local favorites, The Havana Fireflies, at Easterton Village Hall. The Hoax's set that evening comprised of 5 covers including, Jeff Healey's ‘Confidence Man’ and Stevie Ray Vaughan’s ‘The House Is Rocking’.
Will Lunn stayed with the band for their first 7 or so gigs and then departed to join indie hopefuls BIG, the next drummer to join the line up being Andy Phillips from Devizes.
The Hoax continued to play locally and started building a considerable following playing the local pub circuit. They started to write their own material and recorded a number of demo's. Andy Phillips departed from the band in 1993 and so another call was made to local drum hero Dave Raeburn, but this time it was to ask him if he would like to join. Dave accepted and shortly after the band recorded their first full length album which was self titled and released on cassette, which quickly sold out, with only 100 being pressed.A copy found its way into the hands of legendary British producer Mike Vernon. He had just started a new label called Code Blue, which was affiliated with Warner. He saw The Hoax open for Smoking Joe Kubec in Boarhunt, Nr. Portsmouth and immediately said he wanted to sign the band.After numerous meetings the band finally signed a 5 album deal with Code Blue/Warner and started recording their first proper album in Monnow Valley studios in South Wales with Vernon co producing. 'Sound Like This' was released in the UK in November 1994 and was critically acclaimed by the press. Q magazine’s Mark Cooper exclaimed 'The last time Englishmen played blues- rock with such flair and conviction they had names like The Yardbirds, John Mayall’s Blues Breakers and even the Rolling Stones'.The band continued to tour the UK and Europe and in 1995 they did a six week stint in the States. They opened for Buddy Guy and Chris Duarte, as well as playing a host of headline slots at venues such as The House Of Blues and Mick Fleetwood’s club in Washington.
The Press in the US also loved the album with Billboard Editor Timothy White dedicating his ‘Music To My Ears’ column to the band.They continued touring for the best part of two years and then started work on their second album. With the record company pressuring the band to come up with radio friendly singles the first attempt at recording the album was abandoned and The Hoax re-recorded the whole album adding 3 new tracks. The album was received with mixed reviews, and the band grew very unhappy with their record company’s lack of promotion.
In 1997 they decided to start afresh and freed themselves from the Warner contract. After releasing an EP on their new Label ‘Credible Records’ the band started writing material for a new album as well as continuing to tour.
Shortly before starting work on the new album Dave Raeburn left the band and The Hoax were hunting for drummer number four. After searching the country and auditioning countless drummers they found the shuffling king Mark Barrett. Mark had previously supported the hoax with another band in his native Lincoln. After a couple of rehearsals and a few gigs the band started recording their new album in Shropshire.
February 1998 saw the release of Humdinger, the bands best selling album and loved by fans and critics alike. The next year saw the band tour throughout Europe and establish themselves as the live band to see. They were soon headlining festival after festival as well as appearing on the bill with the likes of BB King, Jimmie Vaughan, Paul Weller and Robbie Williams. After a tour of Canada and another treck around Europe, the band decided it was time to quit. They announced a farewell tour as well as releasing a Live Album 'Live Forever'.
The Hoax played their final UK show at a packed house at London's Astoria and their final show to a sell out crowd at Holland 013 venue.
With the former members all working on new projects The Hoax might be gone but they are far from forgotten.
Discography
The Hoax
Cassette album produced by The Hoax
Released:1993
100 copies pressed
Earned the band a contract with Warner
1. Headless Chicken
2. Scaramouche
3. Swallow My Pride
4. Get Some Money
5. Gaffa Tape & Jaffa Cakes
6. Money Back
7. Blisters On Your Feet
8. Sore Thumb
9. Inside My Head
Sound Like This
Produced by The Hoax & Mike Vernon
Label: Warner/Code Blue (Atlantic : USA)
Released:1995 (1995 : USA)
1. Lizard Like Me
2. Much Too Much
3. Scaramouche
4. Wake Me Up
5. Swallow My Pride
6. Twenty Ton Weight
7. Headless Chicken
8. Driving Blind
9. Head Neck
10. Don’t Bust A valve
11. Take The Money And Run
Unpossible
Produced by The Hoax
Label: Warner/Code Blue
Released:Nov 1996
1. Turn It Upside Down
2. Emperor’s New Clothes
3. Will Be True
4. Let It Ride
5. Fistful Of Dirt
6. Realisation Dawns
7. Off Your Head
8. Got It Bad
9. Hungry Man’s Blues
10. Fingers Of One Hand
11. Don’t Let Me Cry
Humdinger
Produced by The Hoax
Label: Credible (UK) Dixie Frog (Europe)
Released:Feb 1998
1. High Expectations
2. Feeding Time
3. Last Man Down
4. Superstition
5. Something Out Of Nothing
6. Groove Breaker
7.I Want To Be Loved
8.. Long Way Home
9. Bones
10. Don’t Shake My Hand
Live Forever
Produced by The Hoax (Live Recording)
Label: Credible (UK) Taxim (Germany) Bertus (Holland)
Released:Oct 1999
1. High Expectations
2. Feeding Time
3. Last man Down
4. Superstition
5. Something Out Of Nothing
6. Groove Breaker
7. I Want To Be Loved
8. Long Way Home
9. Bones
10. Don’t Shake My Hand
Singles & EPs
Scaramouche - Extra tracks: Scaramouche Edit (USA Atlantic)
Take The Money And Run - Extra tracks: Spanish Omelette (UKWarner/Code Blue)
Night Will Come EP (Credible Records) Released:1997
1. The Night Will Come
2. Shadow Boxing
3. My Own Way
4. Instrumental B Side Shuffle In B Part 2
Something Out Of Nothing/Superstition – Double A Side (Credible Records) Released:1998
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