Gomez

Gomez, an English indie rock band from Southport, was formed in 1997. The original lineup consisted of Ian Ball (vocals, guitar), Paul "Blackie" Blackburn (bass), Tom Gray (vocals, guitars, keyboards), Ben Ottewell (vocals, guitars) and Olly Peacock (drums, synths, computers). The band's first gig took place at the Hyde Park Social Club in Leeds. After recording four-track demos in a garage, they signed with Hut Records in September 1997. Their debut album Bring It On was released in May 1998 and certified platinum. Gomez won the Mercury Music Prize in September 1998 for this album. The band's second album, Liquid Skin, was released in September 1999 and also went platinum. In March 2002, their third album In Our Gun reached Number 10 on the UK charts. Their fourth album, Split the Difference, produced by Tchad Blake, was released in May 2004. The band's fifth studio record, How We Operate, was produced by Gil Norton and released in May 2006, followed by A New Tide in March 2009. Gomez continued to tour extensively throughout their career, including performances at Glastonbury Festival and a co-headlining US tour with Ben Kweller in 2007. The band have remained an active and respected live act even though their last studio album, Whatever’s on Your Mind, appeared in June 2011. Throughout the 2010s and early 2020s, Gomez continued to perform selectively in the UK, Europe, and especially the United States, where they maintain a strong fanbase within the roots-rock and jam-band circuit. They marked the 20th anniversary of their Mercury Prize–winning debut Bring It On with special reissues and commemorative tours.