{{Short description|Scottish rock band}} {{Use British English|date=October 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Baby Chaos | image = Baby Chaos live at King Tuts in Glasgow.jpg | caption = Baby Chaos playing live at King Tut's in 2017 | alias = Deckard (1998–2004) | origin = Stewarton, Ayrshire, Scotland | genre = Rock | years_active = 1993–1998, 2013–present | label = Electric Honey, East West, Atlantic, Elektra, Reprise, Three Hands | website = [http://www.babychaos.com/ Babychaos.com] | associated_acts = {{flatlist| * Deckard * Union of Knives }} | current_members = Chris Gordon <br />Bobby Dunn <br />Grant McFarlane <br />Davy Greenwood<br /> Alan Easton | past_members = Gen Matthews }}
'''Baby Chaos''' are a Scottish rock band based in Glasgow, Scotland, who originally formed in Ayrshire in 1993, then returned in 2015 after a long hiatus.<ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/baby-chaos-return-with-first-single-in-17-years|title=Baby Chaos return with first single in 17 years|website=Loudersound.com|date=10 March 2015 |access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref> The band consists of Chris Gordon on lead vocals and guitar, Grant McFarlane on guitar and backing vocals, Alan Easton on guitar, Bobby Dunn on bass and Davy Greenwood on drums.
==Formation== Baby Chaos formed in 1993 when the band members met at school, in Stewarton, Ayrshire. They relocated to Glasgow and in May 1993 released their first EP, ''Buzz'', on the Electric Honey label.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/music/music-news/student-label-electric-honey-celebrates-1908244|title=Student label Electric Honey celebrates 20th anniversary after launching some of the biggest bands in UK music|first=Rick|last=Fulton|date=24 May 2013|website=Dailyrecord.co.uk|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref> After appearing on TV in a feature on Scottish bands on ''The Late Show'' on BBC2 the band were signed to East West Records by Nathan McCough in August 1993.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.themicmagazine.co.uk/2015|title=2015|website=Themicmagazine.co.uk|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref> A first single "Sperm" was released by East West before the end of the year and ''Kerrang!'' featured the band as one of their "Klass of '94" feature, comparing them to Therapy? and the Smashing Pumpkins.<ref>''Kerrang!'', November 1994</ref>
==1990s success== Their debut album ''Safe Sex Designer Drugs & the Death of Rock 'N' Roll'' was released in the UK on 7 November 1994<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.babychaos.com/album/safe-sex-designer-drugs-death-rocknroll/|title=Safe Sex, Designer Drugs and the Death of Rock'n'Roll|website=babychaos.com|access-date=19 April 2026}}</ref> and in the US in June 1995, after US radio stations such as KROQ took an interest.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_zwsEAAAAMBAJ|quote=sxsw baby chaos.|magazine=Billboard|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_zwsEAAAAMBAJ/page/n13 22]|date=24 June 1995|title=Safe Sex Designer Drugs & the Death of Rock 'N' Roll|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> They toured across the UK and Europe with the likes of Terrorvision<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://h2g2.com/entry/A535358|title=h2g2 - Terrorvision - The Band|website=H2g2.com|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref> and The Wildhearts<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thewildhearts.com/history/history3.shtml|title=The Wildhearts - History|website=Thewildhearts.com|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref> in 1994 and also the US where they did a tour supporting Elastica in 1995.<ref name="auto4">{{Cite web|url=https://veglam.com/2015/05/21/baby-chaos-out-of-the-silence/|title=Baby Chaos – Out Of The Silence|website=Veglam.com|date=21 May 2015|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref> ''Kerrang!'' gave the band 5/5 in their live reviews for the Camden Monarch and Highbury Garage shows.
A second album was recorded in 1995 with Al Scott and Zmago Smon. ''Love Your Self Abuse'' was released on 29 April 1996<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.babychaos.com/album/love-your-self-abuse/|title=Love Your Self Abuse|website=babychaos.com|access-date=19 April 2026}}</ref> and earned them a 5K review in ''Kerrang!'' magazine who have since cited it as one of ''Kerrang!'' readers' 100 best British rock albums.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rockandrollreport.com/kerrang-magazines-top-100-british-rock-albums-of-all-time/|title=Kerrang! Magazine's Top 100 British Rock Albums Of All Time|first=Mark|last=Boudreau|website=Rockandrollreport.com|date=24 February 2005|access-date=2019-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110170933/http://rockandrollreport.com/kerrang-magazines-top-100-british-rock-albums-of-all-time/|archive-date=10 January 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The album was released in the UK on East West and then a year later in the US and Japan on Atlantic Records with a slightly different track listing. The album featured the singles "Hello" and "Ignoramus", which was made ''Kerrang!'' 's Single of the Week. Changes at East West led to them being transferred to Atlantic Records for a short time,<ref name="auto4"/> before their contact there expired and they found themselves without a label in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.geocities.ws/retropalace/babychaos.html|title=babychaos|website=Geocities.ws|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref>
==Deckard== In 1998, after parting ways with their label the band also underwent a line up change as drummer Gen Matthews (previously of Jesus Jones) joined in place of Davy. The group decided to change name to Deckard and start afresh with a new record deal with Reprise Records in the US.<ref name="auto"/> They recorded a new album ''Stereodreamscene'' with Nick Launay at Ocean Way Studios in LA which was released in the US in July 2000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BxAEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Stereodreamscene+deckard+album+release&pg=PA16|title=Billboard|page=16|date=1 July 2000|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|via=Google Books}}</ref> A review of the album on Five Miles High website described it as having "choruses with hooks so big you could use them to catch whales."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://fivemileshigh.com/archive/html/discography/deckard-stereodreamscene.htm|title=FiveMilesHigh - UK Rock 'n' Roll Resource|website=Fivemileshigh.com|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref> Unfortunately changes at the label again led to a change of strategy and the band and label parted ways soon after without much promotion of the album.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web |last=Clarkson |first=John |date=2004-05-17 |title=Deckard - Interview |url=http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Article/3343/Interviews/Deckard--Interview |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112151646/https://pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Article/3343/Interviews/Deckard--Interview |archive-date=2019-11-12 |access-date=2019-11-12 |website=Pennyblackmusic.co.uk}}</ref> Deckard took a break until 2002 when they started work on a second album, ''Dreams Of Dynamite And Divinity'', which was self-recorded and self-released in 2003.<ref name="auto2"/> The band later issued an extended play, ''Holy Rolling Extended Player'', on 18 October 2004. The EP features a duet between Gordon and Tobey Torres of Snake River Conspiracy on the bonus track "The Truth Will Do", as well as two live tracks recorded at a sell-out show at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow.<ref name=":22">{{Cite AV media notes |title=Holy Rolling Extended Player |others=Deckard |year=2004 |type=promo CD |publisher=(self-released) |location=UK |id=deckcd002}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Clarkson |first=John |title=Deckard - Holy Rolling |url=http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/Home/Details?id=12378 |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=Pennyblackmusic.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>
==Regency Buck and Union of Knives== After Deckard parted way with their label, Gordon went on to make music with Dave McLean and Paul Westwater as Regency Buck, recording an album in 2001 with Mark "Spike" Stent for DreamWorks.<ref name="auto2"/> This was a short-lived project but did pave the way for forming Union of Knives in 2004, again with Dave McClean and with Craig Grant sharing lead vocals.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.newhellfireclub.co.uk/2014/10/the-trio-of-awesome-band-interviews-is.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004050628/http://www.newhellfireclub.co.uk/2014/10/the-trio-of-awesome-band-interviews-is.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 October 2015|title=New Hellfire Club Glasgow: The Trio Of Awesome Band Interviews Is Complete - NHC MUSIC Chats To Baby Chaos!|date=4 October 2015|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref> Union of Knives put out the album ''Violence & Birdsong'' on Relentless Records in 2006,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.piccadillyrecords.com/counter/product.php?pid=42662|title=Union Of Knives - Violence & Birdsong / Relentless from Piccadilly Records|website=Piccadillyrecords.com|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref> which was described by ''The Guardian'' as "dance-rock...a nocturnal rendezvous between Muse and Massive Attack."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/aug/11/popandrock.electronicmusic|title=CD: Union of Knives, Violence & Birdsong|first=Dorian|last=Lynskey|date=11 August 2006|website=Theguardian.com|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref> The album included the track "Opposite Direction" which received both BBC Radio 1 airplay<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/zanelowe/tracklistingarchive.shtml?20061113|title=BBC - Radio 1 - Zane Lowe - Tracklisting|website=Bbc.co.uk|access-date=2 August 2020}}</ref> and was used on the American TV shows ''The Vampire Diaries'' and ''Grey's Anatomy''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/cathkin-high-teacher-tells-band-2581620|title=Cathkin High teacher tells of band success|first=Jonathan|last=Geddes|date=5 October 2010|website=Dailyrecord.co.uk|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref> Another track "Operated On" appeared on the soundtrack to ''Supernatural''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tunefind.com/show/supernatural/season-1/5245|title=Music from Supernatural S1E07|website=Tunefind.com|access-date=2 August 2020}}</ref> After their record label was sold in 2009 Union of Knives parted ways with the label and eventually ceased activity. Chris Gordon and Craig Grant continued to work together in Song of Return,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www2.jpscotland.co.uk/musicblog/2010/03/on-radar-song-of-return.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004210122/http://www2.jpscotland.co.uk/musicblog/2010/03/on-radar-song-of-return.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 October 2015|title=Under the Radar: On the radar: Song of Return|date=4 October 2015|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref> for which Chris Gordon was involved in the writing but decided to take a break from playing live, preferring to concentrate on producing for other acts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dearscotland.com/2011/06/15/peenko%e2%80%99s-scots-way-hay-%e2%80%93-song-of-return/|title=Peenko's Scots Way-Hay! – Song of Return|website=Dearscotland.com|date=15 June 2011|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref>
==Reunion and new material== In 2010, former label mate Ginger Wildheart persuaded Baby Chaos to reform for a one off live date to support him in Glasgow.<ref name="auto1"/> Following the gig the band felt inspired to work together again, but didn't want to just play their old material so they began to write a new album.<ref name="auto"/> In 2014 Baby Chaos returned for some further live dates, encouraged by Ginger who stood in on guitar for Grant at Halloween when he couldn't make the show,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://louderthanwar.com/ginger-wildhearts-halloween-hootenanny-wolverhampton-slade-rooms-live-review/|title=Ginger Wildheart's Halloween Hootenanny: Wolverhampton Slade Rooms - live review|first=Phil|last=Walchester|website=Louderthanwar.com|date=9 November 2014|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref> and also guested on guitar when they supported him again in Glasgow.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/ginger-wildheart-glasgow-x-factors-4522414|title=Ginger Wildheart on Glasgow, X Factor's One Direction and his contempt for live albums|first=Rebecca|last=Day|date=28 October 2014|website=Dailyrecord.co.uk|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref> 2015 saw the first release of new material with the original line-up,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uberrock.co.uk/cd-reviews/24-april-cd/14314-baby-chaos-skulls-skulls-skulls-show-me-the-glory-self-released.html|title=Baby Chaos - 'Skulls, Skulls, Skulls, Show Me The Glory' (Self Released)|website=Uberrock.co.uk|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref> both self-produced and self-released.<ref name="auto1"/> The single "You Can't Shut Us Up" was accompanied by a handful of live dates in Spring 2015.<ref name="auto3"/> The album ''Skulls, Skulls, Skulls, Show Me The Glory'' was released in April to positive reviews from the rock press,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://louderthanwar.com/baby-chaos-skulls-skulls-skulls-show-glory-album-review/|title=Baby Chaos: Skulls, Skulls, Skulls , Show Me The Glory - album review|first=Lewis|last=Gilmore|website=Louderthanwar.com|date=28 July 2015|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref> who praised both the strength of the song writing and the production.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/arts_ents/13209854.baby-chaos-skulls-skulls-skulls-show-me-the-glory-baby-chaos/|title=Baby Chaos, Skulls, Skulls, Skulls, Show Me The Glory (Baby Chaos)|website=HeraldScotland.com|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref>
In September 2015, the band toured the UK supporting The Wildhearts playing venues such as Nottingham Rock City,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://louderthanwar.com/wildhearts-baby-chaos-hey-hello-rock-city-nottingham-live-picture-review/|title=The Wildhearts| Baby Chaos | Hey! Hello! : Rock City, Nottingham - live and picture review|website=Louderthanwar.com|date=25 September 2015|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref> Glasgow ABC and Shepherd's Bush Empire.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/entertainment/13765442.baby-chaos-taking-a-walk-on-the-wild-side/|title=Baby Chaos taking a walk on the wild side|website=Eveningtimes.co.uk|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref> In April 2016 they played three dates in France, touring Paris, Epinal and Strasbourg with Dead Pop Club and Napoleon Solo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jeuxactu.com/psu-la-mise-a-jour-du-12-janvier-19754.htm|title=PSU : la mise à jour du 12 janvier|website=JeuxActu.com|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://musique.jeuxactu.com/interview-baby-chaos-interview-2016-pour-le-grand-retour-des-heros-de-glasgow-19754.htm&prev=search|title=Google Translate|website=Translate.google.co.uk|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref>
On 1 January 2016, a download-only companion album to ''Skulls, Skulls, Skulls, Show Me The Glory'' was released. Entitled ''Stripped Skulls'' it featured new recordings of stripped back versions of the album tracks, giving a different take on the songs.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.babychaos.com/product/stripped-skulls-download/ |title=Baby Chaos | Stripped Skulls (Download) - Baby Chaos |access-date=3 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804191057/http://www.babychaos.com/product/stripped-skulls-download/ |archive-date=4 August 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In February 2017, the band played both a headline show at Huddersfield Parish <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parishpub.co.uk/gig/baby-chaos--chris-catalyst-group--fierce-ideas|title=Baby Chaos + Chris Catalyst Group + Fierce Ideas {{!}} The Parish|last=Parish|first=The|website=Parishpub.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2017-02-16}}</ref> and an extended support slot with Eureka Machines and Chris Catalyst's solo band at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brudenellsocialclub.co.uk/archive/2017-02-11-eureka-machines3/|title=Eureka Machines SOLD OUT Baby Chaos Chris Catalyst Group - Gig at Leeds Brudenell Social Club|website=Brudenellsocialclub.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2017-02-16}}</ref> They also confirmed that they had started work on writing and recording a fourth album.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chrisgordon.info/|title=Chris Gordon website|website=Chrisgordon.info|language=en-US|access-date=2017-02-16}}</ref>
The band's fourth album, ''Ape Confronts Cosmos'', was released on 6 March 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title= Baby Chaos – Ape Confronts Cosmos|url=https://www.discogs.com/Baby-Chaos-Ape-Confronts-Cosmos/release/14625691|website=Discogs|access-date=6 March 2020}}</ref> The album saw the addition of a fifth member, guitarist Alan Easton, who had previously deputised for McFarlane for a few live shows.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ape Confronts Cosmos (CD)|url=https://www.babychaos.com/product/ape-confronts-cosmos-cd/|publisher=Baby Chaos|access-date=6 March 2020}}</ref>
==Discography== ===As Baby Chaos=== ====Singles and EPs==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;" ! scope="col" style="width:14em;" | Title track ! scope="col" style="width:18em;" | Other tracks ! scope="col" style="width:18em;" | Release |- ! scope="row" | "Buzz" | "Coming Clean", "Ether" | EP, May 1993, Electric Honey Records EHRCD01<ref name="discography web 1997">{{cite web |url=http://www.babychaos.co.uk/info/discogra/f-discogra.htm |title=Baby Chaos DISCOGRAPHY |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970727062939/http://www.babychaos.co.uk/info/discogra/f-discogra.htm |archive-date=1997-07-27}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | "Sperm" | "Superpowered", "Tongue" | 1993, East West<ref name="discography web 1997"/> |- ! scope="row" | "Golden Tooth" | "Resurrected", "No Way", "The Earth is Dying", "But Nevermind" | EP, 1994, East West<ref name="discography web 1997"/> |- ! scope="row" | "Hello Victim" | "Rotten To The Core", "Skinny" | 1994, East West<ref name="discography web 1997"/> |- ! scope="row" | "Buzz" | "Superpowered" | 1994, East West<ref name="discography web 1997"/> |- ! scope="row" | "Hello" | "Negatively Yours", "Consider Yourself" | 1996, East West<ref name="discography web 1997"/> |- ! scope="row" | "Ignoramus" | "Fetch", "I Don't Want To Be Your Friend" | 1996, East West |- ! scope="row" | "Blackbirds" | | 2015, self-released |}
====Albums==== * ''Safe Sex Designer Drugs & the Death of Rock 'N' Roll'' (October 1994, East West) * ''Love Your Self Abuse'' (April 1996, East West) * ''Live at The Hultsfred Festival'' (recorded 1996, released 2008 via website download only) * ''Skulls, Skulls, Skulls, Show Me the Glory'' (2015, Three Hands Records) * ''Stripped Skulls'' (2016, website only download album) * ''Ape Confronts Cosmos'' (2020, Three Hands Records) * ''This Is the Moment – Live 2015-2019'' (2021)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scottishmusicnetwork.co.uk/album-review-baby-chaos-double-live-album/|title=Album Review : Baby Chaos – This is the Moment – Live 2015-2019|website=Scottish Music Network|date=9 April 2021|access-date=2 April 2026}}</ref>
===As Deckard=== ====Singles and EPs==== * "The Deckard" EP (1999, Reprise Records) * "Holy Rolling" EP (2004, self-released)
====Albums==== * ''Stereodreamscene'' (2000, Reprise Records) * ''Dreams of Dynamite and Divinity'' (2003, self-released) * ''Live at King Tut's'' (recorded 2004, released 2009 via website download only)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.babychaos.com Official website] * [http://www.thewildhearts.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=5370 Wildhearts Messageboard] Discography info from the Wildhearts discussion board * [http://www.discogs.com/artist/850553-Baby-Chaos Discogs Baby Chaos discography] * [http://www.discogs.com/artist/1362757-Deckard-4 Discogs Deckard discography]
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Category:Scottish alternative rock groups Category:Rock music groups from Glasgow