{{Short description|British electronic alternative band}} {{for|the American band formerly known as Mesh|Modern Day Zero}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | image = 2014-07-27 Mesh (Amphi festival 2014) 017.JPG | alt = | caption = Mesh performing in 2014 | origin = Bristol, England | genre = {{hlist|Synth-pop|new wave|dance-rock|electronic rock|alternative rock}} | years_active = 1991–present | label = {{ hlist|Dependent|Memento Materia}} | website = {{URL|mesh.co.uk}} | current_members = * Mark Hockings * Richard Silverthorn }}
'''Mesh''' are a British electronic alternative band from Bristol, England.
==Biography== Mesh formed in 1991 after lead singer Mark Hockings and Richard Silverthorn (keyboards) met each other at a concert where Silverthorn's band was playing. Their shared influences included Yazoo, OMD, Depeche Mode, D.A.F. and Front 242.<ref name="Elec18">{{Cite web|last=Trigwell|first=Monika Izabela|url=https://www.electricityclub.co.uk/involved-mesh-retrospective-interview/|title=Involved: The Mesh Retrospective Interview|website=Electricityclub.co.uk|date=27 February 2018|accessdate=14 March 2026}}</ref> Soon afterwards, Neil Taylor – Silverthorn's former bandmate – joined the group on keyboards, introducing influences like the KLF and dance music.<ref name="Elec18"/> The creative writing was split between Silverthorn, who composes the music, and Hockings, who writes the lyrics.
Mesh were signed by the Swedish label Memento Materia and an EP, ''Fragile'', was released in 1994.
This was followed by a full album, ''In This Place Forever'', in 1996.
In 1997 the band released an extended version of ''Fragile''. A compilation album, ''Fragmente'', was released in 1998.
In 1999 the band released a studio album, ''The Point At Which It Falls Apart'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeromagazine.nu/2006/10/26/skivbolaget-memento-materia-fyller-15-r/|title=Skivbolaget Memento Materia fyller 15 år - Zero Magazine|date=26 October 2006|website=Zeromagazine.nu|accessdate=28 December 2017}}</ref> achieving a breakthrough both artistically and in critical acclaim as well as commercially.
In 2000, they worked with the German dance producer Mark 'Oh, releasing the track "Waves", which reached position 83 in the German charts.
In 2002, Mesh were picked up by Sony Records, and released a new album ''Who Watches Over Me''.<ref>[http://www.laut.de/Mesh Mesh biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228172207/http://www.laut.de/Mesh |date=28 December 2017 }} at Laut.de. Accessed 28 December 2017</ref> The band grew in popularity in continental Europe, and most notably in Germany, where their singles and albums repeatedly attained chart positions.<ref name=charts>Search for "Mesh" at [https://www.offiziellecharts.de/suche offiziellecharts.de] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102071930/http://i.imgur.com/My5ZAxf.jpg |date=2 November 2015 }} on 28 December 2017.</ref>
In 2006 a new album, 'We Collide', was released, produced by former Depeche Mode producer, Gareth Jones.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeromagazine.nu/2005/12/25/mesh-r-tillbaks/|title=Mesh är tillbaks! - Zero Magazine|date=25 December 2005|website=Zeromagazine.nu|accessdate=28 December 2017}}</ref>
On 13 September 2006, Taylor announced he was leaving the band after 15 years to pursue other interests. Hockings and Silverthorn decided to continue as a duo,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://releasemagazine.net/Spotlight/spotlightmesh09.htm|title=Mesh - Release Music Magazine Spotlight|website=Releasemagazine.net|accessdate=28 December 2017|archive-date=5 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005073057/http://www.releasemagazine.net/Spotlight/spotlightmesh09.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> using an augmented line-up for live shows. Initially, Geoff Pinckney replaced Taylor at live shows.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeromagazine.nu/2006/11/10/mesh-ter-en-livetrio/|title=Mesh - åter en livetrio - Zero Magazine|date=10 November 2006|website=Zeromagazine.nu|accessdate=28 December 2017|archive-date=28 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228173516/http://zeromagazine.nu/2006/11/10/mesh-ter-en-livetrio/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The new line-up signed to Dependent Records as their European record label. Metropolis Records represented them in the United States and South America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeromagazine.nu/2009/06/29/mesh-tillbaka-i-september/|title=Mesh tillbaka i September - Zero Magazine|date=29 June 2009|website=Zeromagazine.nu|accessdate=28 December 2017|archive-date=28 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228173519/http://zeromagazine.nu/2009/06/29/mesh-tillbaka-i-september/|url-status=live}}</ref>
''A Perfect Solution'' was released in 2009. It was produced by the German dark electro producer Olaf Wollschläger. Silverthorn stated: "Olaf has a natural talent of tidying up our productions and spending a ridiculous amount of time perfecting them without changing the overall feel and mood".<ref name=ec>{{Cite web|url=http://www.electricityclub.co.uk/mesh-looking-skyward-2/|title=MESH Looking Skyward|date=22 August 2016|website=Electricityclub.co.uk|accessdate=2020-06-22|archive-date=29 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229112146/http://www.electricityclub.co.uk/mesh-looking-skyward-2/|url-status=live}}</ref> Olaf has continued to work with Mesh on subsequent releases.
In 2011, the band followed up ''A Perfect Solution'' with a remix of the album, entitled ''An Alternative Solution''. In April 2011, the group toured the United States for the first time, playing on the "Legends of Synthpop" tour with Iris and De/Vision.<ref>[http://www.laweekly.com/music/legends-of-synthpop-tour-hits-the-echoplex-with-de-vision-mesh-and-iris-2403274 Legends of Synthpop Tour Hits the Echoplex with De/Vision, Mesh and Iris]. ''LA Weekly'', 22 April 2011.</ref>
On 26 August 2011, the band announced via Twitter that Geoff Pinckney "will no longer be playing live with Mesh", as he wished to focus on his other musical project, Tenek. He was replaced by Richard Broadhead. Live drummer Sean Suleman also joined the line up around this time.{{fact|date=February 2026}}
In 2013, the band released ''Automation Baby'', which became the band's most successful album up to that point, entering the German charts at number 33, and topping the European Alternative Charts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.releasemagazine.net/the-year-of-mesh/|title=The year of Mesh|website=Releasemagazine.net|accessdate=28 December 2017}}</ref>
Following this success, the band felt under pressure to deliver with the followup album.<ref name=ec/> When ''Looking Skyward'' was released in 2016, it achieved a number 12 position in the German charts, their highest to date.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sonic-seducer.de/index.php/2985-dem-himmel-entgegen-mesh-knacken-mit-looking-skyward-albumcharts-rekord.html|title=Dem Himmel entgegen: Mesh knacken mit "Looking Skyward" Albumcharts-Rekord|website=Sonic-seducer.de|accessdate=28 December 2017|archive-date=28 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228172428/http://www.sonic-seducer.de/index.php/2985-dem-himmel-entgegen-mesh-knacken-mit-looking-skyward-albumcharts-rekord.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2015, the band played with a classical orchestra at the 'Gothic meets Klassik' festival, hosted at the 'Gewandhaus zu Leipzig' in Leipzig.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.side-line.com/click-interview-with-mesh-the-idea-of-using-the-latest-synth-preset-or-some-popular-soft-synth-has-never-really-appealed-to-us/|title='Click Interview' with Mesh: 'The idea of using the latest synth preset or some popular soft synth has never really appealed to us' – Side-Line Music Magazine|website=www.side-line.com|accessdate=28 December 2017}}</ref> The show was recorded and initially scheduled for release in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.releasemagazine.net/mesh-announce-two-albums-for-2016/|title=Mesh announce two albums for 2016|website=Releasemagazine.net|accessdate=28 December 2017|archive-date=28 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228172045/http://www.releasemagazine.net/mesh-announce-two-albums-for-2016/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was later decided to expand the live recording with some additional studio recorded tracks. These were recorded at Tonscheune Oleak, and the resulting album ''Live at Neues Gewandhaus Leipzig'' was released in November 2017.
In 2023, vocalist Mark Hockings released the debut album ''Watching Sleepers'' under the solo project Blackcarburning.<ref>...</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://regenmag.com/reviews/review-blackcarburning-watching-sleepers/ |title=Review: Blackcarburning – Watching Sleepers |website=ReGen Magazine |access-date=2026-04-15 }}</ref>
In April 2023, Vaughn George joined the live line-up on keyboards and backing vocals.<ref>Vaughn George interviews the band and explains how he joined MESH for live performances https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97qzQQwfo1k&t=1250s {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212141326/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97qzQQwfo1k&t=1250s |date=12 December 2023 }}</ref>
In January 2024, the band's official website published a blog post titled "What Happened to Mesh?", in which Dr. Carla Groom discussed the "very personal dynamics" behind the band's relative absence from the scene.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mesh.co.uk/post/what-happened-to-mesh|title=What Happened to Mesh?|publisher=Mesh|date=January 2024|access-date=2026-04-15}}</ref>
In November 2024, the band released a remastered 25th Anniversary Edition of their breakthrough sophomore album, ''The Point at Which It Falls Apart'', making a long out-of-print classic available again.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mesh.co.uk/album/the-point-at-which-it-falls-apart-2024|title=The Point At Which It Falls Apart (25 Years Anniversary Edition)|website=mesh.co.uk|accessdate=4 March 2026}}</ref>
In March 2026, Mesh released the highly anticipated ''The Truth Doesn't Matter'', to widespread acclaim. The album reached number 15 in Germany<ref name=charts/>, and number 23 in the UK Download Chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/mesh-the-truth-doesnt-matter/|title=The Truth Doesn't Matter|website=officialcharts.com|accessdate=4 March 2026}}</ref>
Mesh have developed a fan base in Germany and Scandinavia, where they have maintained a strong following, and have also gained notice in North and South American countries. However, success and recognition in their home country of the UK has historically been more limited. Richard Silverthorn discussed this in interviews in the 2010s,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.electricityclub.co.uk/a-short-conversation-with-meshs-richard-silverthorn/|title=A Short Conversation with MESH's Richard Silverthorn|website=Electricityclub.co.uk|date=4 December 2014|accessdate=2020-06-22}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160914180417/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/bristol-band-mesh-tell-us-why-they-are-so-much-bigger-in-europe-than-here/story-29711741-detail/story.html Bristol band Mesh tell us why they are so much bigger in Europe than here]. ''Bristol Post'', 13 September 2016. (Wayback Machine archive)</ref> stating that while he would have welcomed greater recognition in the UK, the band had found a receptive audience elsewhere and that this had become their primary focus. ==Discography==
===Studio albums=== {{div col}} * 1996: ''In This Place Forever'' * 1999: ''The Point at Which It Falls Apart'' * 2002: ''Who Watches over Me?'' Germany No. 63<ref name=charts/> * 2006: ''We Collide'' Germany No. 90<ref name=charts/> * 2009: ''A Perfect Solution'' Germany No. 89<ref name=charts/> * 2013: ''Automation Baby'' Germany No. 33<ref name=charts/> * 2016: ''Looking Skyward'' Germany No. 12<ref name=charts/> * 2026: ''The Truth Doesn't Matter'' Germany No. 15<ref name=charts/>, UK Download Chart No. 23<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/mesh-the-truth-doesnt-matter/|title=The Truth Doesn't Matter|website=officialcharts.com|accessdate=4 March 2026}}</ref> {{div col end}}
===Remastered Studio Albums=== {{div col}} * 2024: ''The Point At Which It Falls Apart (25 Years Anniversary Edition)'' {{div col end}}
===Compilation and Live Albums=== {{div col}} * 1998: ''Fragmente'' (compilation of various tracks with the single ''Trust You'') * 2000: ''On This Tour Forever'' (live album) * 2002: ''Fragmente 2'' (compilation) * 2003: ''Original 91–93'' (compilation) * 2011: ''An Alternative Solution'' (remix album of ''A Perfect Solution'') * 2017: ''Live at Neues Gewandhaus Leipzig'' Germany No. 78<ref name=charts/> {{div col end}}
===Singles and EPs=== {{div col}} * 1994: ''Fragile'' (EP) * 1997: "You Didn't Want Me" * 1998: "Trust You" * 1999: "People Like Me (With This Gun)" * 1999: "It Scares Me" * 1999: "Not Prepared" * 2000: ''Live Singles'' (EP) * 2000: "Waves" (feat. Mark 'Oh) Germany No. 83<ref name=charts/> * 2002: "Leave You Nothing" * 2003: "Friends Like These" Germany No. 86<ref name=charts/> * 2006: "Crash" DE No. 88<ref name=charts/> * 2006: "My Hands Are Tied / Petrified" Germany No. 95<ref name=charts/> * 2009: "Only Better" Germany No. 84<ref name=charts/> * 2010: "How Long?" * 2011: "From This Height" (EP) * 2013: "Born to Lie" * 2013: "Adjust Your Set" * 2016: "Kill Your Darlings" * 2017: "Runway" (EP) * 2026: "Exile" * 2026: "Hey Stranger" (EP) * 2026: "This World" (EP) {{div col end}}
===VHS/DVD=== {{div col}} * 2000: ''On This Tour Forever'' * 2006: ''The World's a Big Place'' * 2017: ''Touring Skyward - A Tour Movie'' {{div col end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
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Category:Musical groups established in 1991 Category:British synth-pop groups Category:1991 establishments in the United Kingdom Category:Alternative rock groups from Bristol Category:Dependent Records artists