Hefner

This article is about the rock band. You may also be looking for Hugh Hefner.

Hefner is a British rock and "urban folk" band.

History

Hefner began as a solo project of Darren Hayman in 1996. He recorded a demo tape (named Devotion Chamber) in which all instrument were played by Darren himself and his friend from art school Antony Harding sang backing vocals.

The proper debut of Hefner as a band was on April of 1997 when the 7 inches single Better Friend (limited to 500 vinyl copies) was published on Boogle Wonderland. The single featured Anthony on drums, and John Morrison played bass. Shortly after the release the record label Too Pure offer a record deal to Darren—who extended the offer to Anthony and John.

After a few singles Hefner recorded Breaking God's Heart, an album that was recorded in low-fi fashion (e.g. all songs are first or second takes). Darren Hayman has declared that from all the Hefner albums this first one is the one he is lest interested in re-listen. Unlike some fans, which laud its folk-like low fidelity as pretentiousness and interesting, Darren seems to see Breaking God's Heart as having to much potentiality, which was not actualized.

The Fidelity Wars would be their next record (with the recent addition of Jack Hayter); a darker (even tortured) collection of songs. In the official website of the band Darren has explained that all of the songs gravitate around the concept of breaking up.

Hefner had to that point recorded a large amount of singles and EPs; Boxing Hefner represented some of the B-sides of those as well as some unreleased songs.

We Love the City marked a pivotal point in which the band decided to make a change in direction. In contrast with previous records, which had older songs, all the composition in We Love the City were made for this record.

Dead Media, published in 2001, continue the interest that Hefner had shown in exploring new ways. Dead Media is certainly different from previous records in the sense of its electronic weight, an interest that led Darren to eventually create The French.

Although in 2005 a t-shirt was released the read "Hefner, Britain’s Largest Small Band (1996–2002)" Darren has declared that Hefner may record again in the future.

Discography

Albums

• Breaking God's Heart (1998)
• The Fidelity Wars (1999)
• Boxing Hefner (2000)
• We Love the City (2000)
• Dead Media (2001)
• Snare, Kick, Hats, Ride (2002) Limited edition live album only sold by mail.

Singles and EPs

• Better Friend / Christian Girls (1997)
• Lee Remick / School Girls Knees (1998)
• The Hefner Soul (1998)
• Pull Yourself Together (1998)
• Love Will Destroy US in the End (1998)
• The Sweetness Lies Within (1998)
• The Hefner Heart (1999)
• The Hymn for the Alcohol (1999)
• The Hymn for the Cigarettes (1999)
• I Took Her Love For Granted (1999)
• Revelations (1999) EP of gospel covers
• Orphan Songs (1999)
• Christian Girls (2000)
• Good Fruit CD1 (2000)
• Good Fruit CD2 (2000)
• The Greedy Ugly People CD1 (2000)
• The Greedy Ugly People CD2 (2000)
• Half a Life (2001)
• Alan Bean CD1 (2001)
• Alan Bean CD2 (2001)
• Trouble Kid (2001)
• The Hefner Brain (2002)

See also

• The French

External link

• Official site