Children on Stun

Children on Stun is the name of an English gothic rock^[1] band. Formed in 1991, the original line-up consisted of Neil Ash, Simon Manning, Peter Finnemore and Simon Treen.

Formed in August 1991 and taking their name from a song by the band The March Violets. Treen left within a year of the band forming. The band's first gig took place at a club called "The Crypt" in Hastings. In the same year, the band also recorded their first demo, entitled "Elegance", and also made an appearance in Mick Mercer's second book on the gothic rock genre.

In 1992, the band supported the popular goth rock band Rosetta Stone on their UK tour. Later on that year, they released their second demo, "Choices".

The band went on to release two more demos in 1993, entitled "Monochrome I" and "Monochrome II". They used the profits from these demos to release their first single, "Hollow". The band secured a record contract with Cleopatra Records in 1994 and released the album Tourniquets of Love's Desire. This album was well received within the UK goth scene and boosted the band's popularity.

"Towards the end of the year, the band was approached by the label M&A and asked to produce an EP. This resulted in the Overland EP being released."^[2]

In the summer of 1994 Pete Finnemore left the band. Neil and Simon played several shows as a two-piece, with the bass guitar on a backing track, and Simon as the sole guitarist. Kyle Whipp (formerly of Soul Inside) joined the band as their new bass player and they played their first show with this new line up in 1995 at London's Camden Underworld. The EP Celebration Drug was released later on in the year and included the track "Whiskey a-go-go". In August of the same year, the band went on a tour of Scandinavia. As well as this, the band released another EP titled Celibacy and Anadin which included remixes by Rosetta Stone. After the release of this EP, the band ended their contract with Cleopatra.

In 1996, the band began to record their new album, Mondo Weird, which was not released until 1997. The band also released the single "Pin ups, Soap Operas and Natural Disasters" in this year.

A remix LP called Outrageous, Outlawed, Outspoken was released by M&A in 1998: during the same year, the band announced that they would be splitting up. They played their final gig at the Camden Underworld on 24 May 1998.^[3] Resurrection Records also released a CD of this gig, entitled Seven Year Itch.

In 2005, M&A released a compilation called Rough Trade on a Cheap Promotion, featuring the band's b-sides, alternate song versions and demos.

On 15 May 2015, Children on Stun played a reunion gig at the o2 Academy2 in Islington, London and within a few weeks announced they would be reforming. On 4 July 2015, Simon Manning died in his sleep from a heart attack. On 24 October the Stun had a charity fundraising birthday party in memory of Manning. They were joined by his long term bandmate and friend Stuart Harper [Felo-De-Se] who stood in his place. Also paying tribute were Vendemmian, whom Manning had joined for a short time and The Last Cry a favourite band of Manning's, giving their services for free. The money raised was split between the British Heart Foundation and the Sophie Lancaster Foundation. Dancing with Mr Punch a strictly limited edition CD of 100 copies, compiled by John D'Anter, containing all four early studio demos on CD was made available to attendees of the birthday memorial gig with the proceeds also going to charity.

The band decide to continue with Stuart Harper joining permanently on guitar. On 22 October 2016, a second charity event [The Birthday Bash 2] was organized in their hometown of Hastings in memory of Manning. That same night a limited edition CD, This Sideshow Burlesque was released first to all attendees. Only 100 hand-numbered copies were pressed with all profits from the release going to two heart charities. The track-list contained rare live tracks from the band's early career.

In 2017, after headlining the Gotham Sounds Festival in Germany and during the recording of new material, the band announced they would be splitting up again. The following year, the group made a surprise return at the Hope & Anchor in Islington, London on 4 May. The band recorded two new songs "All the Pain of Love" and "Echoes" at Savage Sounds Studio, Hastings, as part of a planned Mini-LP. In June 2018, Harper left the band and, in September 2018, Ex-Dream Disciples guitarist Gordon Young joined the group. In December that year, Children on Stun sign to Armalyte Industries.

في مارس 2019، صدرت أسطوانة مطولة بعنوان "Echoes " تضم خمس أغنيات جديدة من إنتاج غوردون يونغ. وكانت أغنية "Another Love, Another Beginning" من تأليف ويب/آش كجزء من ألبوم ثانٍ مخطط له، لكنه لم يُسجل، لمشروع ستريبر.

أقامت الفرقة حفلتها الأخيرة في الأول من سبتمبر 2023 في نيويورك في قاعة باوري بولروم كجزء من مهرجان ميردر أوف كروز.

في فبراير 2025، سجلت فرقة Whipp & Ash أغنيتي "Living Fractures" و"Made for you" في استوديو Ford Lane في أروندل مع المنتج بورل يونغ. ثم تم تعليق نشاط الفرقة مجدداً دون أي خطط لاستئنافه.

أسس مانينغ فرقة Spares في عام 1999 مع أليسون غان. وأسس ويب وآش فرقة The Stripper Project مع هانا نيتش في عام 2007.

شهد عام ٢٠٠٨ إصدار قرص DVD رسمي بعنوان "Bootleg Television" ، يضم ثلاث ساعات من لقطات أرشيفية من الأرشيف الشخصي للفرقة، جمعها المخرج دي/إيفل. يتضمن القرص الحفل الختامي للفرقة في كامدن، وفيلمًا وثائقيًا مدته ٤٥ دقيقة عن جولة "Mondo Tour"، وثلاث أغنيات لم تُصدر سابقًا مع لقطات لم تُعرض من قبل، ومعرض صور، ومقابلة تلفزيونية نرويجية نادرة، وثلاث أغنيات من جولة الفرقة في الدول الاسكندنافية، بالإضافة إلى نسخة مُعاد تصميمها من فيديو "Celebration " النادر . تم إنتاج ١٠٠ نسخة فقط، تحمل علامة "إصدار محدود" وموقعة من أعضاء الفرقة.

انضم مانينغ إلى فرقة Grooving in Green في عام 2009.

منذ تأسيسها، أصدر سيمون مانينغ وأليسون غان العديد من الألبومات والأغاني القصيرة، وانضم إليهما العديد من الموسيقيين، بما في ذلك جيمي سميث (ليبتينا) وكايل ويب (تشيلدرن أون ستان/ستريبر بروجكت).

شكّل ويب وآش فرقة "ذا ستريبر بروجكت" مع هانا نيتش في أواخر عام ٢٠٠٧. وفي عام ٢٠٠٨، أصدرت الفرقة أغنيتين منفردتين. سُجّلت أغنية "Reasons Not to Go to Work" [Be Yourself and Mean It, Punch Drunk Love, Smiling Judas] في استوديو بايلوت ساوندز في أروندل في يناير ٢٠٠٨، وأنتجها بورل يونغ. أما أغنية "Filthy Wonderful" [Filthy Wonderful, Kill La Shoes]، فقد سُجّلت في أبريل ٢٠٠٨ في استوديو بايلوت ساوندز نفسه مع يونغ. في الأصل، سُجّلت أغنية أخرى بعنوان "Born to Lose" في الوقت نفسه، لكنها لم تُستخدم. والجدير بالذكر أن أغنية "Filthy Wonderful" هي إهداء للفنانة والرائدة المتحولة جنسيًا، ليلي إلب.

In 2009, Hannah Neech left the project. A ten track debut album Brilliant Life was released on 29 October 2010. In review, author and music writer Mick Mercer, [Gothic Rock book/Hex Files] included Brilliant Life in his albums of the year. In 2013, Danny Tartaglia joined the project on bass.

With the reunion of Children on Stun on 15 May 2015, the band is left on ice with a planned second album written but unrecorded.

• Simon Manning - bass and guitars (1991–1998, 2015)
• Simon Treen - drums (1991)
• Kyle Whipp - bass and guitars (1995–1998, 2015-)
• Neil Ash - vocals, keyboards and drums (1991–1998, 2015- )
• Pete Finnemore - Guitar (1991 - 1994)
• Stuart Harper - guitar (2015 - 2018)
• Gordon Young - guitar (2018 - 2024)

• Elegance (1991) 3 Track Demo Tape
• Choices (1992) 4 Track Demo Tape
• Monochrome I (1993) 4 Track Demo Tape
• Monochrome II (1993) 4 Track Demo Tape
• Hollow (1993) 4 Track Vinyl EP
• Tourniquets of Loves Desire (1994) CD Album
• Overland EP (1994) CD Album
• Celibacy & Anadin (1995) CD EP
• Celebration Drug (1995) CD Single
• Mondo Weird (1997) CD Album
• Pin Ups, Soap Operas and Natural Disasters (1997) CD Single
• Outrageous, Outlawed, Outspoken (1998) Vinyl Picture Disc Remix Album
• Seven Year Itch (1998) CD Live Album of The Stuns Last Stand
• Rough Trade on a Cheap Promotion - Rare Stuff (2006) CD Album
• Bootleg Television (2008) Limited Edition of 100 DVD
• Dancing with Mr Punch Limited Edition CD (2015)
• This Sideshow Burlesque Limited Edition CD (2016)
• Echoes 5 track EP (2019)

• Official Children on Stun website
• Children on Stun discography @ Discogs.com
• The Official STUN Home Page
• Children on Stun | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos
• Pete Finnemore @ Discogs.com