Biography
Guitarist and vocalist Peter Astor teamed with drummer Dave Morgan to launch the jangly Weather Prophets immediately after the 1985 dissolution of their prior group the Loft. Astor had already contemplated leaving the Loft and sought fresh circumstances that would grant him greater authority over direction.
For the project’s initial pair of recordings the duo recruited Alan McGee, Astor’s longtime associate and the founder of Creation Records, to handle bass duties. Once those tracks were finished, Astor deliberately recruited musicians who stood outside the indie circuit altogether—he had publicly derided that scene in interviews for what he viewed as an unwarranted air of superiority rooted in commercial failure. He enlisted childhood acquaintance David Greenwood Goulding on bass, a player wholly unfamiliar with the Loft or prevailing musical trends, while Morgan brought in Oisin Little on rhythm guitar to complete the lineup. McGee assumed management responsibilities, and early attention followed swiftly, fueled in part by the perception that the Loft had been poised for wider recognition at the moment of its collapse.
Around the same period Creation’s roster drew mounting criticism for its overt commercial aspirations and an ethos some observers linked to chemical indulgence and classic rock posturing, including the adoption of leather trousers. Despite the surrounding commentary, the Weather Prophets’ debut single “Almost Prayed” quickly became a label landmark, blending the Velvet Underground with Creedence Clearwater Revival. Pursuing that transatlantic orientation, the band enlisted Lenny Kaye to produce the follow-up “Naked as the Day You Were Born,” a move that alienated many listeners who had embraced the first release.
McGee negotiated an arrangement with WEA to establish the Elevation imprint, under which he would serve as sole staff member responsible for signing and A&R. The Weather Prophets joined the Elevation roster, aligning with ambitions for arena-scale performances and substantial record sales. Mayflower nevertheless appeared at an inopportune moment; both the group and McGee later judged the album a disappointment, prompting WEA to release the band. After McGee canvassed other labels, the Weather Prophets returned to Creation. With Little no longer in the fold, the 1988 album Judges, Juries & Horsemen was recorded under markedly restricted financial conditions that contrasted sharply with the budget allocated to the House of Love’s debut for the label.
Disillusioned by an encroaching dance-music climate in the U.K., mounting operational costs, and unfulfilled commercial expectations, the Weather Prophets abandoned further activity after an unsuccessful attempt to cut a single following their last album. The compilation Temperance Hotel surfaced later in 1989. Astor subsequently pursued a solo career and eventually formed the Wisdom of Harry, while Goulding and Morgan joined the Rockingbirds.
For the project’s initial pair of recordings the duo recruited Alan McGee, Astor’s longtime associate and the founder of Creation Records, to handle bass duties. Once those tracks were finished, Astor deliberately recruited musicians who stood outside the indie circuit altogether—he had publicly derided that scene in interviews for what he viewed as an unwarranted air of superiority rooted in commercial failure. He enlisted childhood acquaintance David Greenwood Goulding on bass, a player wholly unfamiliar with the Loft or prevailing musical trends, while Morgan brought in Oisin Little on rhythm guitar to complete the lineup. McGee assumed management responsibilities, and early attention followed swiftly, fueled in part by the perception that the Loft had been poised for wider recognition at the moment of its collapse.
Around the same period Creation’s roster drew mounting criticism for its overt commercial aspirations and an ethos some observers linked to chemical indulgence and classic rock posturing, including the adoption of leather trousers. Despite the surrounding commentary, the Weather Prophets’ debut single “Almost Prayed” quickly became a label landmark, blending the Velvet Underground with Creedence Clearwater Revival. Pursuing that transatlantic orientation, the band enlisted Lenny Kaye to produce the follow-up “Naked as the Day You Were Born,” a move that alienated many listeners who had embraced the first release.
McGee negotiated an arrangement with WEA to establish the Elevation imprint, under which he would serve as sole staff member responsible for signing and A&R. The Weather Prophets joined the Elevation roster, aligning with ambitions for arena-scale performances and substantial record sales. Mayflower nevertheless appeared at an inopportune moment; both the group and McGee later judged the album a disappointment, prompting WEA to release the band. After McGee canvassed other labels, the Weather Prophets returned to Creation. With Little no longer in the fold, the 1988 album Judges, Juries & Horsemen was recorded under markedly restricted financial conditions that contrasted sharply with the budget allocated to the House of Love’s debut for the label.
Disillusioned by an encroaching dance-music climate in the U.K., mounting operational costs, and unfulfilled commercial expectations, the Weather Prophets abandoned further activity after an unsuccessful attempt to cut a single following their last album. The compilation Temperance Hotel surfaced later in 1989. Astor subsequently pursued a solo career and eventually formed the Wisdom of Harry, while Goulding and Morgan joined the Rockingbirds.
Albums
