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Elbow enjoy slow-burning success | Elbow enjoy slow-burning success |
(about 6 hours later) | |
By Ian Youngs Music reporter, BBC News | By Ian Youngs Music reporter, BBC News |
Elbow have released four albums in the last seven years | Elbow have released four albums in the last seven years |
Elbow may not be household names, but they are one of the best-loved bands in the indie scene, and one of the most popular winners of the Nationwide Mercury Prize. | Elbow may not be household names, but they are one of the best-loved bands in the indie scene, and one of the most popular winners of the Nationwide Mercury Prize. |
When the name Elbow came out of the envelope in host Jools Holland's hand, there was a massive cheer from all corners of the ballroom at the Grosvenor House Hotel, where the ceremony was being held. | When the name Elbow came out of the envelope in host Jools Holland's hand, there was a massive cheer from all corners of the ballroom at the Grosvenor House Hotel, where the ceremony was being held. |
The band themselves looked stunned, then stood up and embraced, their faces displaying how much the accolade means after 18 years of setbacks and slow-burning success. | The band themselves looked stunned, then stood up and embraced, their faces displaying how much the accolade means after 18 years of setbacks and slow-burning success. |
Their music is heartfelt, romantic, ambitious, melancholy, grand. | Their music is heartfelt, romantic, ambitious, melancholy, grand. |
Their four albums have been consistent in quality and credibility, and continually growing in confidence and scope. | Their four albums have been consistent in quality and credibility, and continually growing in confidence and scope. |
They have not courted the mainstream, and have happily continued to sail under the radar of the pop-loving public. | They have not courted the mainstream, and have happily continued to sail under the radar of the pop-loving public. |
Regularly talked up in the press, they have always been the nearly men of rock. Until tonight, that is. | Regularly talked up in the press, they have always been the nearly men of rock. Until tonight, that is. |
We love what we do but nearly everyone we've ever met works harder than we ever have Guy Garvey | We love what we do but nearly everyone we've ever met works harder than we ever have Guy Garvey |
"I suppose you could look at it in the same way that certain Bedouin tribes look at a bowl of milk," is frontman Guy Garvey's tongue-in-cheek take on the Mercury win. | "I suppose you could look at it in the same way that certain Bedouin tribes look at a bowl of milk," is frontman Guy Garvey's tongue-in-cheek take on the Mercury win. |
"It's something that doesn't occur very often, and it's so much sweeter for it." | "It's something that doesn't occur very often, and it's so much sweeter for it." |
By turns funny, sincere and mischievous, the portly Garvey, teetering on the line between smart and scruffy, is one of rock's most treasured characters. | By turns funny, sincere and mischievous, the portly Garvey, teetering on the line between smart and scruffy, is one of rock's most treasured characters. |
When he stepped up on stage to accept the Mercury Prize trophy, he didn't attempt to play it cool and hide his satisfaction. | When he stepped up on stage to accept the Mercury Prize trophy, he didn't attempt to play it cool and hide his satisfaction. |
And afterwards, he was in his element holding forth with journalists backstage. | And afterwards, he was in his element holding forth with journalists backstage. |
Asked what they would do with the £20,000 prize money, the five-piece looked at each other before Garvey replies: "Charity." | Asked what they would do with the £20,000 prize money, the five-piece looked at each other before Garvey replies: "Charity." |
Advertisement | |
A clip from Elbow's Grounds For Divorce | |
The cheeky grin suggested that charity might be the hotel bar. | The cheeky grin suggested that charity might be the hotel bar. |
And when asked about the band's tough journey, he replied: "It's a bit strange to talk about music as hard work. | And when asked about the band's tough journey, he replied: "It's a bit strange to talk about music as hard work. |
"We love what we do but nearly everyone we've ever met works harder than we ever have. | "We love what we do but nearly everyone we've ever met works harder than we ever have. |
"Having said that, it's been a long time that we've been doing it and this is a cause for celebration. I'm just so very proud that we've been working together this long to this end." | "Having said that, it's been a long time that we've been doing it and this is a cause for celebration. I'm just so very proud that we've been working together this long to this end." |
The band formed in college in Bury in 1990, signing to a major label in 1997 and recording an album. | The band formed in college in Bury in 1990, signing to a major label in 1997 and recording an album. |
But they were dropped soon after and the record did not see the light of day. | But they were dropped soon after and the record did not see the light of day. |
That was not the only setback the band have had to overcome. | That was not the only setback the band have had to overcome. |
More recently, they were embroiled in a legal dispute with their record label V2 during the making of The Seldom Seen Kid, before moving to Fiction, the home of Snow Patrol, Ian Brown and Kate Nash. | More recently, they were embroiled in a legal dispute with their record label V2 during the making of The Seldom Seen Kid, before moving to Fiction, the home of Snow Patrol, Ian Brown and Kate Nash. |
And personally, the band lost one of their best friends, Manchester singer Bryan Glancy, who died at the age of 39 two years ago. | And personally, the band lost one of their best friends, Manchester singer Bryan Glancy, who died at the age of 39 two years ago. |
'Great friend' | 'Great friend' |
The award was dedicated to him, just as the album is - he is, in fact, the Seldom Seen Kid referred to in the title, Garvey revealed. | The award was dedicated to him, just as the album is - he is, in fact, the Seldom Seen Kid referred to in the title, Garvey revealed. |
"You don't get any more seldom seen than when you're not alive any more, and I think he would have appreciated the gallows humour in that," Garvey says. | "You don't get any more seldom seen than when you're not alive any more, and I think he would have appreciated the gallows humour in that," Garvey says. |
Suddenly serious, Garvey continues: "I miss him every day. He was a great man and he should be stood here in many ways. | Suddenly serious, Garvey continues: "I miss him every day. He was a great man and he should be stood here in many ways. |
"That very heavy trophy there is going to be sat on Mandy Glancy's mantelpiece, his mum, because she's a particularly amazing lady." | "That very heavy trophy there is going to be sat on Mandy Glancy's mantelpiece, his mum, because she's a particularly amazing lady." |
After 18 years together, Elbow have kept going where other bands would have given up - and what's more, they actually still seem to like each other. | After 18 years together, Elbow have kept going where other bands would have given up - and what's more, they actually still seem to like each other. |
So what is their secret? "Are you happy for me to answer this?" Garvey turns to his bandmates, making a gentle joke about band relations. | So what is their secret? "Are you happy for me to answer this?" Garvey turns to his bandmates, making a gentle joke about band relations. |
"Respect for each other," he says. "Respect and love and friendship, and we all really get a kick out of sleep deprivation, which is essential if you're going to be in a band together." | "Respect for each other," he says. "Respect and love and friendship, and we all really get a kick out of sleep deprivation, which is essential if you're going to be in a band together." |
They give the impression they will be happy to continue ploughing their own fertile furrow for a long time yet. | They give the impression they will be happy to continue ploughing their own fertile furrow for a long time yet. |
Any awards like this will be a welcome bonus, but they don't mind being the underdogs. | Any awards like this will be a welcome bonus, but they don't mind being the underdogs. |