Sleaford Mods

File:Sleaford Mods 2019 Glastonbury Festival 06 crop.jpg, 2019]]

Williamson was born 10 November 1970, and raised in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Inspired by the mod subculture and musical sources like the Wu-Tang Clan, he spent several years pursuing music unsuccessfully, both with various groups and as a solo singer-songwriter. He had also worked as a session musician with local artists as well as Spiritualized and Bent.{{cite web|url=http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=528066|title=SoundClick artist: Unity Crescent |work=SoundClick}}{{cite web|url=http://www5.bandspace.com/unitycrescent/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141226234024/http://www5.bandspace.com/unitycrescent/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2014-12-26|title=Unity Crescent @ BandSpace|website=5.bandspace.com}} Fearn (born 1971 in Burton upon Trent) grew up on a farm in Saxilby, Lincolnshire.{{cite news |url=http://www.nottinghampost.com/Interview-Sleaford-Mods/story-22897417-detail/story.html |title="I swear too much but I can't help it" – the Sleaford Mods interview |date=9 September 2014 |first=Amelia |last=Ellis |newspaper=Nottingham Post |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929180425/http://www.nottinghampost.com/Interview-Sleaford-Mods/story-22897417-detail/story.html |archive-date=29 September 2014 |df=dmy-all }}

Williamson first met Fearn in 2009 after hearing him DJ at a small Nottingham club called the Chameleon, where he was playing his own rough-edged and minimal grime-inspired tracks.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jul/05/sleaford-mods-interview-key-markets|title=Sleaford Mods: 'The thing is, there really is no future for a lot of people out there'|first=Sean|last=O'Hagan|date=5 July 2015|newspaper=The Guardian}} Sleaford Mods began when Simon Parfrement, a friend of Williamson's, suggested he combine his vocals with a music sample from a Roni Size album. Originally, the project was called "That's Shit, Try Harder", but was later changed in reference to Sleaford, a town in Lincolnshire, not far from Grantham.

Williamson formed the band with Simon Parfrement, with whom he worked alongside a studio engineer at Rubber Biscuit Studio in Nottingham on their first four albums. Parfrement left the music production to Andrew Fearn after the release of the 2012 album Wank, the first album to feature Fearn, but Parfrement continues to play an important role with the band as their photographer and media producer.{{cite web|url=http://sleafordmods.bandcamp.com/album/wank|title=Wank – Sleaford Mods|date=1 March 2012|work=Sleaford Mods|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109120750/http://sleafordmods.bandcamp.com/album/wank|archive-date=9 January 2015|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://sabotagetimes.com/music/dont-suffer-the-bullshit-heres-sleaford-mods/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625122406/http://sabotagetimes.com/music/dont-suffer-the-bullshit-heres-sleaford-mods|url-status=usurped|archive-date=25 June 2014|title=Don't Suffer The Bullshit: Here's Sleaford Mods|work=Sabotage Times |first=Carl |last=Stanley |date=16 September 2014 |access-date=15 August 2015}}

File:Sleaford Mods - Less Playboy is More Cowboy 4, Le Confort Moderne, Poitiers (2013-06-08 20.01.18 by Xi WEG).jpg

On 10 December 2014, Williamson published the lyrics collection{{cite news|last1=Harris|first1=John|author-link1=John Harris (critic)|title=Grammar Wanker: Sleaford Mods 2007‑2014 by Jason Williamson – review' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/mar/18/grammar-wanker-sleaford-mods-2007-2014-jason-williamson-review|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=28 December 2020|date=18 March 2015}} Grammar Wanker: Sleaford Mods 2007-2014,Williamson, Jason (2014). Grammar Wanker: Sleaford Mods 2007-2014. Bracketpress. {{ISBN|978-0-95661-844-3}}. followed by Jason Williamson's House Party: Sleaford Mods 2014-2019Williamson, Jason (2019). Jason Williamson's House Party: Sleaford Mods 2014-2019. Bracketpress. {{ISBN|978-1-99967-406-9}}. in 2019.

A collaboration between Sleaford Mods and the Prodigy was announced at the end of 2014.{{cite web|title=The Prodigy and Sleaford Mods record new track 'Ibiza' |first=Lisa |last=Wright |url=https://www.nme.com/news/the-prodigy/80340 |website=NME |access-date=26 March 2015 |date=13 October 2014}} They recorded a track together, "Ibiza", which appears on the Prodigy album The Day Is My Enemy, released in March 2015.{{fact|date=October 2022}}

The Leftfield album Alternative Light Source, released on 8 June 2015, also features a collaboration with Sleaford Mods, a track called "Head and Shoulders".{{cite web |title=Leftfield are releasing a new record, their first in 16 years |url=http://www.loudandquiet.com/2015/03/leftfield-are-releasing-a-new-record-their-first-in-16-years/ |first=Mandy |last=Drake |website=Loud and Quiet |access-date=26 March 2015 |date=25 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402061211/http://www.loudandquiet.com/2015/03/leftfield-are-releasing-a-new-record-their-first-in-16-years/ |archive-date=2 April 2015 |df=dmy-all }} The video for "Head and Shoulders" is a stop-motion/animation hybrid that debuted in August 2015.{{cite news |title=Leftfield and Sleaford Mods share new video for 'Head And Shoulders' |first=Kimberley-Marie |last=Sklinar Green |url=http://www.neverenoughnotes.co.uk/2015/08/leftfield-and-sleaford-mods-share-new-video-for-head-and-shoulders|access-date=6 August 2015|publisher=Never Enough Notes|date=6 August 2015|ref=Never Enough Notes}} In July 2015, the band released a new album, Key Markets. It was one of the 19 records nominated for the IMPALA Album of the Year Award.{{cite web|url=http://impalamusic.org/content/young-labels-featured-shortlist-impala-album-year-award | title=Young labels featured in shortlist for IMPALA Album of the Year Award | website=Impalamusic.org}}

The band featured in two documentary films, Sleaford Mods: Invisible Britain, released in 2015 and Bunch of Kunst. A Film About Sleaford Mods,{{Citation |last=Franz |first=Christine |title=Bunch of Kunst |date=2017-04-21 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6520634/ |type=Documentary, Biography, Music |access-date=2024-01-14 |others=Andrew Fearn, Steve Ignorant, Sleaford Mods}}{{Cite news |last=Bradshaw |first=Peter |date=2017-04-20 |title=Bunch of Kunst review – Sleaford Mods film rips Austerity Britain a fresh one |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/apr/20/bunch-of-kunst-review-sleaford-mods-documentary |access-date=2024-01-14 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} released in 2017.

In 2016, an important turning point took place after many years, as Sleaford Mods left Harbinger Sound and signed with Rough Trade Records. Their first release on the new label was the T.C.R. EP in 2016.{{fact|date=October 2022}}

In 2017, following the release of English Tapas, Sleaford Mods embarked on their first North American tour.{{Cite web |last=Ehrlich |first=Brenna |date=April 3, 2017 |title=Everyone Wants To Talk To The Sleaford Mods About U.S. Politics |url=https://tidal.com/magazine/article/everyone-wants-to-talk-to-the-sleaford-mods-about-u-s-politics/1-36583 |website=Tidal}}

One year later, Sleaford Mods left Rough Trade, which eventually led to the dismissal of their long-time manager (and owner of Harbinger Records), Steve Underwood.{{cite web|url=https://www.ox-fanzine.de/interview/sleaford-mods-6714|title=All mod cons|work=Ox-Fanzine |first=Joachim|last=Hiller |date=April–May 2019 |access-date=28 December 2020}}

After releasing Eton Alive on their own label Extreme Eating Records in 2019, the band returned to Rough Trade. This renewed cooperation resulted in the release of the compilation All That Glue in 2020 and Spare Ribs in 2021 (including the single "Mork n Mindy", which was released on 30 October 2020, and reached the top of the UK vinyl singles chart).{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/vinyl-singles-chart/20201127/897/|title=27 November 2020 - 3 December 2020|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=28 December 2020}}

In 2019, Williamson lent his vocals to the track "Talk Whiff" by Scorn. In 2022, Williamson acted as Lazarus in the series finale of Peaky Blinders.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10906308/reference/|title=Peaky Blinders, Season 6, Episode 6: "Lock and Key"|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=2 November 2022}}{{Cite web |last=Starkey |first=Adam |date=2022-04-04 |title=Sleaford Mods frontman Jason Williamson makes cameo in 'Peaky Blinders' finale |url=https://www.nme.com/news/tv/sleaford-mods-frontman-jason-williamson-makes-cameo-in-peaky-blinders-finale-3197533 |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=NME |language=en-GB}} Sleaford Mods appear alongside Orbital on the song "Dirty Rat", released on 20 October 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/24888275-Orbital-Sleaford-Mods-Dirty-Rat|title=Orbital, Sleaford Mods – Dirty Rat|date=20 October 2022 |publisher=Discogs|accessdate=2 November 2022}}

Their twelfth album, UK Grim, was released on 10 March 2023.{{Cite web |last=Trendell |first=Andrew |date=2023-01-17 |title=Sleaford Mods talk new album 'UK Grim': "It might strike a chord with people at their wit's end" |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/sleaford-mods-uk-grim-interview-new-album-politics-dry-cleaning-perry-farrell-3381685 |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}

On 27 May 2023, the band appeared on Later... with Jools Holland.{{Citation |title=Later... with Jools Holland - Series 62: Episode 2 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001mfpb/later-with-jools-holland-series-62-episode-2 |access-date=2023-05-28 |language=en-GB}}

During a concert in Madrid on 3 November 2023, the duo abruptly ended their performance after a keffiyeh was thrown on stage. The band later posted on social media saying they believed the cloth throwing was an attempt to make them "pick sides" in the conflict in Palestine.{{Citation |title=Sleaford Mods cut gig short after Palestinian flag thrown on stage |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/sleaford-mods-cut-gig-short-after-palestinian-flag-thrown-on-stage-dont-ask-me-to-pick-sides-3530472 |access-date=2023-11-04 |language=en-GB}}

On 22 November 2023 they covered the Pet Shop Boys song "West End Girls" with profits being donated to Shelter.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

Sleaford Mods have described their work as "electronic munt minimalist punk-hop rants for the working class."{{cite web|last1=Sherwin|first1=Andy|title=Sleaford Mods: Boris Johnson, David Gandy and Russell Brand come under attack in post-punk duo's new album Key Markets|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/sleaford-mods-boris-johnson-david-gandy-and-russell-brand-all-come-under-attack-in-post-punk-duos-10343003.html|date=25 June 2015|website=The Independent|access-date=2 May 2016}} Williamson is responsible for the words, Fearn for the music. Sleaford Mods songs have been described as embittered rants about such topics as unemployment, modern working life, celebrities and pop culture, capitalism and society in general. The lyrics usually contain profanity, which is, according to Williamson, the way in which he speaks and "not just fucking swearing". Fearn's music has been described as "purgatorial loop[s]" of "pugilistic post-punk-style bass; functional but unprepossessing beats; occasional cheap keyboard riffs and listless wafts of guitar."{{cite magazine|author=Fisher, Mark|title=Sleaford Mods: Divide and Exit.|magazine=The Wire|date=2014|url=http://markspectre.tumblr.com/post/118047816838/sleaford-mods-divide-and-exit|author-link=Mark Fisher (theorist)}}

Williamson's voice on Sleaford Mods songs is sprechgesang, rapped with his recognisable East Midlands accent.{{cite web|language=de|last1=Balzer|first1=Jens|title=Sleaford Mods Sie haben sehr schlechte Laune|url=http://www.fr-online.de/musik/sleaford-mods-sie-haben-sehr-schlechte-laune,1473348,27096654.html|website=Frankfurter Rundschau|access-date=23 September 2014|date=11 May 2014}} His vocal and lyrical style has variously been compared to Shaun Ryder,{{cite web |url=http://thetalkhouse.com/music/talks/luke-haines-the-auteurs-black-box-recorder-talks-sleaford-mods-divide-and-exit/|title=Luke Haines (the Auteurs, Black Box Recorder) Talks Sleaford Mods' Divide and Exit |date=30 April 2014 |work=The Talkhouse Music |access-date=15 August 2015}} John Cooper Clarke,{{cite web|url=https://www.factmag.com/2013/05/03/the-song-fuck-off-lo-fi-punk-poets-sleaford-mods-big-up-wu-tang-and-savage-the-system/|title="The song? Fuck off": lo-fi punk poets Sleaford Mods big up Wu-Tang and savage the system |work=FACT Magazine |first=Louis |last=Pattison |date=3 May 2013 |access-date=15 August 2015}} Mark E. Smith,{{cite web |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/15139-sleaford-mods-divide-and-exit-review |title=Reviews – Sleaford Mods |work=The Quietus |first=Luke |last=Turner |date=2 May 2014 |access-date=15 August 2015}}{{Failed verification|date=January 2023}} Ian Dury,{{cite web |url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/interviews/anything-to-get-away-from-the-conservatives-anything-an-interview-with-sleaford-mods|title="Anything to get away from the Conservatives. Anything" – An interview with Sleaford Mods |first=Chris |last=McCall |date=3 November 2014 |work=The Skinny |access-date=15 August 2015}} Mike Skinner{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/various-artists/15253 |title=Sleaford Mods – 'Divide And Exit' |first=Louis |last=Pattison |date=25 April 2014 |work=NME |access-date=15 August 2015}} and Nigel Blackwell{{cite web|url=https://thequietus.com/articles/13987-sleaford-mods-austerity-dogs-review|title=Reviews – Sleaford Mods |first=David |last=Bell |date=26 November 2013 |work=The Quietus |access-date=15 August 2015}} as well as various punk and oi! artists. Williamson has cited influences including the mod subculture, the Wu-Tang Clan, Stone Roses, Nas, Red Snapper, Trim, Two Lone Swordsmen, rave and black metal.{{cite web |last1=Harrison |first1=Ian |date=26 February 2014 |title=Sleaford Mods: Notts Duo Make Incensed English Rap Murk |url=http://www.mojo4music.com/12270/sleaford-mods-notts-duo-make-incensed-english-rap-murk// |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426000936/https://www.mojo4music.com/12270/sleaford-mods-notts-duo-make-incensed-english-rap-murk// |archive-date=26 April 2014 |access-date=23 September 2014 |website=Mojo magazine}}

• Jason Williamson - vocals, rap (2007–present)
• Andrew Fearn - computer, samples, loops, programming, production (2011–present)

• Simon Parfrement (aka Simon Claridge) - computer, samples, loops, programming, production (2007–2012)

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.sleafordmods.com/}}
• {{Commons category-inline|Sleaford Mods}}

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Category:Musical groups from Nottingham

Category:English electronic music duos

Category:English hip-hop groups

Category:British political music groups

Category:Rough Trade Records artists

Category:Electropunk musical groups

Category:Ipecac Recordings artists

Category:English rock music duos

Category:Hip-hop duos

Category:2007 establishments in England