The Charlatans

The Charlatans formed in the West Midlands in 1989, emerging from the Madchester scene but developing a sound rooted in classic Hammond organ-driven rock that outlasted most of their contemporaries. Tim Burgess's cool, drawling vocal style and Mark Collins's guitar work gave them a consistency across a decade of records that more celebrated bands couldn't match. Some Friendly, their debut, was a UK number one. The Hammond organ running through the mix of their biggest records — played by Rob Collins before his death in 1996 — gave them a soul-influenced warmth that most Britpop bands lacked. They are one of the few acts from the era to have maintained genuine creative momentum.