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Mark Morriss
Morriss in 2009
Morriss in 2009
Background information
Also known asFi-Lo Beddow
Born
Mark James Morriss

(1971-10-18) 18 October 1971 (age 54)
Chiswick, London, England
OriginHounslow, London, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1993–present
Labels
Member ofThe Bluetones
Formerly of
  • The Bottlegarden
  • The Mummys
  • The Maypoles
  • The Helicopter of the Holy Ghost
Websitemarkmorrissmusic.co.uk

Mark James Morriss (born 18 October 1971) is an English musician, singer and songwriter. He is the lead singer of the indie rock band the Bluetones. The older brother of bandmate/illustrator Scott Morriss,[1] he began a solo career in 2006,[2] fronted the backing group the Mummys,[3] worked with Matt Berry's band the Maypoles,[4] and sung lead vocals for the Helicopter of the Holy Ghost project.[5]

Since 2008, Morriss has been playing solo shows across the UK while not touring with the Bluetones.[3] Following the band's temporary split in 2011,[6] he continued these shows as well as expanding his solo discography.[7] In 2023, he started touring acoustic shows with Bluetones guitarist Adam Devlin, playing their songs.

Early life

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Morriss was born in Chiswick, West London, although grew up in Hounslow, West London.[8] His mother was a huge fan of music and named Morriss' younger brother Scott after British-American musician Scott Walker, and worked behind the bar at Shepperton Studios.[9] His step-father was an accountant.[10]

From a young age, Morriss showed a strong interest in football,[10] considering Kenny Dalglish to be his hero,[9] supporting Liverpool.[11] Being the captain for his school football team for five years, he had trials for Crystal Palace at age 10. He stopped playing five years later, as he felt it was becoming too competitive.[12]

Following an injury from a tree accident, Morriss was unable to play football in his free time and decided to spend more time in his school's music department, and ended up getting guitar lessons outside of school. In this time, he befriended some of the founding members of the Bottlegarden, a group from 1989 that Morriss was involved with until its disbandment in 1993, with its lasting members rebranding as the Bluetones.[12]

At the time he was taking his A-levels, Morriss' mother was relocating to a small village in Cornwall as she was getting married since Morriss' father left home in 1983. Since he had issues with his step-father,[13] he moved in with his former girlfriend's family, and Scott, who was in the middle of sitting his GCSEs, moved in with their grandparents' house, which were on the same estate. One of the earliest tracks written by the Bluetones, "The Fountainhead", was written about Morriss not wanting to seem a disappointment to his grandfather, who he viewed as a father figure.[14][15]

Morriss attended Cranford Community School and West Thames College, where he dropped out. He left school with six GCSEs and three A-levels in English, art and theatre studies.[16]

Career

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The Bluetones

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Morriss performing at the Rochdale Feel Good Festival 2009

After leaving the Bottlegarden, Morriss co-formed the Bluetones in 1993 with his younger brother Scott Morriss and Adam Devlin. Their drummer left soon after their formation and they were introduced to Eds Chesters by their housemate Matthew Priest. Chesters decided to leave his current group, Soho, to join the Bluetones. Previously playing rhythm guitar, Morriss experimented with performing vocals until they eventually found a lead vocalist although ended up sticking with the role.[17] Although all members were credited as songwriters for their physical releases, Morriss primarily wrote some of their early songs like "Bluetonic", released in October 1995.[18] After signing to A&M Records,[19] the band released their debut album Expecting to Fly on 12 February 1996.[20] The album peaked at number one on the UK Albums Chart on first-week sales of 82,000,[21][22] publicising Morriss as a new figure in the middle of the Britpop movement.

Melody Maker compared Morriss' early songwriting to the Smiths, the Stone Roses and the Field Mice.[23] Sylvia Patterson of NME wrote that one of his songs is "incorrigibly cheery",[24] and Everett True considered it to have "incandescent beauty".[25] Examples of Morriss' influences are Bill Hicks,[26] Buffalo Springfield,[27] Love,[28] Scott Walker,[29] the Smiths,[30] and the Stone Roses.[31]

The band's second album, Return to the Last Chance Saloon, released 9 March 1998, failed to repeat the same commercial performance Expecting to Fly achieved as the post-Britpop era started to emerge.[32] Peaking at number ten on the in the Top 40,[33] It sold 100,000 copies while Expecting to Fly sold 300,000.[34][35] Despite this, he continued to release music until their initial split in 2011.[36] After their reformation in April 2015,[37] the band released their first album since 2010, Atlas, in May 2026.

Solo

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Morriss performing at Wychwood Festival 2011

At first, Morriss released music under the alias Fi-Lo Beddow, reluctant to use his name to begin with. The title comes from a rephrased name of the protagonist from the American action comedy film Every Which Way but Loose (1978), Philo Beddoe.[38] He self-released an EP of five tracks in February 2006, entitled The Fi-Lo Beddow EP.

Morriss released his debut solo album Memory Muscle in May 2008 to praised reviews.[39] A folk-tinged record, it featured re-recorded versions of all five tracks from The Fi-Lo Beddow EP. As well as this, it featured a cover of both Teenage Fanclub and Lee Hazlewood. The strings on the record were arranged by film composer David Arnold, who became a fan of the Bluetones' debut album Expecting to Fly (1996) whilst scoring the science fiction action film Indpendence Day, released in the same year.[40]

Following the Bluetones' initial split in September 2011,[36] Morriss hosted a one-off solo show with Bluetones members Adam Devlin and Eds Chesters at the Queen of Hoxton on 17 January 2013 as part of his PledgeMusic campaign used to help fund the production money towards his planned second solo album, A Flash of Darkness.[41][42][43] The album was released in 2013 as a Pledge campaign, although was reissued in 2014 through Acid Jazz Records.[3][44] This was followed by another Acid Jazz release in 2015, The Taste of Mark Morriss,[45] an album of covers.

Other collaborations

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Morriss has recorded the theme music for all of the children's audiobooks written by David Walliams, released on HarperCollins.[46] Morriss included these instrumentals on his second solo EP, This Is the Lie (And That's the Truth) (2013).[47] He became a member of Matt Berry's live band, the Maypoles, and regularly toured the UK with this outfit as a rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist.[48] He additionally performed backing vocals on Berry's fourth studio album Kill the Wolf (2013),[49] which was also released by Acid Jazz.

In 2021, Morriss appeared as the vocalist for Billy Reeves' the Helicopter of the Holy Ghost project, on their only album Afters.[50] Morriss joined former theaudience member Reeves on the album, which was co-produced by Richard Archer of Hard-Fi, with the album also featuring members of Cocteau Twins, Engineers and Gazpacho.[51][5][52]

In 2021, Morriss, Nigel Clark of Dodgy and Chris Helme of the Seahorses formed the short-lived supergroup together entitled MCH, their combined surname initials (Morriss, Clarke, Helme). They wrote songs together, trying to capture a "broad, poppy sound".[53][54]

Television appearances

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In 2001, Morriss, alongside the other members of the Bluetones, had an uncredited cameo appearance in the second series of Edgar Wright's Spaced, who also directed the music videos for Bluetones singles "Keep the Home Fires Burning" (2000) and "After Hours" (2002).[53][38] Later in 2003, Morriss had another cameo appearance in the first series of the sketch show Little Britain as a politician.[38][55]

In May 2022, Morriss made a guest appearance in the fourteenth series of the BBC One quiz programme Pointless Celebrities,[56][57] where he and Rick Witter of Shed Seven both won the jackpot for charity.[58][59]

Personal life

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Morriss has lived in Royal Tunbridge Wells,[60] Kent since 2009, and was made aware of the town from playing their in March 2003 at the venue The Forum, finding that something about the place "stuck" with him from the number of different towns he woke up at from the band's tour bus. He moved there as a commuter belt from London with plans to start a family. The band revisited The Forum as part of their 2011 farewell tour before their initial split.[8]

Abuse allegations

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In November 2021, allegations of emotional and physical abuse against Morriss were made by his ex-wife, Anna Wharton.[61][62][60] Morriss disputed the claims, telling The Guardian, "I may have been thoughtless and selfish in some of the dealings in my personal life of late, but these allegations of abuse and gaslighting are wholly untrue, and I refute them completely."[61] Following these allegations, Morriss was dropped from the Big Britpop Family Party in London,[63] and dismissed from the Helicopter of the Holy Ghost.[64] MCH's ending coincided with this.

On 2 March 2022, Morriss issued a statement on his website in response to his ex-wife's allegations made against him.[65]

Views

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When asked by Melody Maker in September 1995 seven reasons to hate, Morriss answered with Millwall F.C., lad culture, Saturday night "telly", anti-smokers, Sting, Bob Hoskins, and "98% of people in the music industry."[16]

Morriss stated in September 2011 that he no longer reads NME as he finds it depressing since they write about "the new Rita Ora single or the X Factor winner single, which is not what you get into the NME for."[66]

In May 2016, Morriss stated he shows no interest in the English rock band Oasis or their fanbase and that they "bore him shitless." While he explained he had nothing against their frontman Liam Gallagher, he said that he thought he should focus on his clothing company Pretty Green rather than contemplating a potential musical comeback.[67]

Three of the tracks from Morriss' fourth solo album, Look Up (2019), were written about the Brexit vote. The outcome of the vote made him question his place in the country and how he had always perceived it.[68]

Favourite albums

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Morriss has cited his favourite albums as On the Beach by Neil Young, Purple Rain by Prince and the Revolution, Forever Changes by Love, Scott 4 by Scott Walker, Hatful of Hollow by the Smiths, Check Your Head by the Beastie Boys, Rio by Duran Duran, The Stone Roses by the Stone Roses, Substance 1987 by New Order, and Please by Pet Shop Boys.[69][70]

Discography

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Solo

[edit]

Albums

  • Memory Muscle (2008)
  • A Flash of Darkness (2014) (originally a Pledge campaign album, but reissued through the Acid Jazz label)
  • The Taste of Mark Morriss (2015)
  • Look Up (2019) (originally a Pledge campaign album, but reissued on vinyl in 2019 through the Reckless Yes label)

EPs

  • The Fi-Lo Beddow EP (2006)
  • This Is the Lie (And That's the Truth) (2014)

Singles

  • "I'm Sick" (2008)
  • "Lay Low" (2008) (download-only)
  • "Space Cadet" (2014)
  • "Lucretia (My Reflection)" (2015)
  • "All the Wrong People" (2019)
  • "The Beans" (2019)

The Bluetones

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References

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  1. ↑ "Design & Illustration". scottmorriss.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  2. ↑ O'Brien, Jon. "Mark Morriss: Memory Muscle Tracks & Reviews". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "About". markmorrissmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  4. ↑ Jacques, Adam (14 February 2014). "How we met: Mark Morriss & Matt Berry - 'the most challenging thing about Matt is how difficult he is to say no to'". The Independent. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  5. 1 2 "The Helicopter of the Holy Ghost". Kscope. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  6. ↑ "The Bluetones to split up after September UK Tour - ticket details". NME. 28 March 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "MARK MORRISS". themouthmagazine.com. 6 September 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  8. 1 2 Sturt, Sarah (21 January 2014). "Meet musician Mark Morriss". greatbritishlife.co.uk. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  9. 1 2 "Four Shades of Blue". Vox. September 1995. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  10. 1 2 "Cup Of Tea: Mark Morriss From The Bluetones". The Anfield Wrap. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "with a little charm...: interviews: 2000: aol web chat". bluetones.org.uk. 13 January 2000. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  12. 1 2 "Live Wyre Music Podcast Episode 7 The Bluetones". YouTube. 15 March 2026. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
  13. ↑ Lewis, Helen (15 January 1999). "Bluetones star Mark reveals all". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  14. ↑ Whiley, Jo (1996). Mark Morriss Radio 1 interview (Radio broadcast). BBC Radio 1.
  15. ↑ "The Bluetones - Slight Return - Lead Singer Mark Morriss (Sept 2024)The God Cast Interview". YouTube. 25 July 2026. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  16. 1 2 "Melody Maker, 23 September 1995". Melody Maker. 23 September 1995. p. 32. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "Bluetones Biography Page". mechen.fsnet.co.uk. Archived from the original on 28 December 2002. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  18. ↑ "MM-1996-05-04.pdf" (PDF). Music & Media. 4 May 1996. p. 21. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  19. ↑ Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. p. 96. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
  20. ↑ "BRIT Certified Awards". BPI. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  21. ↑ Sexton, Paul (16 March 1996). "A&M's Bluetones 'Expecting To Fly'". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 11. p. 117. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  22. ↑ "MM-1996-05-04.pdf" (PDF). Music & Media. 4 May 1996. p. 21. Retrieved 25 June 2026.
  23. ↑ "Melody Maker, 23 September 1995". Melody Maker. 23 September 1995. p. 32. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  24. ↑ "Single of the Week". NME. 30 September 1995. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  25. ↑ True, Everett (February 1996). "The Bluetones - Expecting To Fly". Melody Maker. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  26. ↑ "with a little charm...: influences: bill hicks". bluetones.org.uk. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  27. ↑ "with a little charm...: influences: buffalo springfield". bluetones.org.uk. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  28. ↑ "with a little charm...: influences: love". bluetones.org.uk. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  29. ↑ "with a little charm...: influences: scott walker". bluetones.org.uk. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  30. ↑ "with a little charm...: influences: the smiths". bluetones.org.uk. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  31. ↑ "with a little charm...: influences: the stone roses". bluetones.org.uk. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  32. ↑ King, Ian (18 December 2015). "The Bluetones: Return to the Last Chance Saloon". popmatters.com. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  33. ↑ "Official Albums Chart on 15/3/1998". Official Charts. 21 March 1998. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  34. ↑ "RETURN TO THE LAST CHANCE SALOON by BLUETONES sales and awards". bestsellingalbums.org. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  35. ↑ "EXPECTING TO FLY by BLUETONES sales and awards". bestsellingalbums.org. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  36. 1 2 "The Bluetones to split up after September UK tour – ticket details". NME. 28 March 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
  37. ↑ "The Bluetones - Interview". eventhestars.co.uk. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  38. 1 2 3 "Interview with Mark Morris from The Bluetones, 13th October 2005". cinemaetc.co.uk. 14 August 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  39. ↑ Carroll, Steve (13 June 2008). "Mark Morriss, Memory Muscle (Universal) **** | York Press". York Press. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  40. ↑ "Fullfill Music". Fullfill.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  41. ↑ Brown, David (25 January 2013). "One Off Bluetones Reunion Gig". Louder Than War. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
  42. ↑ "Pledgers Only Concert - THIS THURSDAY!!". PledgeMusic. 14 January 2013. Archived from the original on 7 March 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
  43. ↑ "The Bluetones - Interview". eventhestars.co.uk. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  44. ↑ Adam Jacques (16 February 2014). "How we met: Mark Morriss & Matt Berry". The Independent.
  45. ↑ Paterson, Kevin (4 August 2015). "Album Review: Mark Morriss – The Taste Of Mark Morriss". backseatmafia.com. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  46. ↑ "Mark Morriss (Bluetones)". crystalballroomglossop.com. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  47. ↑ This Is the Lie (And That's the Truth) (CD EP notes). Acid Jazz. 2013. AJXCD350.
  48. ↑ "How we met: Mark Morriss & Matt Berry - 'the most challenging thing". Independent.co.uk. 14 February 2014.
  49. ↑ Tuffrey, Laurie (12 June 2013). "INTERVIEW: Matt Berry". The Quietus. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  50. ↑ Corbridge, Ian (9 August 2021). "The Helicopter Of The Holy Ghost | After | Louder Than War". Louder Than War. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  51. ↑ "The Helicopter of the Holy Ghost launch with video for Slow Down". 24 May 2021.
  52. ↑ "THE HELICOPTER OF THE HOLY GHOST release video for second single 'I Will Never Hurt' | XS Noize | Online Music Magazine". 30 June 2021.
  53. 1 2 Ryan, Gary (2 July 2021). "Does Rock 'N' Roll Kill Braincells?! – The Bluetones' Mark Morriss". NME. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  54. ↑ "Mark Morriss / Nigel Clark / Chris Helme / Neeve Zahra - Altrincham The Bowdon Rooms - 8th July 2021". EVEN THE STARS. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
  55. ↑ "Little Britain (TV Series 2003–2006) - Mark Morriss as Politician". IMDb. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  56. ↑ "BBC One - Pointless Celebrities, Series 14, Bands". BBC One. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  57. ↑ "Pointless". UKGameshows. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  58. ↑ "Witter on to a winner as Shed Seven play Doncaster Racecourse on Saturday night". charleshutchpress.co.uk. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  59. ↑ "This Saturday on BBC1 at 8.00pm, @Ricktw1tter and myself will be putting our obscure knowledge to the test on @TVsPointless". X. 4 May 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  60. 1 2 Leclere, Matt (19 November 2021). "The Bluetones frontman Mark Morriss from Tunbridge Wells, denies allegations of abuse to ex-wife Anna Wharton". Kent Online. Retrieved 8 September 2026.
  61. 1 2 "Bluetones frontman Mark Morriss denies allegations of physical and emotional abuse (The Guardian)". TheGuardian.com. 17 November 2021. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  62. ↑ Richards, Will (17 November 2021). "The Bluetones' Mark Morriss accused of abuse by ex-wife". NME. Retrieved 8 September 2026.
  63. ↑ "Mark Morriss dropped from Britpop event following abuse allegations". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  64. ↑ Geraghty, Hollie (17 November 2021). "The Bluetones frontman Mark Morriss accused of abuse by ex-wife". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved 8 September 2026.
  65. ↑ "Statement". Mark Morriss | Official Site & Store. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  66. ↑ "Interview: Mark Morriss". The State of the Arts. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  67. ↑ "The Bluetones Mark Morriss Says Oasis 'Bores Him S**tless'". stopcryingyourheartout.co.uk. 8 May 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  68. ↑ Auston, James (18 September 2019). "Exclusive Stream and Track by Track: Mark Morriss – Look Up". God Is in the TV. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  69. ↑ "Mark Morriss top 10 favourite albums". Louder than War. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2026.
  70. ↑ Doyle, Wesley (25 February 2014). "A Flash Of Brightness: Mark Morriss' Favourite Albums". The Quietus. Retrieved 8 September 2026.
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