Smaller were an English alternative rock, Britpop band from Liverpool, active during the 1990s. They had hits with "Wasted" and "Is" in 1996 and 1997.
The band was formed in the early 1990s by former Cook da Books guitarist/singer Peter "Digsy" Deary, his brother Steven (drums), Jason Riley (guitar/vocals), and Paul Cavanagh (bass guitar). The band's debut release was the single "God I Hate This Town" in 1995. They recorded a session for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show in November that year. A second single failed to chart, but they broke into the UK top 75 with "Wasted" in September 1996. Their next single, "Is", which featured Noel Gallagher of Oasis on guitar, gave them their biggest hit, reaching number 55 in the UK in March 1997.
The band's debut album, Badly Badly, was released in April 1997, featuring further contributions from Gallagher. A second album was recorded, featuring a guest appearance from Richard Hawley, but it remained unreleased, various members of the band left and were replaced by friends of the Smallers - Lee Watson on guitar and Chris Mullin on bass joined 1999, drummers Bren Moore & Chris Campbell came along later and the transition from Smaller to The Sums happened in 2005.
The band's lyrical themes included relationships, financial problems, and Digsy's experiences with drugs.
Digsy went on to front The Sums.
Links to Peel[]
In the 80's, Peel played Digsy's old band, Cook Da Books on his radio programmes, including two sessions they recorded for his show. After Digsy formed Smaller, Peel was impressed by their music to invite the group to do a session for his show in 1995. After 1997, the band disintegrated and Peel never revisited them on his radio programmes.
Sessions[]
1. Recorded: 1995-11-07. First Broadcast: 18 November 1995. Repeated: 01 March 1996
- Wasted / Small Times / Giz A Life / What's New
Other Shows Played[]
- 08 September 1995: 'It's Closed (CDS-Smaller)' (Maximum X)
- 16 September 1995 (BFBS): 'It's Closed (CDS-Smaller)' (Maximum X)
- 06 October 1995: It's Closed (CD Single – Smaller EP) Better Records
- 1996
- 15 March 1996: ‘Stray Dogs And Bin Bags (7 inch )’ Better Records
- 09 December 1996 (John Peel's Classic Sessions): Wasted (session)
- 1997
- 04 January 1997: Just As Bad (7") Better
- 18 February 1997: Is (7") Better (Peel mistakenly calls the track Work Better)
- 06 March 1997: ‘Wasted (CD – Badly Badly)’ Better Records
- 29 May 1997: Wasted (v/a album - You'll Never Walk Alone - The Hillsborough Justice Concert) V2
- 03 June 1997: Giz A Life (v/a CD - You'll Never Walk Alone - The Hillsborough Justice Concert) V2