*shels

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title: "*shels" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["post-metal-musical-groups", "english-progressive-rock-groups", "english-heavy-metal-musical-groups", "musical-groups-established-in-2003", "2003-establishments-in-the-united-kingdom"] topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/*shels" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist"]

FieldValue
name*shels
originLondon, England
California, USA
genreProgressive rock, post-rock, alternative metal, shoegazing, post-metal
years_active2003–present
labelShelsmusic
associated_actsMarch of the Raptors, Ancients, Mahumodo, Eden Maine, Fireapple Red,
websitehttp://www.shelsmusic.com
backgroundgroup_or_band
::

| name = *shels | image = | origin = London, England California, USA | genre = Progressive rock, post-rock, alternative metal, shoegazing, post-metal | years_active = 2003–present | label = Shelsmusic | associated_acts = March of the Raptors, Ancients, Mahumodo, Eden Maine, Fireapple Red, | website = http://www.shelsmusic.com | current_members = | past_members = | background = group_or_band

*shels is a British-American rock group, formed in 2003. The band have been described as a supergroup of the British underground music scene, as they have, at various times, featured former members of bands including Mahumodo, Eden Maine and Fireapple Red.

History

The band was formed in 2003 by singer/songwriter Mehdi Safa and drummer Tom Harriman, after the break-up of their former band Mahumodo. *shels took their name from the 1999 Mahumodo EP, entitled Shels. They released an EP, Wingsfortheirsmiles, in 2004 on Shelsmusic, a record label founded by Safa in 2000. culminating in it being named one of the top albums of 2007 by Rock Sound magazine. The band toured the UK in June and July of the same year in support of the album, performing with various groups such as Bossk and The Ghost of a Thousand. The tour included a performance at GuilFest, where the band share a stage with My Vitriol and Zico Chain.

The band's second EP, Laurentian's Atoll, was then released in November 2007. This was composed of remastered versions of the three tracks from Wingsfortheirsmiles, four new recordings and an extended version of "water", from Sea of the Dying Dhow. The band embarked on a second UK tour in November 2008, which included a performance at Damnation Festival, where they shared a stage with the likes of Cathedral and Carcass. Their second full-length, entitled Plains of the Purple Buffalo, was released on 27 June 2011.

Band members

While all music and releases have been written by Mehdi Safa, live performances have featured a number of different artists performing with the band. Vocalist Mehdi Safa said in an interview with Rock Sound, "The whole point of *shels is that it is very free, It is not really a band in the traditional sense, we can have people from other bands come in and play certain shows. It is set up to be a very free vehicle. There is a core of who is involved, but you can compare it to The John Williams Orchestra. It has a core but the line-up changes around that core".

The line-up for the band's 2007 tour included:

  • Mehdi Safa – vocals, guitar
  • Tom Harriman – drums
  • Simon Maine – guitar
  • Green Dave – guitar
  • Phil Maine – guitar
  • Red Dave – bass guitar
  • Ed Mathews – atmospherics
  • Arif Driessen – trumpet

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

  • Wingsfortheirsmiles (2004)
  • Laurentian's Atoll (2007)

Singles

  • Butterflies (On Luci's Way) (2011)

References

References

  1. (April 2008). "Round Up: *shels". Rock Sound.
  2. Finney, Graham. (August 2018). "Interview with *shels". planet-loud.com.
  3. (July 2007). "*shels – RS Sponsored Tour!". Rock Sound.
  4. Sellers, Karl. (18 October 2010). "Interview – Mehdi Safa (*shels)". love-it-loud.com.
  5. (July 2007). "*shels – New Horizons". Rock Sound.
  6. Kellehar, Rachel. (December 2007). "*shels: Laurentian's Atoll [8/10]". Rock Sound.
  7. Dillon, Jared W. (21 June 2007). "*shels: Sea of the Dying Dhow". Sputnikmusic.
  8. McGrath, Ken. "*shels: Sea of the Dying Dhow (Undergroove)". Blistering.
  9. Kellehar, Rachel. (July 2007). "*shels: Sea of the Dying Dhow [9/10]". Rock Sound.
  10. (25 December 2007). "Top 75 Albums of 2007". Rock Sound.
  11. "Guilfest 2007 Lineup". virtualfestivals.com.
  12. (October 2008). "Damnation Line-up Unravels". Rock Sound.
  13. (July 2007). "*shels: New Horizons". Rock Sound.

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