World Party

Having worked as the musical director of a West End production of “The Rocky Horror Show”, Karl Wallinger wanted to create something original and subsequently joined the funk band the Out. The musician didn’t stay long however and soon joined Mike Scott’s Waterboys, contributing to the albums “A Pagan Place” and “This Is the Sea”. By 1986 Wallinger had left Waterboys and formed World Party, making his debut with the 1986 album “Private Revolution”. Spawning two modest hits “Private Revolution” and “Ship of Fools”, the album was recorded in Wallinger’s home studio, charting at No. 35 on the Billboard 200.

Like his debut, World Party’s 1990’s sophomore album “Goodbye Jumbo” featured singer Sinéad O’Connor, and highlights the musician’s candid songwriting. Yielding the hits “Way Down Now” and “Put the Message in the Box”, the album was nominated for the Grammy for Best Alternative Music Performance and was voted Q Magazine’s album of the year. Following the release of the EP “Thank You World” featuring the Beatles cover “Happiness Is a Warm Gun”, Wallinger enlisted the services of guritaitst David Catlin-Birch and drummer Chirs Sharrock to craft his third studio album. The result was 1993’s “Bang!”, which peaked at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart. As with World Party’s previous albums, the record was supported by extensive touring, with a notable performance at Glastonbury Festival in 1994.

Also in 1994 Wallinger recorded the song “When You Come Back to Me” as a part of the “Really Bites” soundtrack, after which he released his fourth LP “Egyptology” in 1997. Written following the death of his mother, the record proved a commercial disappointment compared to its predecessors. A three-year hiatus ensued, which lasted until 2000 where the musician issued the full-length “Dumbing Up”. Following the release, Wallinger suffered an aneurysm and was subsequently left unable to speak. After a 10 year break from performing during his rehabilitation, World Party performed at the South by Southwest festival in Texas, and released the five-track EP "Arkeology" in 2012.