Toploader are an English rock band from Eastbourne, East Sussex, formed in 1997,[1] with over two million album sales and several top-20 hits both home and abroad. Their debut album, Onka's Big Moka, sold over one million units and peaked in the top five of the UK Albums Chart, where it remained for six months; it earned them four nominations at the 2001 Brit Awards. They are best known for their 2000 cover of King Harvest's US hit "Dancing in the Moonlight", which became a global hit for them. Their second album, Magic Hotel, reached No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart. The band broke up in 2003, after the release of their second album, but they reformed in 2009 and remain active as of 2025.
By 1998, Toploader had been picked up by S2 Records, a subsidiary of Sony Music, and signed a six-album deal. On 7 May 1999, the band made their first live TV performance on TFI Friday, hosted by Chris Evans.[3] Later that same year, their debut album, Onka's Big Moka, was released on 11 November and became a huge hit. It was produced by Dave Eringa, a longtime collaborator of the Manic Street Preachers. It debuted at number five in the UK Albums Chart and settled at number four. "Dancing in the Moonlight" was the top single off the album, eventually reaching number seven in the UK Singles Chart, while "Achilles Heel" managed to get to number eight. The band received four nominations at the Brit Awards, though did not win any of them. On 24 June 2000, Toploader played at the Glastonbury Festival, as part of the Saturday lineup.
Breakup (2002–2003)
In 2002, the band released a second album, Magic Hotel. It was poorly received by critics and failed to match the success of the first.[4] They struggled with a backlash from the UK music press, and their single "Time of My Life" could only make it into the top 20. Due to the negative reception and the album not meeting the same success as the first, the band was dropped by S2. Not long after that, they broke up, in 2003.[4] Julian Deane retired as a musician and in 2007 founded Raygun Music, a Brighton-based management company that serves both as a record label and publisher.[5]
Reforming and later work (2009–present)
Toploader performing at the Doghouse in Dundee in 2011
In 2009, Toploader got back together in a lineup that consisted of three of its five original members: Joseph Washbourn, Dan Hipgrave, and Rob Green, with touring and session member Patrick Greenberg (a former touring-bassist with Clean Bandit).[citation needed] They signed a one-record deal with Underdogs Music[6] and released Only Human in June 2011. The first single, "Never Stop Wondering", came out on 14 March 2011. Another single, "A Balance to All Things" (featuring a remix from Ash Howes), followed on 20 June 2011.
In May 2012, Toploader played at Lakefest festival,[7] and in July, they appeared at the Tiree Music Festival in Scotland. During 2012, the band agreed to act as patrons for a UK-based children's charity called Time Is Precious.[8]
In 2013, Toploader released a new single, "Turn It Around", co-written with Eg White, as part of a four-song EP of the same name. In 2013, they headlined the LeeStock Music Festival in Suffolk and the AmpRocks Festival in Bedfordshire.[9][10]
On 12 May 2017, the band released their fourth album, Seeing Stars; "Roll with the Punches" was chosen as its lead single. The record was crowdfunded using an online direct-to-fan music platform called PledgeMusic.[citation needed]
^"Achilles Heel" originally peaked at number 64 on the UK Singles chart, before being re-released in May 2000 and reaching a new peak chart position.[14]
^"Dancing in the Moonlight" originally peaked at number 19 on the UK Singles chart, before being re-released in November 2000 and reaching a new peak chart position.[14]
^"Dancing in the Moonlight" did not enter the Flanders Ultratop 50 but peaked at number 3 on the Ultratip chart.[23]
^"Dancing in the Moonlight" did not enter the Wallonia Ultratop 50 but peaked at number 10 on the Ultratip chart.[23]
^"A Balance to All Things" did not enter the Flanders Ultratop 50 but peaked at number 27 on the Ultratip chart.[23]
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