| Rialto | |
| Background: | group_or_band |
| Origin: | London, England |
| Genre: | Alternative rock, Britpop[1] |
| Years Active: | 1997 - 2002, 2023–present |
| Label: | EastWest China Records Eagle Records Koch Records (US) |
| Associated Acts: | Kinky Machine The Stranglers |
| Past Members: | Louis Eliot Jonny Bull Julian Taylor Pete Cuthbert Toby Hounsham Anthony Christmas |
Rialto are an English rock band formed in London in 1997. They released their self-titled debut album in 1998, followed by their second and final album, Night on Earth, in 2001. Their single "Untouchable" reached the top 20 in the UK Singles Chart.[2] [3] In the summer of 1998, Rialto became the first ever UK chart band to release a single exclusively through the internet.[4] [5] [6]
Despite finding favour with music critics, with Melody Maker anticipating "a fairytale future of Oasis-like proportions", the band were famously dropped by their label East West, a Warner Music Group imprint, a month before the release of their heavily promoted eponymous debut album, denting the group's chances of major commercial success. Neil McCormick noted that Rialto were "among the most critically acclaimed and highly touted new groups to emerge" of the late 1990s, making "carefully crafted, Beatlesque pop, with an epic, cinematic sound and slightly sinister lyrics". The group gained a following in East and Southeast Asia, particularly in South Korea where their debut reached the number one spot in the album charts.[7] [8]
Rialto grew from the remains of the band Kinky Machine, which featured singer Louis Eliot and guitarist Jonny Bull.[9] Kinky Machine released two albums: their self-titled debut in 1993 (Oxygen/MCA Records) and Bent in 1995.
In 1997, Eliot and Bull rejoined and, with the addition of bassist Julian Taylor, drummer Pete Cuthbert and keyboardist Toby Hounsham, formed Rialto.[9] Later that year, they released their first singles, "When We're Together" and "Untouchable."[9] The latter was re-released in January 1998 and cracked the Top 20 in the UK Singles Chart. Despite the anticipated arrival of their self-titled debut album, East West Records dropped them from their label, with China Records releasing the album on 13 July 1998 instead.[9]
A six-track EP, Girl On A Train, followed in 2000, receiving accolades from NME and Q magazines. By the time Rialto gathered to make a second album, Hounsham and Christmas had left the group, leaving them as a four-piece. The band released their second and final album, Night on Earth, in 2001.
Although plagued with bad luck in Britain, the band ultimately found an audience in East and Southeast Asia, notably South Korea, where they displaced Celine Dion's "My Love Will Go On" from the number one spot with double Platinum album sales for Rialto. The group's strong Asian following would see Eliot play concerts in Hong Kong and Singapore when he went solo in 2004.[10]
On 19th April 2023, it was announced that Rialto have reformed, and would be performing at the Shiiine On Weekender festival in November 2023.
Following the band's original split, Eliot released his solo debut, the Everybody Loves You When You're Dead EP, in 2002, followed by his full-length debut, Long Way Round, on Iodine Records in 2004. In 2010, he released Kittows Moor under the name Louis Eliot and The Embers. Since 2011, Eliot has toured extensively as a full time member of Grace Jones's band.
In 2014, Eliot and Lily Allen teamed up to cover the late Tarka Cordell's "Shelter You" for a compilation album commemorating his life.[11] Eliot helped Cordell write the song originally and the chords echo Rialto's "Summer's Over".
Bull co-wrote the song "Friday Night" with Lily Allen at his studio in southwest Portugal. The song ended up on her debut album Alright, Still.
Toby Hounsham now plays keyboards for The Stranglers and Mungo Jerry.
In November 2023, Rialto played the Britpop and Madchester-focused festival the Shiiine On Weekender at Butlin’s Minehead Arena alongside acts like The Rifles, The Primitives, Sleeper, Martin McAloon and The Supernaturals.[12]