The Charlatans (known in the United States as The Charlatans UK owing to an American band having the same name) are an English alternative rock band.

They were originally formed in Birmingham by bassist Martin Blunt, who recruited fellow West Midlanders; Rob Collins (keyboards), Jon Brookes (drums), John Baker (also known as Day) (guitar) plus vocalist Baz Ketley, who was almost immediately replaced by Tim Burgess.

Former Electric Crayons singer Tim Burgess (from Northwich) replaced Ketley before the release of The Charlatans' debut single "Indian Rope" in 1990 on the band's own Dead Dead Good Records label. It proved an indie hit and the group soon found a major label, Beggars Banquet off-shoot Situation Two, in time for the release of "The Only One I Know" which reached the Top 10 in the UK singles chart.

The follow-up album, Up To Our Hips (1994) reached number 8 in the UK albums chart.

In 1995 the band's fourth self-titled album saw them become major UK stars again, topping the UK albums chart and spawning the top 20 single "Just When You're Thinking Things Over".

Us And Us Only saw the start of a new era for The Charlatans. Their first release for Universal saw new keyboard player Tony Rogers make his Charlatan's album debut (he had previously toured in support of Tellin' Stories and contributed to b-sides "Keep It to Yourself" and "Clean Up Kid" from the "How High" single) and the band took on a slightly country sound, heavily influenced by Burgess's love of Bob Dylan. The soul influenced Wonderland followed in 2001 before the more traditionally 'Charlatans' sounding Up At The Lake was released in 2004.

On 1 October 2007 the band announced their next album to be "given away" for free on the Internet, starting with the single You Cross My Path on UK radio site XFM.

www.thecharlatans.net