White China, great unknown band from Scotland

Early 1984 White China signed a record breaking major production deal with Island Records and Stiff Music in the UK, an American Deal with MCA was complete by the middle of that year.

It became quickly obvious to the Band that things werent all they could be, after spending 6 days in RAK Studios in London with Steve Brown as producer and Pete Glenister as co-producer, "Real World" the first single, was delivered to Dave Robinson owner of Stiff Music and now MD of Island Records.

Robinson wasnt happy with what he heard so, he asked Steve Brown to remix the song at Wessex Studios in London, but again he didnt like what he heard.

Robinson then had the single remixed a further 17 times with various producers and different studios, the final version being done in Rockfield, Wales with Julian Mendelsohn as producer, Robinson was heard in conversation stating, the success other artists like U2, Bob Marley, Frankie Goes to Hollywood were having on Island meant he had to delay the Bands debut single, due to no staff being available to push the band to radio and tv.

The Band werent happy with his decisions or this version of "Real World" and let Dave Robinson know in no uncertain terms, it appeared at that time Julian Mendelsohn was the prefered producer in Robinsons eyes, but on his first efforts the Band didnt want to work with him, Peter Powel of Radio 1 agreed that the Bands efforts with Steve Brown were by far a better version.

The tapes were then sneaked up to Scotland for Neil Ross at REL studios in Edinburgh to remix and complete a 12" version, Neils remix was considered good by the Band and management, he had origionally produced the Bands demos that had attracted so much attention from various major labels, but again Dave Robinson rejected this version.

At this point producer Martin Rushent stepped in, he was willing to do a new version of "Real World" at his Genetic Studios, this session didnt better that of the first Version by Steve Brown, so Dave Robinson decided to release Julian Mendelsohns version against the bands wishes.

The Band then Toured for the 3rd time with Big Country in the UK, Eagerly awaiting to find out how there first single was doing in the charts the band were given a bombshell blow, they had been penalised for selling to many copies in Scotland, indications of an initial top 40 with the first single were now in tatters.

The Band went back to the drawing board to find another producer to do a second single "Too Young", this was to be released 2 weeks into the Steeltown tour the band had agreed with Big Country.

Producer Howard Gray was then chosen, the Band then went to CBS Stusios in London, and then to be haunted in, The Manor Studios and Ridge Farm, again with co-producer Pete Glenister to complete the second single "Too Young", the Band were happy with the results, but Dave Robinson was not, his mention of Julian Mendolsohn again drove the band out of Islands offfices in disgust and off to tour with Big Country with no single to promote.

On this Tour the Band decided that this time they would find a producer to record the first Album "The Innocence" with or without Islands approval.

The Band were introduced to producer John Punter, instantly they struck up a good relationship with John and decided to go back to Genetic Studios, Phil Tennant was to be the engineer who the Band had previously worked with on Martin Rushents version of "Real World" so things were looking up!.

Now late 1985, the album was finished, the final mixes were to be completed in Air Studios, Oxford Street, London.

The Band were happy with what John Punter had finished for them, at last after having to record 48 track for most of the album it sounded close to how the Band did live.

Dave Robinson was given the album early 1986, this time he liked what the Band had done, he quickly released "Smiles and Jokes" to be followed by "Too Young" but sadly disaster struck, Dave Robinson was given his marching orders from Island and Chris Blackwell wasnt going to be back incharge for some time, so all Island releases were shelved for the time being.

The Band completely disolusioned by this time, and feeling very much a good TAX loss for Island, refused Dave Robinsons offer to move to Stiff to release the first album, a move that they might be thankfull for, Stiff Records/Music shortly after went bust, and the Band negotiated to get off Island, sadly the Band went there different ways at this point never to reform, but still remain good friends to this day.

The first album "The Innocence" is now being persued by the Band, it is hoped that Universal will honour Islands contract and return the master tapes, a release date of early 2007 is the target, the Album Island didnt want anyone to hear may eventually make it to cd, all be it some 20 years late.


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Fiat Lux and their secrets...

Fiat Lux comprised David P Crickmore, Steve Wright and Ian Nelson (above) and were together from 1982 to 1985.

They managed to brush the edges of the Top 75 singles chart during 1984 with 'Secrets' reaching number 65 and 'Blue Emotion' reaching number 59. After six singles the band eventually went their seperate ways in 1985, 'Solitary Lovers' being their last single. Most people would probably recognise 'Secrets' without knowing the artist. May be it was just a cruel twist of fate that meant Fiat Lux never made it 'big'.

It all began at Bretton Hall College, Wakefield, during the late 70's where Steve Wright and David P Crickmore attended. They came together when Steve joined the college band that David was in called The Juveniles (2 of their tracks appeared on a compilation album 'Household Shocks' around 1980).

After college, Steve joined the Yorkshire Actors Company. One of their productions was 'The Cabinet Of Dr Calagari'. One of the company, Andrew Winters was a Bill Nelson fan and realising the Cocteau connection, he persuaded Bill to write music for the show. This is how Steve got friendly with Bill.

Steve mentioned that he had some songs, and Bill suggested that he shout them into a cassette recorder and if they were any good he would do something with them at his home studio 'The Echo Observatory'. Instead of this, Steve went to David for help and they revamped and arranged the ideas and recorded them decently on a 2 track Reel to Reel. The result so impressed Bill that he abandoned the home studio offer. Instead, he booked time at 'Ric Rac Studios' in Leeds for them to record a single for his Cocteau Label.

While waiting for this to happen, Steve and David started gigging the material locally as 'He's Dead Herman'. They used a number of local musicians to bolster Steve's vocals and David's Casio keyboard and guitar. One of these was an Ian Nelson, who they met not through Bill, but through another local musician Ada Wilson, who had used Ian in his band 'Keeping Dark'. At this stage Ian was one of a number of random musicians who turned up on an impromptu basis.

Steve and David then recorded 'Feels Like Winter Again' and 'This Illness' as a duo, with Bill as the third musician and producer. It was at this point Bill asked them what the band's name was. The reply was 'He's Dead Herman'. After some laughter he suggested a change might be in order. Steve had a little red book full of names that they'd thought up, so he handed this to Bill and he picked 'Fiat Lux' out of the list.

There was another long wait before the actual release date, the start of radio play and the NME single of the week which led to the Blancmange Tour. During this period, Ian became fully assimulated into the band's line up.

The rest they say is history....


http://www.hiredhistory.co.uk/the_band.htm
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Jimmy Jimmy, a jangly pop band

Jimmy Jimmy would have been considered a forgotten band from the '80s if anybody had actually known the group in the first place. A duo consisting of vocalists/guitarists James O'Neill and Jimmy Kemp, Jimmy Jimmy debuted with the chirpiest of singles -- the keyboard-laced jangle pop gem "I Met Her in Paris" -- in 1985.

Reminiscent of Herman's Hermits and the Mindbenders, Jimmy Jimmy had enough Merseybeat charm and British Invasion hooks to make listeners believe that they were '60s relics. Perhaps that is why the group failed to achieve mass acceptance, at least in the U.K. Obscure to most British and American music fans, Jimmy Jimmy found a spot between Aztec Camera and the Housemartins on the Philippines' new wave radio stations, as "I Met Her in Paris" and, to a lesser degree, the lovely ballad "Lady" became staples of the format.



Syrupy lyrics and boyish harmonies overflowed on the band's only LP, Here in the Light, released in 1986 on CBS in the U.K. Since the late-'90s Internet explosion, Jimmy Jimmy has acquired greater recognition, as collectors of rare new wave and indie vinyl have sought out the duo's scarcely available small discography.”


From AllMusicGuide

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Yours sincerely, The Colourfield...

In January 1984 The Colourfield released their first single, "The Colourfield", which just missed making the Top 40 in the UK Singles Chart. In the summer of the same year, they released "Take" as their second single, which commercially did not come close to their debut six months earlier. However, the next single release would be the one that would land them a high position on the charts. "Thinking of You" released in January 1985, made it to number 12 in the UK chart, and featured Katrina Phillips on vocals. The final single, released days before their debut album came out, was "Castles in the Air" which reached the lower reaches of the UK chart.

When Virgins & Philistines was initially released in April 1985 it contained twelve tracks in the U.S. release and ten in the UK version - but can now be found with twenty tracks as a Japanese re-release, containing many B-sides and live tracks. It failed to gain a large audience due to difficulty in marketing an album with such a diverse sound -- it mixes 1960s and early 1970s pop music with more acoustic based melodies and string arrangements. Virgins & Philistines is often regarded as the direct musical predecessor to the later work of The Lightning Seeds in the 1990s, whom Hall would later collaborate with in a songwriting role whilst providing occasional vocals.

Virgins & Philistines contained all original material except "The Hammond Song" (a cover of The Roches song), and "Can’t Get Enough of You Baby" (written by Linder/Randell), which was the only track that received much airplay. The album was recorded at Strawberry Studios in Stockport (near Manchester) and was produced by Hugh Jones and Jeremy Green, and engineered by Chris Jones.

Additional personnel featured on the album included Pete de Freitas (Echo & the Bunnymen) on drums, Paul Burgess (ex-Camel, also drums), Preston Heyman (percussion), Ian Nelson (clarinet), Katrina Phillips (background vocals).

January 1986 saw The Colourfield become a four-man group, adding Gary Dwyer (ex-The Teardrop Explodes) on drums. Around the same time, the band's U.S. label compiled a six track EP entitled The Colour Field (sic) containing the new UK single and B-side "Things Could Be Beautiful" / "Frosty Morning" produced by Ian Broudie; two live tracks recorded at the Hammersmith Palais, "Pushing Up The Daisies" and "Yours Sincerely"; and two older tunes produced by Hugh Jones, "Armchair Theatre" and "Faint Hearts". "Things Could Be Beautiful" did not make the UK or U.S. charts and it was another year before the public would hear anything new.

The Colourfield returned in the spring of 1987. They were now just a duo augmented by Raquel Welch's band and session musicians. Hall had to hire Welch's band after Lyons left during the sessions. The content of Deception was different from Virgins & Philistines. It is almost as if Hall formed a new band but kept the same name. Since then Hall has voiced his displeasure with the recording of the album, because he did not feel he had control of the session musicians and producers the way he needed to preserve The Colourfield’s sound. Deception was produced by Richard Gottehrer and Jeffrey Lesser at Wool Hall Studio, New York City.

The first two singles released from Deception were both covers: "Running Away," an original by Sly & the Family Stone, from the album There's a Riot Goin' On, released in 1971 on Epic; and "She," a song composed by the songwriting duo of Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart. "She" was released as a 12” and contained the additional track "Monkey in Winter" with lead vocals by Sinéad O'Connor. The track "Miss Texas 1967" is considered Hall’s best vocal performance on the album.[citation needed]

Additional personnel featured included Gregg Mangiafico (keyboards); Sammy Merendino (drum programming); Roland Orzabal (Tears for Fears) (guitar on "Running Away" and "Confession"); Dollette McDonald; Deborah Malone and Janice Pendarvis (background vocals on "Digging It Deep").

Hall has gone on to do many other projects since The Colourfield. In 1990, with a few ladies under the name of Terry, Blair and Anouchka, he released the album Ultra Modern Nursery Rhymes which contained a cover of the Captain & Tennille's "Love Will Keep Us Together". In 1992 he collaborated with Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) under the name Vegas. In 1995 he released his first solo album, Home. He has worked with The Lightning Seeds, Stephen Duffy, Gorillaz, and Tricky. He has also appeared live with The Ordinary Boys.

On 21 July 2003, Hall released his album The Hour of Two Lights which is a collaboration with Mushtaq (Fun-Da-Mental), a twelve-year-old Lebanese girl singer, a blind Algerian rapper, a Syrian flautist, Hebrew vocalists, a group of Polish Gypsies and Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz).

Lyons is now a university tutor of graphic design at Sheffield Hallam University in South Yorkshire.

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Jim Jiminee, Hampshire's indiepop band

Hailing from Fleet in Hampshire in September ‘86, Jim Jiminee made catchy jangly guitar pop songs that are still popular today. They bounced into the indie top 20 with their first single ‘Do It On Thursday’ with a showing on ITV’s Saturday Morning TV Chat show which led to majors tours of the UK and Europe.
Over the next year they promoted their album and released a second single ‘Town & Country Blues’ which again the video was shown on the Chart Show and a BBC Radio Session.

Their next release was a track not featured on the album, ‘I Wanna Work’ which was followed by another UK during in early ‘89.

After the departure of Delphi left the band as 4 piece to carry on with recording the second album, ‘The Thatcher Years’ including the infectious lost classic single ‘Impetuous Girl’. Unfortunately, the steam went out of the band and in late ’89 they decided to call it a day and the album remained in the vaults until it was issued in 2000.

In 1999 saw Japanese label Vinyl Japan reissue the debut album ‘Welcome to Hawaii’ which surprised everyone to appear in their end of year top selling albums. This led to Vinyl Japan releasing their unreleased second album ‘The Thatcher Years’ and a compilation of singles, bsides and radio sessions, ‘Town & Country Blues’.

Of the original 5 members, 3 went on to form 'The Deep Season' and signing to Sony releasing 2 EP’s and an Album. Over the years they have featured/guested with a cornucopia of bands and artists including Arnold, The Sundays, Robyn Hitchcock, and The Audience.

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Care's precious diamonds and emeralds..

Formed by Paul Simpson and Ian Broudie in 1983 in Liverpool, England. The band released a string of singles in the 1980s but soon broke up without producing an album. Their songs, which include "Whatever Possessed You," "Flaming Sword," "My Boyish Days," and "Chandeliers," were compiled and released posthumously as the album Diamonds and Emeralds (1997, Camden/Sire Records).

Paul Simpson, in between Care's activity, was the vocalist of another English band, The Wild Swans, whose songs include the Zoo Records 12" single "The Revolutionary Spirit" and "Young Manhood," "Bible Dreams," and "Whirlpool Heart," from their first album Bringing Home the Ashes (1988, Sire); currently, Simpson uses the moniker Skyray and released the albums The Dream Diaries and Liquid Crystal Display, both in 2004.

Ian Broudie, on the other hand, became more successful after forming The Lightning Seeds in the late 1980s, releasing a string of albums which spawned hit singles like "Pure," "All I Want," "Life of Riley," "Three Lions," and "Life's Too Short." Now solo, Broudie released his first album, Tales Told, in 2004.

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Shack, simply the best Liverpool band!

Before founding Shack, Michael and John Head were in the cult 1980s band The Pale Fountains, and released two albums, Pacific Street in March 1984 and ...From Across The Kitchen Table in March 1985. However, though critically acclaimed, the albums only reached Numbers 85 and 94 in the UK Albums Chart. That band folded in 1986 when bassist Chris "Biffa" McCaffrey died of a brain tumour.

The Head brothers soon re-emerged as Shack, signing to the Ghetto Recording Company, home of record producer Ian Broudie's solo project, The Lightning Seeds and British soul band Distant Cousins. Shack's first album Zilch was released in 1988, but was neither critically nor commercially successful. The follow-up, Waterpistol, was recorded in 1991 at London's Star Street Studio. Shortly after the recording of Waterpistol was complete, the studio burnt down and most of the tapes were destroyed. The only remaining DAT of the album was in the possession of producer Chris Allison. At the time, Allison was in Los Angeles, California and when he returned, it transpired that he had left the copy in his hire car. It was only found weeks later after a frenzied search. However, by this point, Ghetto had folded so the record was without a distributor. Shack split, with Wilkinson joining fellow Liverpudlian John Power (formerly of The La's) to form the successful Britpop band Cast. The Head brothers accompanied Love for a few touring dates. They then went on to form The Strands, which found them further critical acclaim.

Waterpistol was finally released in 1995 on the German independent record label, Marina (NME described Mick Head as "a lost genius and among the most gifted British songwriters of his generation"), but had negligible sales. Mick Head went on to suffer problems with heroin addiction.

The Head brothers, along with Iain Templeton (who drummed on The Magical World of the Strands) and bassist Ren Parry reformed Shack in 1998, releasing HMS Fable (1999). Perry was replaced by Guy Rigby on bass for ... Here's Tom With the Weather (2003). Wilkinson rejoined in 2005, replacing the departed Rigby.

The band are currently signed to Noel Gallagher's 'Sour Mash' record label. May 2006 saw the release of the album ...The Corner of Miles and Gil named after two of the Head brothers' heroes, Miles Davis and Gil Evans.

In October 2007 the band released their greatest hits compilation album, Time Machine, including two new tracks. They toured briefly in England in October and November with Martyn Campbell on bass, including a set at the Liverpool Academy on 26 October 2007, which was filmed and recorded for a possible live album and/or DVD.

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Deutschland's Succubas...

Xmal Deutschland (pronounced: ixmal doytschland) was a musical group from Hamburg, Germany. Founded in 1980 as an all-girl band, they became successful outside their native country. Vocalist Anja Huwe was often compared to contemporaries like Siouxsie Sioux (Siouxsie & the Banshees). Xmal Deutschland's last album was released in 1989.

Xmal Deutschland (often written as X-Mal Deutschland) was formed in 1980 by Anja Huwe (vocals), Manuela Rickers (guitar), Fiona Sangster (keyboards), Rita Simon (bass guitar) and Caro May (drums) in Hamburg, Germany. Their first single, "Großstadtindianer" was released a year later on Alfred Hilsberg’s ZickZack label. The band also contributed the to the label compilation Lieber Zuviel Als Zuwenig (ZZ 45). Around this time Rita Simon was replaced by Wolfgang Ellerbrock.

In 1982 the band released the Goth classic "Incubus Succubus". Drummer Caro May left the band and formed a new band, and the vacant drummer position was filled by Manuela Zwingmann the same year. While German audiences were less than receptive at first, a United Kingdom tour opening for the Cocteau Twins resulted in a label deal with independent label 4AD Records. Their debut album, Fetisch and the singles "Qual" and "Incubus Succubus II" were released in 1983, all 3 making the UK Independent charts, even though the band wrote and performed in German.

Manuela Zwingmann left the band after one year, being replaced by Peter Bellendir. This lineup, Huwe/Rickers/Sangster/Ellerbrock/Bellendir proved to be the longest running. 1984 saw the release of the single "Reigen" and the album Tocsin, followed by a world tour through 1985.

The Sequenz EP was essentially a remake of a John Peel session, which had been originally recorded April 30, 1985, and was broadcast May 13, 1985. The EP contained the tracks Jahr Um Jahr II, Autumn (the band’s first English lyrics, apart from brief snatches of English that appeared in Qual, Young Man and Tag für Tag) and Polarlicht but omitted Der Wind, which was played at the Peel sessions.

1986 saw the release of Matador, produced by Hugh Cornwell of The Stranglers. Xmal Deutschland also opened for The Stranglers at a concert at Wembley Arena in London. Their follow-up album, Viva was recorded in Hamburg and was released in 1987, followed by the single "Sickle Moon". Viva contains a large number of English lyrics, among others a poem by Emily Dickinson. It was during this time that the band were interviewed by Jamie Meakes for the infamous underground Goth Fanzine 'House Of Dolls'.

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The Bunnymen's sugar kisses...

Echo & the Bunnymen are an English post-punk group, formed in Liverpool in 1978. Their original lineup consisted of vocalist Ian McCulloch, guitarist Will Sergeant and bass player Les Pattinson, supplemented by a drum machine. By 1980, Pete de Freitas had joined as the band's drummer, and their debut album, Crocodiles, met with critical acclaim and made the UK Top 20. Their second album, Heaven Up Here (1981), again found favour with the critics and reached number 10 in the UK Album chart. The band's cult status was followed by mainstream success in the mid-1980s, as they scored a UK Top 10 hit with "The Cutter", and the attendant album, Porcupine (1983), reached number 2 in the UK. Their next release, Ocean Rain (1984), continued the band's UK chart success, and has since been regarded as their landmark release, spawning the hit singles "The Killing Moon", "Silver" and "Seven Seas". One more studio album, Echo & the Bunnymen (1987), was released before McCulloch left the band to pursue a solo career in 1988. The following year, de Freitas was killed in a motorcycle accident, and the band re-emerged with a new line-up. Original members Will Sergeant and Les Pattinson were joined by Noel Burke as lead singer, Damon Reece on drums and Jake Brockman on keyboards. This new incarnation of the band released Reverberation in 1990, but the disappointing critical and commercial reaction it received culminated with a complete split in 1992.

After working together as Electrafixion, McCulloch and Sergeant regrouped with Pattinson in 1997 and returned as Echo & the Bunnymen with the UK Top 10 hit "Nothing Lasts Forever". An album of new material, Evergreen, was greeted enthusiastically by critics and the band made a successful return to the live arena. Though Pattinson left the group for a second time, McCulloch and Sergeant have continued to issue new material as Echo & the Bunnymen, including the albums What Are You Going to Do with Your Life? (1999), Flowers (2001) and Siberia (2005). The band are scheduled to release a new album, The Fountain, in 2009.

Ian McCulloch began his career in 1977, as one third of the Crucial Three, a bedroom band which also featured Julian Cope and Pete Wylie. When Wylie left, McCulloch and Cope formed the short-lived A Shallow Madness with drummer Dave Pickett and organist Paul Simpson, during which time such songs as "Read It In Books", "Robert Mitchum", "You Think It's Love" and "Spacehopper" were written by the pair. When Cope sacked McCulloch from the band, A Shallow Madness changed their name to The Teardrop Explodes, and McCulloch joined forces with guitarist Will Sergeant and bass player Les Pattinson to form Echo & the Bunnymen. This early incarnation of the band featured a drum machine, assumed by many to be "Echo", though this has been refuted by the band. In the 1982 book Liverpool Explodes!, Will Sergeant explained the origin of the band's name:

"We had this mate who kept suggesting all these names like The Daz Men or Glisserol and the Fan Extractors. Echo and the Bunnymen was one of them. I thought it was just as stupid as the rest." - Will

In November 1978, Echo & the Bunnymen made their debut at Liverpool's Eric's Club, appearing as the opening act for The Teardrop Explodes.

Echo & the Bunnymen's debut single "The Pictures on My Wall" was released on Bill Drummond's Zoo Records in May 1979, the B-side being the McCulloch/Cope collaboration "Read It in Books" (also recorded by The Teardrop Explodes approximately six months later as the B-side of their final Zoo Records single "Treason"). McCulloch has subsequently denied that Cope had any involvement with the writing of this song on more than one occasion.

By the time of their debut album, 1980's Crocodiles, the drum machine had been replaced by Trinidad-born Pete de Freitas. The lead single, "Rescue", climbed to UK #62 and the album broke into the Top 20 at #17, following critical acclaim. Their next album, Heaven Up Here (1981), was an even bigger critical and commercial success, reaching the UK Top Ten (#10), although a single lifted from the album, "A Promise", could only reach UK #49.

In June 1982, the Bunnymen achieved their first significant UK hit single with "The Back of Love" (#19). This was followed in early 1983 with their first Top 10, the more radio-friendly "The Cutter", which climbed to #8. The parent album, Porcupine, hit #2 in the album chart. Now firmly established as a chart act, further hits followed with a one-off single, "Never Stop" (#15), and "The Killing Moon", a preview from the new album featuring a dramatic McCulloch vocal, which became the band's second UK Top 10 single at #9.

Following a PR campaign which proclaimed it "the greatest album ever made", 1984's Ocean Rain reached #4, and today is widely regarded as the band's masterpiece. Single extracts "Silver" (UK #30) and "Seven Seas" (UK #16) consolidated the album's continued commercial success. In the same year, McCulloch had a minor solo hit with his cover version of "September Song".

Echo & the Bunnymen toured Scandinavia in April 1985, performing cover versions of songs from Television, the Rolling Stones, Talking Heads and The Doors. Recordings from the tour emerged as the semi-bootleg On Strike. Unfortunately for the band, Ocean Rain proved to be a difficult album to follow up, and they could only re-emerge in 1985 with a single, "Bring On the Dancing Horses" (UK #21), and a compilation album, Songs to Learn & Sing, which made #6 in the UK album chart. However, all was not well in the Bunnymen camp, and Pete de Freitas left the band. The next (self-titled) studio album was recorded with ex–ABC drummer David Palmer, but when de Freitas returned in 1986, it was largely re-recorded. Eventually released in mid-1987, the record sold well (UK #4), and was a small American hit, their only LP to have significant sales there.

In the United States, the band's best-known songs were "The Killing Moon" (from Ocean Rain) and "Lips Like Sugar" (from Echo & the Bunnymen), although "Bring On the Dancing Horses" is well-known as one of the songs on the soundtrack to the John Hughes film Pretty in Pink. They also contributed a cover version of The Doors song "People Are Strange" to The Lost Boys soundtrack.

McCulloch quit the band in 1988 and de Freitas was killed in a motorcycle accident in mid-1989. After former Colenso Parade singer Oscar turned down an offer to take over from McCulloch, Pattinson and Sergeant recruited ex-St. Vitus Dance vocalist Noel Burke and drummer Damon Reece. Keyboardist Jake Brockman (a touring member of the band for several years previously, and a contributor to the 1987 album) was promoted to full member, and the five-piece recorded Reverberation in 1990. This did not generate much excitement among fans or critics, and the group was abandoned in 1992. McCulloch, meanwhile, had continued his solo career, with the albums Candleland in 1989 and Mysterio in 1992.

In 1994 McCulloch and Sergeant began working together again under the name Electrafixion; in 1997 Pattinson rejoined the duo, meaning the three surviving members of the original Bunnymen lineup were now working together again. Rather than continue as Electrafixion, the trio resurrected the Echo & the Bunnymen name and released the album Evergreen (1997), which reached the UK Top 10.

Immediately prior to the release of the band's next album, What Are You Going to Do with Your Life? (1999), Les Pattinson quit to take care of his mother. McCulloch and Sergeant have continued to tour and record as Echo & the Bunnymen, touring repeatedly and releasing the albums Flowers (2001) and Siberia (2005). The group's current touring incarnation comprises McCulloch and Sergeant along with Stephen Brennan (bass), Gordy Goudie (guitar), Nicholas Kilroe (drums) and Ceri James (keyboards).

In 2002 the group received the Q Inspiration award. The award is for inspiring "new generations of musicians, songs and music lovers in general." The band were said to be worthy winners as they have done much to promote the Mersey music scene. In a later interview for Magnet magazine, McCulloch said "It validates everything that we've tried to achieve—cool, great timeless music. It's not like an inspiration award affecting the past, it's affecting the current music."

On 11 September 2006, Echo & the Bunnymen released an updated version of their 1985 Songs to Learn and Sing compilation. Now re-titled More Songs to Learn and Sing, this new compilation was issued in two versions, a 17-track single CD and a 20-track version with a DVD featuring 8 videos from their career.

In March 2007, the Bunnymen announced that they had re-signed to their original record label, Warner, and were also working on a new album. The band were also said to be planning a live DVD, entitled "Dancing Horses", which also contained interviews with the band. This was released in May 2007, on Snapper/SPV.

On 11 January 2008 Ian McCulloch was interviewed on BBC Breakfast at the start of Liverpool 08. He was asked about new Bunnymen material and he revealed that a new album would coincide with their gig at the Royal Albert Hall in September. He went on to say that the album was, "The best one we've made, apart from Ocean Rain."

In a 20 April 2008 interview with the Sunday Mail Ian McCulloch announced The Fountain as the title of the new Echo & the Bunnyman album with producer John McLaughlin, which was originally due to be released in 2008 but has now been put back to mid-2009. The first single will be "Think I Need It Too" which was scheduled to be released in August 2008, but didn't materialise.

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The Lotus Eaters, great lads from Liverpool

The Lotus Eaters was the name of a 1980s New Wave band from Liverpool, England, whose single "The First Picture of You," from their debut album, No Sense of Sin (1984), became a hit in the UK.

The Lotus Eaters was formed in 1982. Many music enthusiasts regard the group as a part of the New Romantic movement. However, although Peter Coyle (vocals), Jeremy Kelly (guitar), Mike Dempsey (bass guitar), and Stephen Creese (drums) had the elegant attire, and fashionable haircuts of New Romantic bands, their music was more understated and folksy than the synthesized Euro disco of Japan, Visage and Duran Duran. The Lotus Eaters toured extensively throughout Japan, despite arguments with their record label over there.

In 1998, The First Picture of You, a compilation of the Lotus Eaters' BBC Radio 1 sessions, was released, and the No Sense of Sin album was reissued on CD with bonus tracks.

In 2002, The Lotus Eaters, reduced to the duo of Peter Coyle (vocalist - formerly with The Jass Babies) (born 25 January 1962, Liverpool) and Jeremy Kelly (guitarist - formerly with The Wild Swans) (born 8 April 1962, Liverpool), reformed after almost two decades, to record and release a new album, entitled silentspace.

In 2009 The Lotus Eaters Announced a Concert to be Held at the Liverpool Philharmonic on Sat 25th July as part of the Summer Pops

the band comprising Peter Coyle (vocals, lyrics, melody), Jem Kelly (guitars, samples, programming) and Stephen Emmer (arranger, programmer, composer) are currently writing and recording demos for a new album. They will be working with producer, Steve Power in February.

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Jobs for the Boys

In 1984 Ronnie Flood, founder of the city’s musicpaper Merseysound “had the idea of putting together a compilation of the best local groups who weren’t getting airplay” (New Society, Jan 1985). The record was issued by Natalie Records and was co-funded Merseyside County Council. In Flood’s view “it was a way of getting groups together to make a statement about the state of the unemployed people in Liverpool” - music~isms

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The Beloved's Sweetest Harmony...

In 1983, Jon Marsh placed an advertisement in the music press, which read as follows:

"I am Jon Marsh, founder member of the Beloved. Should you too wish to do something gorgeous, meet me in exactly three year's time at exactly 11am in Diana's Diner, or site thereof, Covent Garden, London, WC2."

At the meeting in 1986, Cambridge graduate Steve Waddington was present, and the two formed the core of Journey Through, with Tim Havard. When Guy Gausden completed the lineup, the group changed their name to The Beloved. The band originally had a guitar-oriented sound, but soon began using drum machines and dance elements. They sounded at times like New Order, and a summation of this stage of their career can be found on their first studio album, Where It Is, which is actually best described as a compilation of previously released material, consisting of singles and related B-Sides, pressed onto one individual long playing work. The record includes all the early singles, "A Hundred Words," "This Means War," "Happy Now," and the double A-side "Surprise Me" / "Forever Dancing," all of them released between 1986 and 1987, all of them on Where It Is, all of them making the Top 30 in the UK Indie Chart, and all of them failing in the UK Top 75.

After slimming down to a two piece consisting of Marsh and Waddington only, they began to embrace a dance sound more wholeheartedly and, in 1988, after another flop with another double A-side single, "Loving Feeling" / "Acid Love," the single entitled "The Sun Rising" became a club favourite, and crossed over to the pop chart, peaking at Number 26 in the UK, in September 1989. "The Sun Rising" featured a sample of "O Euchari" by Emily Van Evera, a sample also used by Orbital on their tune "Belfast." This was followed by their second album, Happiness, the first and only as a duo and the first fully consisting of previously unreleased new songs, out in 1990, from which the hit single "Hello" was also released, becoming their first international hit, and reaching Number 19 in Great Britain. This song features rather peculiar lyrics, mostly consisting in names of real or fictitious people, groups and institutions, representing the band's most important and varied influences (from religion with Saint Peter and Saint Paul, to music with Kym Mazelle, literature with Jeffrey Archer and cartoons with Flintstones). The LP spanned two more singles, "Your Love Takes Me Higher," which made the UK Top 40on its second release, and the final cut, "Time After Time," one of their most famous songs internationally, which was only a minor hit in Great Britain, failing at Number 48.

The success of the album, and the four associated singles, pushed the group to follow it up with a brand new song, "It's Alright Now," which also failed to make the Top 40, stopping at Number 46 in the UK, but helped promote a remix album, entitled Blissed Out, which was released in 1991, mostly being an expanded remodelled version of Happiness, as the title itself suggested. Almost all of the songs from the second album were featured there, in one or more remixed versions, plus another mix of "It's Alright Now," and some previously unreleased instrumental tunes. The work is released in 3 different editions, varying in length and track listing, depending upon the related format: the vinyl LP, the shortest, includes 8 tracks; the CD version, which is the only one currently available, features 11 songs; and the MC edition, the richest, contains 16 remixes.

"It's Alright Now" and Blissed Out were the last works made by Jon with Steve at the time. By 1993 Waddington had left the group, and was replaced by Jon's wife, Helena Marsh, who was working as a purchaser for the Parisian fashion house Comme des Garçons, for the third studio album, Conscience. The band faced some controversy for the video of the first new single, "Sweet Harmony," which consisted of a naked Marsh, among a group of women, also naked (although it was shot and edited so as not to show anything which might cause it to be censored). One of the nude stars of this video is British television presenter Tess Daly. By this time, the project had dropped the definite article from its name, and was now simply called Beloved. "Sweet Harmony," which was originally used to promote the second season of the popular American primetime soap opera Melrose Place in some European countries, including Italy, has since been used in Homebase advertising too.

Though the video is thought by many to witness Jon Marsh naked for the first time publicly, it must be noticed that it actually isn't. Due to the huge success of the 1990 album, a VHS video collection had actually been packaged in 1991, containing all four singles from that album, and a final ghost video track, where Jon is openly making love to then official girlfriend, backed by a long extended remix of a track from the Blissed Out album. While "Sweet Harmony" went on to become their biggest hit in the UK, reaching Number 8 in January 1993, the other four tracks taken from the Conscience album, pressed onto three singles, one a double A-side, did not achieve the former's success. "Celebrate Your Life"/"You've Got Me Thinking" peaked at Number 23, "Outerspace Girl" at Number 38, and the final single, "Rock to the Rhythm of Love" did not even chart. This latter song was performed live at a concert during London Gay Pride in 1994.

After Conscience, a fourth studio album entitled X was released in 1996. Though the record peaked at Number 25 in the UK Albums Chart, and three singles were released from it, only the first, "Satellite," made the Top 20, peaking at Number 19, while the second, "Deliver Me," failed to chart, and the third, "Ease the Pressure," did not enter the UK Top 40, stalling at Number 43; this would be the last original album from the group to date.

Beloved singles are continually remixed, and the band has not been formally wound up though for the last decade Jon Marsh has concentrated on his flourishing career as a club DJ, as well as his young family.

During this silent period, two Beloved compilations were marketed, the latter a retitled re-release of the former. The first, promoted by a new remix of "The Sun Rising" (which reached Number 31, only five positions lower than the original 1989 release, and their last chart entry in the UK to date), was entitled Single File, and was released in 1997, just one year after X. The second compilation was released in 2005, titled The Sun Rising after the band's first hit single. Jon has collaborated with original band member Steve Waddington and others on new material, although this remains unfinished as of June 2008.

'

Dislocation Dance, The Jazzy Combo from Manchester

Dislocation Dance were a post-punk band from Manchester, England formed in 1978 by Ian Runacres (vocals, guitar), Andy Diagram (trumpet, vocals, also of The Diagram Brothers), Paul Emmerson (bass), and Dick Harrison (drums). Their 1980 self-titled debut EP appeared on The Buzzcocks' New Hormones label, garnering comparisons with Gang of Four. It would be nearly a year before the release of the follow-up, the Slip That Disc EP, which featured a cover of The Beatles' "We Can Work It Out". Vocalist Kath Way joined for debut album Music Music Music (1981). In 1982, Diagram left to join The Pale Fountains, the band also signing to Rough Trade. 1984's Midnight Shift album saw a more jazzy pop sound, with Herbie Ryan joining on saxophone. A final EP, "What's Going On", saw the return of Diagram, and the replacement of Way by Sonja Clegg. The band called it a day in 1986, with Clegg going solo, releasing an album in 1987, and Diagram rejoining The Pale Fountains.

In 2000 the band reformed for a tour of Japan. The original members Runacres, Way, Harrison and Diagram were joined by Phil Lukes (previously in The Mancinis and Dutch Uncle). Lukes had also worked with Runacres on a project under the name 'Brightside'.

A new album, Cromer, was released by Vinyl Japan in 2005. This featured Runacres, Lukes, Diagram, and several other performers. The BBC sessions were released on CD by Vinyl Japan in 1999.

In 2007 Dislocation Dance played a couple of gigs in Manchester, at the Carlton Club in Whalley Range. The line-up consisted of Runacres, Lukes, Way and Harrison again. They were joined by Jon Board (trumpet) and Andrew Weaver (keyboards). Runacres, Lukes, Board and Weaver have been working on some new material during 2009.

'

Peter Murphy's Final Solution

Peter John Murphy (born 11 July 1957, near Northampton, England, raised in Wellingborough, England), is an English Gothic Rock vocalist. He was the vocalist of the rock group Bauhaus who later went on to release a number of solo albums, such as Deep and Love Hysteria. Thin, with prominent cheekbones, a rich voice, and a penchant for gloomy poetics, Murphy is often called the "Godfather of Goth.

Bauhaus was one of the establishing acts of the goth movement. Their use of spacey recording effects and theatrical aesthetics was evocative of both early horror films and glam rock; they became an influential group in the early days of gothic rock.

In 1982, Bauhaus appeared during the opening sequences of the horror movie The Hunger, performing one of their most popular songs, "Bela Lugosi's Dead". The camera focused almost exclusively on Murphy during most of the scene, panning only briefly to the stars David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve.

Bauhaus reformed in 1998 for a tour, and once again in 2006 for a tour with Nine Inch Nails. The latter group's frontman, Trent Reznor, and Murphy were guests on several radio shows together, often performing three to four duets per radio show. Reznor cites Bauhaus as one of his primary musical influences, and had toured with Murphy earlier in both their careers.

By 1983, Bauhaus broke up and Murphy went on to new projects not involving Bauhaus members Kevin Haskins, David J, or Daniel Ash. After some brief dabbling with acting and dance - including a slightly odd televised performance to Bauhaus's "Hollow Hills" - he soon formed Dali's Car with Mick Karn, the bass player from Japan. The group recorded only one album, which was a commercial flop.

Murphy's solo career over time became more varied than Bauhaus, ranging from pseudo-pop to haunting ballads that showcased his deep and complex vocals. While critics allege his lyrics can be "pretentious" to "incomprehensible," the lyrical themes are often metaphysical or religious. His knack for such lyricism and the occasional pop-reinvention did, however, cause some initial trepidation by the record-buying public. After the commercial non-start of Dali's Car, Murphy's first solo album was similarly overlooked. Should the World Fail to Fall Apart did spawn several singles, including a cover of Pere Ubu's "Final Solution" that made a minor splash on the club scene.

The followup, Love Hysteria, did much better. It also marked the beginning of a long-term collaboration with songwriter Paul Statham, who co-wrote songs with Murphy until 1995. The resulting singles "All Night Long" and "Indigo Eyes" helped garner a wider following, and the black-and-white video for "All Night Long" entered rotation on MTV.

The pinnacle of Murphy's solo popularity came with the release of Deep. For this album Murphy reinvented himself as somewhat of a rock-god, now sporting hair dyed platinum blonde and performing a much more aggressive alt-rock sound. The single "Cuts You Up" from Deep held on to the top spot on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for longer than any other single before - displacing "So Alive" by his former Bauhaus-bandmates Love and Rockets. The record was unbroken until the release of R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion."

Although he had grown up in an Irish-Catholic household, Murphy converted to Islam in the 1990s, eventually moving to Turkey with his wife. A subsequent Middle Eastern influence can be heard in his later albums. In particular, Murphy has been inspired by the mysticism of Sufism. 1992's Holy Smoke mixed some traditional Turkish influences into the music while continuing the sound pioneered on Deep. The album was unable to recapture the momentum of Deep, and in the post-grunge alternative landscape, the more pop-flavored album seemed anachronistic, and the choice of the odd, disheveled-Murphy Anton Corbijn photo used on the cover baffled many fans.

In 1995, Murphy embraced a lower-key, ambient pop sound for Cascade, featuring producer Pascal Gabriel, guest work from "infinite guitarist" Michael Brook, and overall a much stronger incorporation of electronics. This album was also to be his last major collaboration with Paul Statham, who departed to form Peach Union with Pascal Gabriel and eventually write songs for Dido and Kylie Minogue. Cascade was also Murphy's last original release for Beggar's Banquet records, which had been his label since Bauhaus.

Shortly after this departure, Murphy recorded the Recall EP for the newly-formed Red Ant records, featuring a few new songs and some new, heavily electronic versions of older material, reworked in conjunction with Sascha Konietzko, Bill Rieflin and Tim Skold of the band KMFDM. Once again, he became label-mates with former Bauhaus alums Love and Rockets, who had also signed to Red Ant. This generated a significant number of rumours regarding a possible reformation of Bauhaus. While Red Ant quickly folded, Bauhaus did reform in 1998 for the Resurrection tour, one performance of which (at the Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City) was recorded and released on DVD by Metropolis Records as Gotham. The tour was a success, although Murphy refused to perform certain songs, because of his adherence to Islam, such as "Stigmata Martyr" and "St. Vitus' Dance." He cited their religious overtones as objectionable. The lyrics of the former include the Trinitarian formula in Latin and English, thus affirming the Christian doctrine of the Trinity which Islam deems heretical.

In 2000, Murphy performed his international Just for Love tour, which resulted in the album aLive Just for Love. It is a live recording of the fully uninterrupted set from the El Rey show in Los Angeles on November 30, 2000. During the tour, Murphy chose to perform with only two back-up musicians, Canadian electric violinist Hugh Marsh and Peter DiStefano from Porno for Pyros on guitar, although former Bauhaus bassist David J sometimes joined the trio for an encore. At this point he also contributed to works by noted film composer Harry Gregson-Williams.

Also in 2000, Murphy gave a nod to the North American goth scene, where his solo works and his works with Bauhaus are still very popular, by making a surprise guest appearance at the sixth annual Convergence festival in Seattle, to perform a low-key, acoustic solo set.

Shortly thereafter, Murphy collaborated with the Turkish artist Mercan Dede on the album Dust. Heavily steeped in traditional Turkish instrumentation and songwriting, coupled with Dede's trademark atmospheric electronics, the album showed Murphy all but abandoning his previous pop and rock incarnations. Dust, released on goth/industrial stalwart label Metropolis Records, alienated many fans who had expected a more uptempo Murphy album (especially post-Recall), but it garnered some critical praise. Peter Murphy considers its most unique work to date and is most proud of the song "Your Face" from the album.

In 2004, Murphy signed to yet another new label, Viastar, which was home to several other 1980s pop artists who had moved into more eclectic areas. Despite numerous problems with the label, the album Unshattered was released, showcasing Murphy returning to a more pop sound.

Murphy undertook extensive tours of the U.S.A and Europe to promote 'Unshattered' in 2005, with a live band featuring guitarist Mark Gemini Thwaite of The Mission UK and Tricky on guitar, Jeff Schwartoff of Human Waste Project and Professional Murder Music on bass and Justin Bennett of Skinny Puppy on drums. Murphy and the band reconvened in November 2007 for shows in Portugal and Spain, with Nick Lucero replacing Bennett on drums. In May 2008 Murphy recorded a cover of the song "Warm Leatherette" with Trent Reznor and Jeordie White from Nine Inch Nails. This was played live at an intimate studio performance, and the video recording was released on both the official Nine Inch Nails website and YouTube. A US tour is scheduled for summer 2008.

On a blog posted on myspace, Peter has announced he is at work on a new studio album to be released in 2009. The album may feature production from Trent Reznor of NIN and feature Peter's version of the track "Warm Leatherette," which they have been performing live together. Peter has also expressed interest in taking his tour down to Australia once the new album is released.

In 2009 Murphy appeared at shows across the United States with Trent Reznor, and the band members Reznor had for the 'Lights Over the Sky Over North America 2008" tour.

He is married to Beyhan and has two children, named Hurihan and Adem. His wife has directed several of his videos, and leads the Turkish National Modern Dance company. Since 1992 he has been living in Ankara, Turkey.

'

KREW, The Best Back Up Band In The World

The Krew were the backing band for Nik Kershaw at the height of his fame. Each band member (apart from additional member Gary Wallis who joined the group later prior to The Riddle tour) passed the audition process by Nik and his then manager Mickey Modern, to form a group of musicians who went on to support Nik for tv appearances, world tours and studio recordings.

With their own identity now recognised and whilst Nik was busy writing for his 3rd album release, the guys decided to release their own single by 1985/86 entitled "Paper Heroes". Here the four Kershaw Krew members welcomed Steve Lee (vocals) and Gary Miller (guitar) to record the song. Great song but no chart entry and no 2nd single followed.

By 1988 The Krew had disbanded and parted company with Nik although Tim Moore and Gary Miller stayed on for the then forth-coming The Works album promotional stuff and a tour as supporting act with Elton John in 1989 before Nik's solo career ceased for a period of time which he spent writing/Producing for other artists.

'

The Apartments, Australian Pop Group

The Apartments, an Australian chamber pop group with echoes of Frenchman Serge Gainsbourg as well as Leonard Cohen and post-punk, were created around Peter Milton Walsh as lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter in Brisbane in October 1978.

Within a year, they had broken up. Walsh also played in The Go-Betweens for a couple of weeks in November/December 1978. Once The Apartments had broken up they released their first EP "Return of the Hypnotist."

Walsh then created Out of Nowhere, playing with them from 1981-1982, then left Australia to live in New York.

A year later, Ed Kuepper, in London and starting a new Laughing Clowns asked Walsh to join the Clowns for English, European and Australian tours which followed, as well as an album "Law of Nature".

In 1984, Peter Milton Walsh began a new Apartments, then left for England on a contract with Rough Trade Records in 1985.

In London he started a European Apartments that included English drummer, Nick Allum, Welsh piano player Judy Anderson, and German bass player Jürgen Hobbs.

Peter released his first Lp in 1985, The Evening Visits. It was released in the Apartments' home country in 1985, and though it did only moderately well there, the album became a cult classic in France. Seven years after the debut, Drift followed with similar exposure, causing a French label to sign the group for third album A Life Full of Farewells.

After re-releasing the first two LPs, plus Fête Foraine (which featured acoustic renditions of previous songs), the Apartments even gained American release on Twin/Tone Records. Their fourth proper album, Apart, was released in 2000They split some time after that.

- stripedsunlight/All Music Guide

'

The Man Who Immortalized Joy Division

Ian Kevin Curtis: Born 15th of July 1956, died 18th May 1980

Vocals, 1976 to 1980; also wrote the song lyrics Occasionally played Vox Phantom and Vox Teardrop guitars Brought up in Macclesfield, where he attended the Kings School; Worked in a record store which expanded his musical interests Later worked as a civil servant in Manchester and in Macclesfield Lyrically inspired by WS Burroughs, JG Ballard and David Bowie His frenetic stage style mirrored the epileptic fits he suffered Married Deborah Woodruffe on 23rd August 1975, in Henbury Committed suicide on the eve of Joy Division's planned US tour. - joydiv.org

"I think Joy Division will be remembered longer than we will be remembered. That scares me to death. Whilst I like playing pop music, when it's all over and done with I would like to be remembered for something that has great shape to it, that changes the course of western civilisation or whatever - which Joy Division will be remembered for. They will leave their mark." - Andy McCluskey of OMD

'

April Showers, Pure Pop Bliss!

April Showers were a short-lived Glaswegian pop duo comprised of Jonathan Bernstein and Beatrice Colin. Releasing their only known single “Abandon Ship” on Big Star, a subsidiary of Chrysalis, in 1984 it quickly gained a cult following due to it’s sparkling production from Anne Dudley (Art of Noise) and string-heavy arrangements. This quality was echoed on B-side “Everytime We Say Goodbye” with the 12-inch featuring an instrumental of Abandon Ship. - Tunesbag

At the time Abandon Ship was released, she was the girlfriend of James Grant who was then part of Friends Again and later the lead in the acclaimed Love & Money - thevinylvillain

Beatrice Colin is also a novelist who also writes for radio. Her novel, The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite (John Murray), has been published in the UK in July 2008 and in the US as The Glimmer Palace (Riverhead).

Beatrice was born in London and moved to Scotland as a child. After graduating from the University of Glasgow, she worked as a journalist for the arts and features pages of publications including The Scotsman, Sunday Herald and The Guardian. Her first novel, Nude Untitled, (Toby Press, 2000) was short-listed for a Saltire Award. Her second, Disappearing Act (Toby Press, 2001) was published in the US. She has written six plays and dramatised three novels for BBC Radio 4, and her short stories have been broadcast and published in anthologies and literary magazines such as Ontario Review and The London Magazine.

She has taught creative writing for Strathclyde University’s English Studies Dept and for Glasgow University’s Department of Adult and Continuing Education, and completed her doctorate in 2008. She currently works at Strathclyde University as a Royal Literary Fund Fellow. She lives in Glasgow with her two children. - www.beatricecolin.co.uk


Interesting bits:



O P T 0 2 4
APRIL SHOWERS "While The City Sleeps" ~ 7" (UNRELEASED)
Release date: N / A (1983)
Tracks: While The City Sleeps / Wasn't That A Rainbow
PM: Can't remember much about this, except that I liked it alot. Another groovy Scottish combo. Managed by Charles Cosh. Notes: Written by Jonathan Bernstein; published by Fishersongs. Recorded* but never cut. Base artwork for sleeve and labels delivered to OT.

http://home.wxs.nl/~frankbri/ot_discog1.htm#opt024


APRIL SHOWERS (November 1982)

Newlands. The Sleepy Hollow of the North. It would be a wise traveller indeed who, strolling through this plush suburban outback, detected the first stirrings of a new pop phenomenon. The cynical onlooker might suggest that the musical matrimony of teen misanthropist JONATHAN B. BERNSTEIN, stocky stoic HUBBLE and shambling Rodney Bewes acolyte BOBBY CALDWELL is damning proof of Fate's warped sense of humour. "However", muses Jonathan, "the only important thing in Pop is the Song. That's what people hear first and that's what they're going to remember".

April Showers have a repertoire built to last a lifetime. Waiting, wanting, lying, loving, losing, crying... all human life is here. Tunes like "Any Wednesday", "Don't Stay Away Too Long", "All Of The Stars In The Sky" and "Once In A Blue Moon" truly are songs for all seasons. Working within a flexible framework allows the three-man team scope to work with a variety of instrumentalists and singers, the vocals on their sample tape feature ex-French Impressionist, Beatrice Colin. The team are currently engaged in recruiting new accomplaces and hope to take to the boards in early October.

On receipt of a number of early demos, "Don't Stay Away Too Long" appears to have been OT's initial choice for the debut April Showers single, but by November '82 it seems that the band were thinking of saving this song, at least until such a time as it could be transformed by a "bigger production" into a proper "pop hit", one which would perhaps be "more suited" as a second single. In its place a new A-side, "While The City Sleeps", would pave the way for later and greater things whilst the original B-side idea, "Something To Shout About", was also to be replaced by another newer composition, "Wasn't That A Rainbow". The sure existence of any of these final recordings, however, has yet to be varified.

http://home.wxs.nl/~frankbri/ot_opt024.htm

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H2O, bluer than diamond...

H2O were formed in late 1978 by Ian Donaldson, following the demise of Glasgow punk band “Skroo”. The band’s original line up was Ian on vocals, Davie Wells on Guitar, Alan McGee on Bass and Kenny Dorman on drums, H2O’s first gig was Mayday 79 on the back of a lorrie in Elder Park, Govan, Glasgow.

1980 saw the addition of Ross Alcock on Keyboards, Colin Ferguson coming in on bass and Later still Colin “Biggles” Gavigan on saxophone. The band’s first independent single, on their own Spock label, “Hollywood Dream” was released in 1981 and radio play helped raise the H2O profile. An appearance on BBC Scotland’s “Street Buzz” allowed the band a chance to spread the word (and music) to a larger audience, also a video of the show allowed the band to show to London record companies what they could do.

In 1982, with the addition of new guitarists, John Harton and then Pete Kean, The Band signed to RCAand, subsequently, began work on their first recording- deciding at the last moment to put the intended ”A” side “Burn To Win” on the flip side and go with “Dream To Sleep” which spent ten weeks in the charts and reached no.17 in May 1983.

The follow up single, in August of the same year ”Just Outside of Heaven” reached no. 38 and spent six weeks in the charts. The pressure of finishing their album “Faith” and a nationwide tour with Kajagoogoo meant that their third single, “All That Glitters” produced by Steve Harley, was not released until 1984.

The band with new members, Phil Kean on drums and Johnnie McBriar on bass continued to tour and to release singles: “Who’ll Stop The Rain” and “You Take My Breath Away”

The inevitable record company in-house shuffles led to the band parting company with RCA.

The year of 1985 saw the band continue to tour, but with the strain of keeping a six piece outfit together, without a record deal, led to a split in October of that year. Ian and Ross continued to write and demo new songs- using several new names for the band - in an attempt to secure a new record deal and in the early months of 1986, they began to gain interest, they augmented their studio duo, becoming a five piece, to perform a number of showcase gigs for record companies, with auditions of former “Skroo” guitarist Frank O’Hare; drummer David Edgar and George Sinclair on bass,

The Fledgling company, “Legend Records” looked like the label that offered the best chance of keeping H2O a priority band, which they had been less and less so at the major label RCA. The band released the single “Blue Diamond” which just failed to reach the top forty in 1987 despite plenty of airplay from major radio stations.

Frank O’Hare left the band in late 1987 to be replaced by Ali McLeod, ex Hipsway, on guitar and the single “ The sun aint gonna shine anymore” was released at the end of that year.

Since 1988 the band have played a few one off gigs, notably in April 1993 for Radio Clyde’s “Cash For Kids” and later, in April 1994. the opening gig for the newly converted venue “The Renfrew Ferry” and a sell out gig in “King Tutts” in June 2003, celebrating 20 years of “ Dream To Sleep” was followed by a “Tutts” Christmas gig in December 2003…..far cry from the very first gig on the back of a lorry in Govan.

One of the original Guitarists Andrew Innes went on to join "Primal Scream" and Neil Clark joined "Lloyd Cole and the Commotions" Ian Donaldson is now singing with the Scottish Supergroup “Four Good Men” and George Sinclair and Frank O,Hare play with the Band “Carnaby Street” along with ex “Scheme” drummer Des Osborne and ex “Dolphins” Keyboard player Drew Phillips.


http://www.glasband80.co.uk/new_site/H2O.html

'

The Desert Wolves: What happened next...

It is said that hindsight is a great thing, I venture that may not to be true. That said I guess looking back the Desert Wolves would have been a lot more successful if they had slogged there way around the country building a legion of fans to go out and buy lots of records. They didn't, but that isn't to say they were not successful.

To the contrary, with the first single released, they were cutting quite a dash and garnering a great deal of support and adoration in the printed media. Locally the Manchester Evening local music writer Mick Middles was fulsome in his praise of the band

"It becomes obvious that The Desert Wolves are poised to become another important outpost in Manchester's flourishing left field pop scene"

and nationally Record Mirror gave "Love Scattered Lives" the honour of record of the week. No mean feat when you consider that also reviewed that week, and considered secondary, Aztec Camera and REM (yeah that REM)

Such things build careers and the important action now was for us to get another single out and into the shops. Here was band with songs and a repertoire and great personal charm to share with the record buying public.


"Speak to me Rochelle" was another deliciously light pop moment crafted by Marin King and his Platten brothers song writing partners. Again the highly stylised 60's pop tune was supplemented by a lavish full color sleeve art directed and design by one of Martin's friends. It was quite a production and the press continued to build

"Another Record of the Week in the Record Mirror. Wow!!!!
"The groove of Summer days - sounds so great you just have to chew it"

proclaimed Johnny Dee the famed music writer in his review of the week's releases, which must have deeply hurt those who weren't record of the week. I'm guessing Pet Shop Boys, Aha, Nina Simone, Everything but the Girl and ...... The Beatles could console themselves with extensive amounts of radio airplay to help get their records out and into the public consciousness and ultimately into the charts the following week.

And that sadly was it, in terms of The Desert Wolves and Ugly Man records. In an ideal world a third should have been released and then an LP. "Passion in the Afternoon" would have been that 3rd slice of the perfect pop cake, had my personal resources not started to evaporate. It was the best thing they ever did and stands the test of time listening to it today.

Post Ugly Man The Wolves shed bassist Richard Jones, who had always appeared on the periphery of the group and it's essential core. He had become increasing interested in developing a career as a working musician and initially worked as a session trumpeter with Black, and The Pasedenas, appearing on Pebble Mill at One, at one point. He had always shown an interest in the business side of things and how the whole process worked. More of Richard later.

Having seconded a friend Stuart Bowman, in on Bass the group became more tight knit but sadly nobody showed interest in continuing their recording career. As with most student bands the end of studies heralded the end of the band. A legend died but a legacy lingered.


As the internet was born, so was the ability for people who live all over the world to share common passions for obscure musical forms. The call them "communities" in the world of commerce and just such a community existed and was called Tweenet. Driven by Peter Hahndorf a guy from Hamburg who was building the internet, it became the central point for a world of people consumed by the guitar scene of the late 80's and all that it inspired.

In the late 90's Peter was based and working in London and I met up with him. As a result he introduced me to some of his fellow Desert Wolves fans, who ran a wonderful record label and were based in Berlin - Firestation Tower records. A plot was hatched there and then to release an LP of all the available tracks that the Desert Wolves had ever recorded. The band were delighted to be able to chronicle the past and Pontification was born and released in 2000. The CD is now every bit a valued and sought after as the vinyl that spawned it, as people snapped up the limited edition release.

The joy now is that people from all over the world - east and west of Stretford - listen to those songs each day and get the same joy they engendered in 1987 and 1988 and inspire another generation of songwriters.

http://uglymanlittlebird.blogspot.com/2008/02/desert-wolves-what-happened-next.html

'

Yeah Jazz, Six Lane Ends Here...

From the band's myspace page:

Before they phased out, two musical albums were published. The first album was named "Six Lane Ends" published only in LP and tape forms (There was a CD released in Japan only - see Pictures for details), the second album was called "Short Stories" initially on cassette only later rereleased under the new band name of "Big Red Kite". A single (EP) was lifted from the album entitled "April" in CD format containing 5 tracks including "Distant Trains". The "April" EP came out on Tubecroft Records in 1992 and also included "Rainbows" and live favourite "Lorraine & Duane".

The line up of the band at this point was Kev Hand (Gtr/Vocals), Chats (Gtr), Stu (Bass), Dave Blant (Accordion / keyboards) and Fred Hopwood (Drums). The song titles of "Six Lane Ends" are: .. Sharon .. Stones .. Lee Marvin .. All of My Days .. Freeland .. Step into the Light .. Heaven .. The Girl the Years Were Kind to .. Dirty Windows .. Make a Fist .. Stranger Than Fiction .. All the Stars .. This is Not Love (bonus track in some editions) Of these, "Sharon" was released as a single. Also on Cherry Red came "Morning O'Grady", "She Said" and "This Is Not Love". The "She said" single managed an impressive No34 in the independent charts and remained active within it for 4 weeks. Cherry Red provides on-line download services for "Six Lane Ends" in MP3 format. Customers can download single by single or the whole album at different prices.


Based around the affecting songwriting of Kevin Hand, Uttoxeter's best ever pop group released a single - Julie and the Sea Lions - on their own label, then recorded for Upright and Cherry Red. Peel and Long favourites for a while, especially with the classic This Is Not Love, it never translated to commercial success. The band returned to live action and recording in the early 1990s, releasing a 5 track CD EP on the Tubecroft label.

The band then changed their name in 1996 to 'big red kite' and released an album called "Short Stories" on the German record label Scout. The band played at the 1994 Heineken Music Festival. The band split up in 1999 although singer Kevin Hand still writes. Releases: Julie and the Sealions (7") 1984 on Distinctive records - Julie and the Sealions - American Planes She said (12") 1986 on Upright records This Is Not Love (12") 1986 on Upright Records Sharon (7"+12") 1987 on Cherry Red Records - CHERRY 100 - Sharon - The Girl The Years Were Kind To Six Lane Ends (LP) 23.May 1988 on Cherry Red Records - BRED 82 - Sharon - Stones - Lee Marvin - All My Days - Freeland - Step Into The Light - Heaven - The Girl The Years Were Kind Too - Dirty Windows - Make A Fist - Stranger Than Fiction - All The Stars Morning O'Grady (12") 1988 on Cherry Red Records - CHERRY 101 On compilations: Imminent 5 (LP) 1987 on Food Ltd - Bite 5 - Probably This Winter

http://www.myspace.com/yeahjazz

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