Diagram Brothers -

Diagram Brothers were an English art-punk band from Manchester that debuted with “We Are All Animals,” a 1980 DIY maxi-single. Buzzcocks manager Richard Boon signed them to his New Hormones label for their second single (“Bricks”) and 1981 album Some Marvels of Modern Science, followed by the 1982 10″ Discordo 45. Bassist/trumpeter Andy Diagram doubled in Dislocation Dance and The Pale Fountains.

Members: Andy Diagram (bass, vocals), Simon Diagram (drums), Lawrence Diagram (guitar), Fraser Diagram (vocals, guitar), Jason Diagram [aka Jason Pitchers] (bass, 1980)

Background

The Diagram Brothers sprung from The Mysterions, a post-punk trio comprised of three Manchester University Science majors: guitarist Lawrence Fitzgerald and brothers Jason (bass) and Simon Pitchers (drums). They wove jagged sounds fueled by Jason’s love for jazz rock (Brand X, Stanley Clarke) and Fitzgerald’s penchant for the melodic discord of XTC‘s early work.

In October 1979, they linked with guitarist/singer Fraser Reich, who leaned toward classic avant-garde (Captain Beefheart, Fripp and Eno) and outre newer acts (Fire Engines, Gang of Four, Wire).

Their new named derived from the Williot-Mohr diagram, a graphical method that determines deflections in a structure. This correlated with their musical mandate: discorded counterpoint set to danceable polyrhythms; a style they dubbed discordo. To consolidate the theme, Lawrence, Jason, Simon, and Fraser adopted Diagram as their collective surname.

Peel Sessions | “We Are All Animals”

At first, the Diagram Brothers avoided the concert circuit and focused on demos. In December, they cut a six-song tape that landed with BBC Radio One DJ John Peel, who booked them for the Peel Roadshow at Manchester University (February 2, 1980). Despite a PA glitch that stopped their set, Peel invited them for a March session at Maida Vale, the BBC studio.

Peel’s 3/27 broadcast aired four Diagram Brothers cuts: “Bricks,” “Bikers,” “We Are All Animals,” and “There Is No Shower.” Due to popular demand and his own enthusiasm, Peel rebroadcast their session five times through November.

The Peel buzz landed the Diagrams an April opening slot with UB40 at the Russell Club in Hulme. On June 19, they partook in a multi-act event sponsored by Capitol Radio at London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts. The event also featured sets by A Certain Ratio, Durutti Column, Glaxo Babies, Ludus, Section 25, and Wah! Heat. In September, the Diagram Brothers played Manchester’s Beach Club and impressed Richard Boon, the former Buzzcocks manager eager for a new act.

In October 1980, the Diagram Brothers made their vinyl debut with “We Are All Animals,” a maxi-single on DIY Construct with two b-sides, all group-written songs.

A. “We Are All Animals” (2:42)
B1. “There Is No Shower” (2:19)
B2. “I Would Like to Live In Prison” (0:54)

The Diagrams cut the single in Rochdale at Cargo Studios with future Dubset producer Nigel Holland. “We Are All Animals” appeared in a deep-yellow sleeve with an illustrated larva (front), lyrics (back), and insert on the band’s activities. In the gratitude section, they identify all their associates and benefactors with the Diagram surname (Richard Diagram, John Peel Diagram).

Between the single’s completion and release, Jason cleared out for Andy (b. 1959, London), a bassist and trumpeter who adopted the Diagram surname for permanent use.

On January 27, 1981, the Diagram Brothers cut their second Peel session for the DJ’s 2/3 broadcast, which aired “Postal Bargains,” “Those Men In White Coats,” “I Didn’t Get Where I Am Today By Being a Right Git,” “My Bad Chest Feels Much Better Now.”

“Bricks”

In July 1981, The Diagram Brothers released “Bricks” (b/w “Postal Bargains”) on New Hormones, Richard Boon’s original label for the Buzzcocks.

A. “Bricks”
B. “Postal Bargains”

The Diagrams co-produced both sides at Cargo with booking agent Mike Hinc and Pinups soundman Stuart James, who also worked on local 1980 singles by Ludus and The Freshies. “Bricks” appeared in a red sleeve with white-type lyrics on the back.

“Bricks” was the fifth 7″ released on the reactivated New Hormones. Fraser Diagram created sleeve art for the label’s next release: “Dow Chemical Company” (b/w “Skin Deep”) by Eric Random.

On the weekend of September 5–6, 1981, the Diagram Brothers played Futurama 3, a post-punk festival at New Bingley Hall, Stafford, with sets by 23 Skidoo, A Flock of Seagulls, Bauhaus, Felt, Go4, The Lines, The Passions, The Sisters of Mercy, The Sound, and Theatre of Hate. The Diagrams played in Sunday’s lineup, which also featured B-Movie, Blue Orchids, Bow Wow Wow, Doll by Doll, Everest the Hard Way, Eyeless In Gaza, Icehouse, Modern Eon, Simple Minds, The Higsons, Thompson Twins, UK Decay, and Virgin Prunes.^>

Meanwhile, Andy Diagram played on the 1981 New Hormones release Music Music Music, the debut album by Dislocation Dance. Elsewhere, Jason Diagram surfaced on The Skodas’ single “Everybody Thinks Everybody Else Is Dead Bad,” recorded at Cargo for Heartbeat Records.

Some Marvels of Modern Science

The Diagram Brothers released their singular album, Some Marvels of Modern Science, on November 20, 1981, on New Hormones.

Some Marvels features fourteen group-written originals, ten by the current lineup of Lawrence, Simon, Fraser, and new member Andy. Four songs (“Seals,” “I’m a Policeman,” “Aggeravation,” and the Peel-previewed “Bikers”) date from Jason’s tenure.

A1. “Those Men In White Coats” (3:08)
A2. “My Bad Chest Feels Much Better Now” (3:31)
A3. “Seals / Furcoats” (2:19)
A4. “Put It In a Bigger Box” (2:44)
A5. “Words From Major” (3:24)
A6. “Here Come the Visitors” (3:07)
A7. “Isn’t It Interesting How Neutron Bombs Work” (4:04)
B1. “Ron! the Morris Minor’s Gone” (3:13)
B2. “I’m a Policeman” (1:24)
B3. “I Didn’t Get Where I Am Today By Being a Right Git” (3:51)
B4. “Aggeravation” (3:08)
B5. “I’m Not Going to Fight for Oil” (2:49)
B6. “Litter” (1:37) features ambient noise by Eric Random ‘Diagram.’
B7. “Bikers” (3:32)

In the credits to Some Marvels of Modern Science, the entire creative team assumes the Diagram surname. Richard Boon ‘Diagram’ designed the sleeve: a gray-framed, red-texted Xerox of a Morphy Richards TUID/3 toaster, backed with an aerial double-illustration of a power plant. The album came with four 12″ inserts with illustrated lyric panels for each song. Owners could cut the panels into postcards and store them in the Diagram pouch (outlined on the fourth insert) for assembly in a ‘Diagram Brothers Portfolio.’

The Diagrams co-produced Some Marvels with Boon, who oversaw the project at Cargo with business partner Peter Wright ‘Diagram’ and engineer Colin Richardson ‘Diagram,’ a soundman on 1981 titles by Another Pretty Face, Anti-Pasti, Future Toys, Ludus, Poison Girls, Suns of Arqua, Sprout Head Uprising, Tailormaid, and the Urgent Crunch Band.

1982 EPs

For New Year’s 1982, the Diagram Brothers played ‘Uncle Vincent’s Hogmanay Special,’ a double-bill with the Durutti Column at Eden’s Wine Bar in Manchester.

On February 9, they appeared on Riverside, a weekly magazine show that ran for two seasons on BBC Two. On the teal/magenta-lit Riverside soundstage, the Diagrams performed the Modern Science numbers “Isn’t It Interesting How Neutron Bombs Work” and “I Didn’t Get Where I Am Today By Being a Right Git.”

In June 1982, the Diagram Brothers released Discordo 45, a 10″ EP (45 rpm) on New Hormones with four new originals.

A1. “Discordo” (3:15)
A2. “My Dinner” (2:46)
B1. “Fondue Soiree” (3:30)
B2. “Cherry Blossom” (2:08)

The back-sleeve contains monochrome illustrated lyric panels for each song. Each label contains the subtitle ‘incidental music.’ The Diagrams’ list of instruments includes the Morphy Richards toaster and other household items (tobacco tin, waste paper bin, milk bottle, meat tray).

New Hormones issued Discordo 45 with the catalog number ORG 21, between the second Ludus album (Danger Came Smiling) and the third Dislocation Dance single (“You’ll Never Never Know”).

On June 26, the Diagram Brothers cut their third and final Peel session for the DJ’s 7/22 broadcast, which aired five unique numbers: “Tracey,” “You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two,” “The Expert,” “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” and “Hey Dad!”

Meanwhile, the German Outatune label issued a Deutsch version of “I Didn’t Get Where I Am Today By Being a Right Git,” backed with “Discordo” and the earlier a-side “Bricks.”

A1. “I Didn’t Get Where I Am Today By Being a Right Git” (German, 3:26)
B1. “Discordo” (3:47)
B2. “Bricks” (2:42)

Post-Activity

The Diagram Brothers folded after Simon quit to focus on his studies.

Lawrence formed The Florists with Mike Way, the husband of Dislocation Dance singer Kathryn Way. The Florists went unrecorded apart from a 7/13/83 Peel session with four songs: “Top Models Know,” “Our Much Loved Daughter,” “Julia,” and “The Longest Hour.” They continued briefly as Macho Men Crack Under Pressure before Lawrence pursued his career in science.

Andy continued with Dislocation Dance and held the Diagram surname throughout his career. In 1982, he joined The Pale Fountains, which cut three singles and the acclaimed 1984/85 albums Pacific Street and …From Across the Kitchen Table. He also played on Eighties titles by Kalima, A Certain Ratio, and ex-Magazine frontman Howard Devoto. In 1989, he started a three-year stint with Mancunian pop-rockers James. Through the 1990s, he led the experimental jazz-rock outfits Spaceheads and The Honkies.

Discography: