Red Box -

Red Box was an English art-pop duo from London that released a standalone single on Cherry Red in 1983, followed by a pair of singles on Sire circa 1984/85. In 1986, an augmented lineup of the band released the album The Circle & The Square on WEA, followed by a second album on EastWest in 1990.

Members: Simon Toulson-Clarke (vocals, guitar), Julian Close (keyboards, saxophone, 1983-86), Martin Nickson (drums, 1983-84), Rob Legge (bass, 1983-84), Paddy Talbot (keyboards, backing vocals, 1983-85), Alastair Gavin (keyboards, 1989-90)

Background

Red Box evolved from Harlequins, formed in 1980 when singer-guitarist Simon Toulson-Clarke teamed with saxophonist Julian Close at the Polytechnic of Central London. Harlequins grew to five with keyboardist Paddy Talbot, bassist Rob Legge, and drummer Martin Nickson.

Toulson-Clarke was born in Middlesbrough and formed his first band at age thirteen with Harrow School friend Talbot. The school group mixed covers by Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple with Toulson-Clarke originals. Toulson-Clarke returned to Middlesbrough after Harrow and formed another rock band shaped by the New York Dolls. He moved south at age twenty to study at the Polytechnic of Central London, where he met Bristolian Close.

Toulson-Clarke booked Slade for a Polytechnic freshers’ ball on Sept. 26, 1980. Slade left a red square flight case after the concert, and manager Chas Chandler allowed the students to keep the case. Harlequins stored microphones in the case and adopted Red Box as the group name.

Red Box recorded eleven surviving demos across the 1980–82 period. The group advanced from the college circuit into London clubs and released the 1983 single “Chenko” (b/w “Valley”) on Cherry Red. Seymour Stein signed Red Box to Sire Records in 1984 after radio play for “Chenko.”

After the Sire deal, Talbot and Legge quit the band, followed by Nickson. Close and Toulson-Clarke continued Red Box as a duo and issued a 1984 cover of the Buffy Sainte-Marie number “Saskatchewan” (b/w “Speeches”), produced by Phill Brown.

In August 1985, Red Box issued their third single: “Lean on Me (Ah-Li-Ayo)” (b/w “Stinging Bee”), which reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart.

Discography: