New Model Army

New Model Army was an English art-punk band from Bradford, West Yorkshire, that debuted with a pair of EPs in 1983, followed by the album Vengeance in 1984 on small-press Abstract Records. Between 1985 and 1991, the band released five albums and assorted shortplayers on EMI. Members: Justin Sullivan (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Stuart Morrow (bass […]

Naked Eyes

Naked Eyes were an English electro/art-pop duo composed of singer Pete Byrne and keyboardist Rob Fisher. They first appeared in late 1982 with a hi-tech cover of the Bacharach/David classic “There’s Always Something There to Remind Me.” In 1983, they released Burning Bridges on EMI, charting with “Promises Promises,” “When the Lights Go Out,” and […]

Tramline

Tramline were an English blues-rock band from Middlesbrough that released two albums on Island Records during 1968 and 1969. Members: Micky Moody (guitar), John McCoy (vocals, harmonica), Terry Sidgwick (bass, vocals), Terry Popple (drums) Guitarist Micky Moody recorded three albums apiece with Juicy Lucy and Snafu between 1970 and 1975. In 1977, he collaborated with […]

Tysondog

Tysondog were an English hard-rock/metal band from Newcastle upon Tyne that debuted with the single “Eat the Rich” on Neat Records in 1983, followed by the album Beware of the Dog in 1984. A four-song EP appeared on the label in 1985, followed by Crimes of Insanity in 1986, after which the nameplate was benched […]

Blind Fury

Blind Fury were an English hard-rock/metal band from Newcastle-upon-Tyne that released the album Out of Reach on Roadrunner in 1985. Members: Lou Taylor (vocals), Steve Ramsey (guitar), Russ Tippins (guitar), Graeme English (bass), Sean Taylor (drums), Kevin Heybourne (guitar, 1983-84), Pete Gordelier (bass, 1983-84), Dave Hogg (drums, 1983-84) Discography: Out of Reach (1985)

After the Fire

After the Fire were an English New Wave/art-rock band from London that released the album Signs of Change on Rapid Records in 1978, followed by Laser Love on CBS in 1979. Between 1980 and 1982, the band released the albums 80-f and Batteries Not Included on Epic. Shortly after the group disbanded, their translation of […]

Zior

Zior were an English hard-rock/psych band from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, that released a self-titled album on Nepentha (UK) and Global (Germany) in 1971. A second album, Every Inch a Man, appeared on the German label in 1973. Between the two releases, the band recorded the album The First Monument, issued as “Monument” on Beacon Records in […]

Zed

Zed were an English hard-rock trio that released a self-titled album on Atlantic in 1981, followed by a second on Polydor in 1983. Members: Nigel Jenkins (vocals, guitar), Paul Westwood (bass), Graham Jarvis (drums) Discography: Zed (1981) Holding On (1983)

Yellowstone & Voice

Yellowstone & Voice were an English chamber-pop duo that released a self-titled album on Regal Zonophone in 1972. Members: Peter Papini [Yellowstone] (vocals, guitar), Steve Voice (vocals, guitar) Discography: Yellowstone & Voice (1972) “Days To Remember” / “Grandmother Says” (1972) “Philosopher” / “The Flying Dutchman” (1972) “Grandmother Says” / “Thinking About You and Me” (1972) […]

The Box

The Box were an English art-punk/funk band from Sheffield that released a self-titled EP and the album Secrets Out on Go! Discs in 1983, followed by Great Moments in Big Slam in 1984. The EP Muscle In and the live album Muscle Out appeared in 1984/85 on Cabaret Voltaire‘s Doublevision imprint. Members: Charlie Collins (saxophone, […]

Bethnal

Bethnal were an English hard-rock/punk band from Bethnal Green, Greater London, that released two albums on Vertigo in 1978. Members: George Csapo (vocals, keyboards, violin), Pete Dowling (drums), Nick Michaels (guitar), Everton Williams (bass) Discography: Dangerous Times (1978) Crash Landing (1978)

Axis Point

Axis Point was an English hard-rock/blues supergroup that released two albums on RCA between 1978 and 1980. The band featured the seasoned talents of guitarist Charlie Whitney (Family, Streetwalkers), bassist Charlie McCracken (Taste, Stud), and keyboardist/singer Eddie Hardin (Hardin & York). McCracken and Hardin first interacted during a 1973–74 reboot of the Spencer Davis Group. […]

Black

Black was an English new wave band from Liverpool that released the 1981–82 indie singles “Human Features” and “More Than the Sun.” Their frontman and songwriter Colin Vearncombe (May 26, 1962 — Jan. 26, 2016) retained the name as a solo artist, starting with the 1984 single “Hey Presto.” Black charted with “Wonderful Life” and […]

The Beautiful South

The Beautiful South were an English sophisti-pop band from Kingston upon Hull that debuted with the album Welcome to the Beautiful South on Go! Discs in 1989, followed by nine further discs during the ensuing 16-year period. Vocalist/songwriter Paul Heaton and drummer David Hemingway hailed from The Housemartins. On their sophomoric 1990 release Choke, the […]

Blackfoot Sue

Blackfoot Sue were an English hard-rock/pop band from London that released six singles on JAM/DJM between 1972 and 1974. The band featured the rhythmic talents of identical twins Tom Farmer (bass) and David Farmer (drums). Despite recording three albums, only 1973’s JAM release Nothing to Hide appeared in its own time. Members: Tom Farmer (bass, […]

Quincicasm

Quincicasm were an English avant-garde jazz combo from Gloucestershire that released a self-titled album on Saydisc in 1973. Keyboardist Julian Marshall later surfaced in the jazz-pop duos Marshall Hain and Eye to Eye. Members: Dick Pearce (flugelhorn), Malcolm Bennett (bass, flute), Julian Marshall (keyboards, vibraphone), Ken Eley (saxophone), Michael Ormerod (drums, percussion), Nigel Smith (drums, […]

Nite People

Nite People were an English jazz-rock/psych band from Bournemouth, Hampshire, that released the album P.M. on Page One in 1969. Members: Jimmy Warwick (vocals, guitar), Barry Curtis (organ, recorder), Chris “Fergie” Ferguson (drums, percussion, vocals), Patrick Bell (saxophone, flute, 1965-?), Francis Gordon [aka Francis Shipstone] (bass guitar, vocals, 1965-?), Martin Clarke (bass), Scott Kirkpatrick (bass, […]

Blackmayne

Blackmayne were an English hard-rock/metal band from Maidstone, Kent, that released a self-titled album on NWOBHM small-press Criminal Response in 1985. Members: Tim Cooke (vocals), Phil McDermott (guitar), Richard Matthews (guitar), Julian “Sack” Sackett (bass), Andy Terry (drums) Discography: Blackmayne (1985)

Musical Youth

Musical Youth were an English pop-reggae band from Birmingham that released the album The Youth of Today on MCA in 1982, followed by Different Style! on the label in 1983. Members: Michael Grant (keyboards, vocals), Kelvin Grant (guitar, vocals), Dennis Seaton (lead vocals, percussion), Patrick Waite (bass, vocals), Freddie “Junior” Waite (drums, vocals) Discography: The […]

Mr. Big

Mr. Big were an English hard-rock/art-rock band from Oxford that released a trio of singles on Epic circa 1974/75, followed by the album Sweet Silence on EMI in 1975. In 1976, the band recorded a second album in Los Angeles that was half-released stateside, along with select cuts from the debut, on the Arista album […]

Motörhead

Motörhead was an English metal trio that released a 1977 self-titled album on Chiswick, followed by five studio albums and a live disc between 1979 and 1984 on Bronze. Ex-Hawkwind bassist Lemmy Kilmister fronted Motörhead through numerous iterations across four decades. Members: Lemmy (vocals, bass), Lucas Fox (drums, 1975), Larry Wallis (guitar, 1975-76), Philthy Animal […]

Mother Superior

Mother Superior was an English all-female rock band that recorded the album Lady Madonna, released in 1976 on the Swedish SMA label. Members: Lesley Sly (keyboards, lead vocals), Audrey Swinburne (lead guitar, lead vocals), Jackie Badger (bass, vocals), Jackie Crew (drums, vocals), Simon Etchell (keyboards), Janis Sharp (guitar), Kate Buddeke (vocals), Pete Chapman (guitar) Formation […]

More

More were an English hard-rock/metal band from London that released two albums on Atlantic in 1981 and 1982. Members: Kenny Cox (guitar), Paul Mario Day (vocals, 1980-81), Laurie Mansworth (guitar, 1980-81), Frank Darch (drums, 1980-81), Brian Day (bass, 1980-82), Andy John Burton (drums, 1981-82), Mick Stratton (vocals, 1982), Barry Nichols (bass, 1982, 1985), Mel Jones […]

Moonkyte

Moonkyte were an English folk-psych band from Bradford, West Yorkshire, that released the album Count Me Out on Mother/Metronome in 1971. Members: Dave Stansfield (harmonium, percussion, vocals), Dave Foster (acoustic guitar, harmonica, vocals), Trevor Craven (bass, vocals), Mick Humphreys (drums) Discography: Count Me Out (1971)

Moon

Moon were an English soul-funk band from London that released two albums on Epic in 1976 and 1977. Guitarist Loz Netto subsequently surface in Sniff ‘n’ the Tears while vocalist Noel McCalla was employed by Mike Rutherford for the Genesis-bassist’s 1979 solo album Smallcreep’s Day. Members: Noel McCalla (vocals), Loz Netto (guitar, vocals), Doug Bainbridge […]

Modern Eon

Modern Eon was an English post-punk band from Liverpool that released the 1979 EP Pieces on self-press Eon Records, followed by the single “Euthenics” and the 1981 album Fiction Tales on DinDisc. Members: Alix Plain [aka Alex Johnson] (guitar, vocals, percussion, keyboards, horn), Danny Hampson (bass, vocals), Tim Lever (guitar, saxophone, 1980-81), Joey McKechnie (drums, […]

Incognito

Incognito were an English jazz-funk band from London that released two singles on Ensign in 1980/81, followed by the album Jazz Funk in 1981. After a 10-year a gap in activity, a revolving lineup commenced a three-decade string of releases in the early ’90s. Members: Jean-Paul Maunick (guitar, keyboards, percussion, programming, bass, drums, vocals), Paul […]

Mick Softley

Mick Softley (Sept. 26, 1939 — Sept. 1, 2017) was an English singer/songwriter from Woodford, Essex, who released the album Songs for Swingin’ Survivors on Columbia in 1965, followed by three albums between 1970 and 1972 on CBS and a further pair of titles during the late 1970s on self-press Doll Records. He was born […]

Michael de Albuquerque

Michael de Albuquerque (born June 24, 1947) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter who cut two singles on United Artists in 1969/70, followed by a jazz-rock album for Pegasus with saxist/vibist Frank Ricotti in 1971. From 1972 to 1974, Albuquerque served as the bassist for the Electric Light Orchestra, playing on the albums ELO […]

Methuselah

Methuselah were an English folk-rock/psych band that released the album Matthew, Mark, Luke and John on Elektra in 1969. The band’s core consisted of guitarist/vocalist Terry Wincott and guitarist/percussionist John Gladwin, who previously cut singles together in The Dimples and Gospel Garden and would subsequently form Amazing Blondel, which released nine albums between 1970 and […]

Medium Medium

Medium Medium were an English art-funk band from Nottingham that issued a standalone single on Apt Music Ltd. in 1979, followed by an album on Cherry Red in 1981 and an EP on Sound/Intercord in 1982. Members: John Rees Lewis (vocals, saxophone, horns), Nigel Kingston Stone (drums), Andy Ryder (vocals, guitar), Allan Turton (bass) Discography: […]

The Members

The Members were an English punk-pop/reggae band from Camberley, Surrey, that debuted with the track “Fear of the Streets” on the 1977 various-artists compilation Streets, released on Beggars Banquet. After a 1978 standalone single on Stiff-subsidiary 1 Off, the band released two 1979/80 albums on Virgin, followed by a third on Arista in 1982. The […]

Monsoon

Monsoon were an English-Indian ethno/art-pop band that issued an eponymous EP on self-press Indipop in 1981. A flurry of singles followed on the Mobile Suit Corporation label, a subsidiary of Phonogram, in 1982. Most of the a-sides appeared on the album Third Eye, issued by the sublabel in 1983. Vocalist Sheila Chandra recorded nine solo […]

Morrissey Mullen

Morrissey Mullen was the jazz-funk duo of English saxophonist Dick Morrissey and Scottish guitarist Jim Mullen, who began their partnership with the album Up on Embryo Records in 1977, followed by Cape Wrath on Harvest in 1979. Between 1981 and 1983, the pair released three albums on Beggars Banquet, followed by two further titles on […]

Mike Batt

Mike Batt (Feb. 6, 1949) is an English composer and arranger from Southampton who conducted a string of instrumental/interpretive recordings with his namesake orchestra for DJM Silverline between 1970 and 1972. In 1973, he masterminded the first of six releases by the costumed studio act The Wombles, a musical vehicle for the namesake children’s television […]

Mandingo

Mandingo was a tribal-funk project comprised of English studio musicians, led by composer/conductor Geoff Love. The project yielded four albums on EMI between 1973 and 1977. Members: Geoff Love Discography: Sacrifice (1974) The Primeval Rhythm of Life (1973) III (1974) Savage Rite (1977)

The Drones

The Drones were an English punk rock band from Manchester that released the 1977 album Further Temptations on Valer Records. Members: M. J. Drone [Michael Howells] (vocals), Pete Howells (drums), Steve “Whispa” Cundall (bass), Gus Gangrene (guitar, 1976-78), Mike Koman (keyboards, 1978) Background The Drones evolved from Rockslide, a glitter-pop band that issued the October […]

Parrish & Gurvitz

Parrish & Gurvitz were an English rock duo comprised of bassist-singer Paul Gurvitz and guitarist-singer Brian Parrish. They released one album on Regal Zonophone in 1971 and recorded a second that later appeared on an archival two-disc set. The pair recorded earlier in The Knack, a mod-beat combo that issued multiple mid-’60s singles. They reunited […]

Majority One

Majority One was an English pop-rock band that released four singles and a self-titled album in 1971 on Pink Elephant. Members: Barry Graham [aka Barry Wigley] (vocals), Roger France (lead guitar), Rob Long (guitar), Ken Smith (bass), Don Lill (drums) Majority One formed in 1964 as The Mustangs in Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire. Discography: Majority […]

The Foundations

The Foundations were an English soul-rock band, active from 1967 to 1970. They scored transatlantic hits with the Stax/Motown-influenced singles “Baby Now That I’ve Found You” and “Build Me Up Buttercup.” Members: Alan Warner (guitar, vocals), Tony Gomez (keyboards), Pat Burke (saxophone), Eric Allendale (trombone), Tim Harris (drums), Peter Macbeth (bass, 1967-69), Mike Elliott (saxophone, […]

The Equals

The Equals were an English soul-rock band, best known for the hits “Viva Bobby Joe,” “Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys,” and the 1968 UK chart-topper “Baby, Come Back.” Guitarist Eddy Grant later found fame as a reggae pop singer. Members: Derv Gordon (vocals), Lincoln Gordon (guitar), Eddy Grant (guitar), Patrick Lloyd (guitar), John Hall (drums) […]

Headstone

Headstone were an English hard-rock band that released the album Bad Habits on EMI in 1974, followed by a self-titled release in 1975. Vocalist/guitarist Mark Ashton hailed from the original lineup of Rare Bird, releasing two albums with the band circa 1969/70. He briefly launched a solo career, releasing two solo albums between 1976 and […]

Marshall Hain

Marshall Hain were the English art-pop duo of keyboardist/songwriter Julian Marshall and vocalist/songwriter Kit Hain, who released the album Free Ride on Harvest in 1978. Marshall later teamed with vocalist Deborah Berg in the jazz-pop duo Eye to Eye while Hain recorded several solo albums and gained industry renown as a songwriter. Members: Julian Marshall […]

Manfred Mann

Manfred Mann was an English R&B/beat band from London that released a string of singles and two albums on His Master’s Voice during the mid-1960s with original vocalist Paul Jones, followed by three albums with accompanying singles on Fontana between 1966 and 1968 with singer Mike D’Abo. Guitarist/bassist Tom McGuinness later teamed with Bluesbreaker Hughie […]

Marc Almond

Marc Almond is an English vocalist, songwriter, and arranger from Southport, Merseyside, who rose to fame as one-half of the synthpop duo Soft Cell, which released three albums between 1981 and 1984. Concurrently, he released two 1982–83 albums with the goth–cabaret side-project Marc and the Mambas. As a solo artist, he released nine full-length studio […]

Magnum

Magnum was an English hard-rock band from Birmingham that released four studio albums and a live disc on Jet Records between 1978 and 1983, followed by four further albums on Polydor between 1985 and 1990. Members: Bob Catley (vocals), Tony Clarkin (guitar), Dave Morgan (bass, 1972-75), Kex Gorin (drums, 1972-83), Colin “Wally” Lowe (bass, 1975-95), […]

Magna Carta

Magna Carta was an English folk-rock band that released a self-titled album on Mercury in 1969, followed by nine studio albums and two live discs over the subsequent 19-year period, mostly on Vertigo. Members: Chris Simpson (vocals, guitar), Glen Stuart (vocals, 1969-75, 1977), Lyell Tranter (guitar, vocals, 1969-71), Davey Johnstone (guitar, vocals, 1971-72), Stan Gordon […]

M

M was the recording moniker of English musician, vocalist, and songwriter Robin Scott (born April 1, 1947), who released three electro/art-pop albums under the name between 1979 and 1982 on Sire. Ten years prior to his M run, he released the folk album Woman From the Warm Grass on Head Records. In 1981, he collaborated […]

The Hat Shoes

The Hat Shoes were a multinational avant-rock super-project assembled in 1990 by English musician Bill Gilonis (The Work) with drummer Charles Hayward (Quiet Sun, This Heat, Camberwell Now), Belgian vocalist Catherine Jauniaux (Aksak Maboul), and American cellist Tom Cora (Curlew, Skeleton Crew, Nimal). The project yielded the album Differently Desperate in 1991 on RecRec, the […]

Hungry Wolf

Hungry Wolf was an English brass-rock/psych studio project that yielded a self-titled album on Philips in 1970. The band consisted of session players and library musicians that concurrently grouped under the monikers Rumplestiltskin and Ugly Custard. Most tracks on the Hungry Wolf album were re-titled/repurposed on the Alan Parker/Alan Hawkshaw KPM Music release Music for […]

Hot Chocolate

Hot Chocolate were an English soul-funk band from London that launched a 16-year string of singles on RAK in 1970. As an album act, the band released nine studio LPs on the label between 1974 and 1987. Members: Patrick Olive (congas, bass), Errol Brown (lead vocals, 1968-86), Larry Ferguson (keyboards, vocals, 1968-86), Tony Wilson (bass, […]

Hi-Tension

Hi-Tension were an English soul-funk band from London that released a self-titled album on Island in 1978, followed by a string of singles during the ensuing five-year period. Members: Paul McLean (lead guitar, synthesizer, vocals), Patrick McLean (saxophone, vocals), David Joseph (keyboards, lead vocals), Ken Joseph (bass guitar, vocals), Jeffrey Guishard (percussion, lead vocals) Leroy […]

Hard Stuff

Hard Stuff were an English hard-rock trio from London that released two albums on Deep Purple‘s EMI-imprint Purple Records during 1972 and 1973. The band initially cut a single as Bullet and briefly gigged as Daemon; archival releases from both iterations would surface on compact disc during the 2000s. Members: John Du Cann (guitar, vocals), […]

The Glove

The Glove was a side-project of Cure frontman Robert Smith and Siouxsie and the Banshees bassist Steven Severin. The idea stemmed from Smith’s dual involvement in Severin’s band at the time. The project generated the 1983 Polydor album Blue Sunshine, accompanied by two singles with non-album b-sides on the Banshees’ Wonderland imprint. They’re backed on […]

Glencoe

Glencoe were an English rustic-rock band that released two albums on Epic during 1972 and 1973. The band featured ex-Skip Bifferty/ARC guitarist John Turnbull, former Greatest Show on Earth bassist Norman Watt-Roy, and Forever More alumni Stuart Francis. Turnbull and Watt-Roy subsequently cut an album as part of Loving Awareness and joined Ian Dury’s Blockheads. […]

Loose Ends

Loose Ends were an Afro-British soul-funk trio that released the 1984–86 Virgin albums A Little Spice, So Where Are You?, and Zagora and charted with “Magic Touch,” “Hangin’ on a String (Contemplating),” “Slow Down,” and “Stay a Little While, Child.” Their 1988–90 albums The Real Chuckeeboo and Look How Long landed further hits with “Mr. […]

Live Wire

Live Wire were an English swamp-rock band from London that released two albums on A&M between 1979 and 1981. Members: Simon Boswell (guitar, vocals, keyboards, 1980-81), Chris Cutler (guitar, 1979), Mike Edwards (vocals, guitar), German Gonzales (drums), Jeremy Meek (bass, vocals) Discography: Pick It Up (1979) No Fright (1980) Changes Mad (1981)

Linx

Linx were an English soul-funk band that released two albums on Chrysalis in 1981. Members: David Grant (vocals), Bob Carter (keyboards), Andy Duncan (drums), Canute Edwards [Canute] (guitar), Sketch Martin (bass) Discography: Intuition (1981) Go Ahead (1981)

Lindsay Cooper

Lindsay Cooper (March 3, 1951 — Sept. 18, 2013) was an English bassoonist, oboist, and composer who replaced Geoff Leigh as the chief woodwind player in Henry Cow, serving with the band on four studio albums between 1974 and 1978. In the two decades that followed, she released numerous soundtrack recordings and rock operas with […]

Light of the World

Light of the World were an English soul-funk band from London that released two albums on Ensign in 1979 and 1980, followed by a third on EMI in 1982. Members: Jean Paul “Bluey” Maunick (guitar, vocals), Everton McCalla (drums), Paul “Tubs” Williams (bass, vocals), Neville “Breeze” McKreith (guitar, vocals), Chris Etienne (percussion, vocals), Peter Hinds […]