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 […]
John McLaughlin (born Jan. 4, 1942) is an English jazz-rock guitarist from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, active on the international jazz scene since the late 1960s. In 1969, he joined Tony Williams Lifetime for three albums and also appeared on the sessions for Miles Davis‘ seminal electrification releases In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew (1970). […]
Simply Red are an English blue-eyed soul ensemble that has been active since the early 1980s. The band is named after carrot-topped frontman and sole constant member Mick Hucknall, whose impassioned vocals propelled the band to transatlantic success with their debut album Picture Book. Members: Mick Hucknall [aka Red] (vocals, guitar), Fritz McIntyre (keyboards, 1984-96), […]
The Lilac Time is an English sophisti-pop band, formed in 1986 by singer Stephen Duffy. Their initial run produced three albums on Fontana between 1988 and 1990. Members: Stephen Duffy (vocals, guitar), Nick Duffy (accordion, banjo, strings), Michael Giri (percussion, drums), Bob Lamb (percussion, production), Sagat Guirey (guitar), Frazer Kent (bass), Mickey Harris (bass), Caroline […]
The Godfathers were an English rock band that released three albums on Epic between 1988 and 1991. Their debut proper, Birth, School, Work, Death, spawned rock radio hits with “If I Only Had Time,” “When Am I Coming Down,” “Cause I Said So,” and the title track. Members: Peter Coyne (vocals), Chris Coyne (bass), Mike […]
IQ are an English symphonic-rock band from Southampton that released the album Tales From the Lush Attic on The Major Record Company in 1983, followed by The Wake on Sahara Records in 1985. After a 1986 standalone single, the band released two albums on Mercury during the late 1980s, followed by a run of discs […]
Immaculate Fools were an English sophisti-pop band that released two albums with accompanying singles on A&M between 1985 and 1987, followed by four discs on assorted labels during the 1990s. Members: Kevin Weatherill (vocals, guitar, harmonica, mandolin), Paul Weatherill (bass, vocals), Andy Ross (guitar 1984-90), Peter Ross (drums 1984-90) Discography: Hearts of Fortune (1985) Dumb […]
Ian Anderson (born Aug. 10, 1947) is a Scottish-born singer, flutist, and composer, known internationally as the leader and mainstay of the legendary English rock band Jethro Tull, which released 20 studio albums between 1968 and 1999. As a solo artist, he debuted with the album Walk Into Light, recorded in collaboration with Tull’s then-keyboardist […]
Peter Hammill (born Nov. 5, 1948) is an English singer–songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose musical career dates back to the late 1960s. He first rose to prominence as the frontman of Van der Graaf Generator, which he co-founded at Manchester University in 1967. Over the next eleven years, he recorded eight studio albums with the band. […]
ADX are a French speed-metal band from Pont-Sainte-Maxence, Picardie, formed in 1982. The band debuted with the 1985 album Execution on Devil’s Records, followed by two studio LPs and a live disc on Sydney between 1986 and 1988. After the 1990 Noise International release Weird Visions, the band broke for eight years, reconvening at the turn […]
Albert Marcœur (born Dec. 12, 1947) is a French musician, composer, and arranger who has been musically active since the early 1970s. During the final quarter of the 20th century, he released seven albums in a Zappa-esque art-pop/avant-garde/proto-zolo vein. Discography: Albert Marcœur (1974) Album à Colorier (1976) Armes & Cycles (1979) Celui où y’a Joseph […]
The Mission are an English goth-rock band from Leeds that released four albums with accompanying singles on Mercury between 1986 and 1990, followed by three albums on assorted labels during the 1990s and two albums apiece during the subsequent two decades. Stateside, the band were billed in certain media as Mission U.K. Members: Wayne Hussey […]
The Legendary Pink Dots were an English-Dutch goth-psych band that issued two cassette-albums on self-press Mirrordot in 1981, followed by three proper studio albums on In Phaze Records between 1982 and 1984. A lengthy round of albums appeared during the subsequent 10-year period on Play It Again Sam Records amid side releases on Jarmusic and […]
Gary Numan is an English keyboardist, vocalist, composer, and pilot who has been musically active since the late-1970s. He emerged as the frontman of synth-punks Tubeway Army, which issued two standalone singles and a self-titled album in 1978. After placing his name in front on their 1979 breakthrough release Replicas, he became a solo artist […]
The Cure are an English art-pop/goth band from Crawley, West Sussex, that released eight proper albums and numerous singles on Fiction Records between 1979 and 1989, followed by five further studio discs during the subsequent two decades. The band was formed in 1976 as Easy Cure by musician/vocalist Robert Smith and originally featured bassist Michael […]
Riot are an American hard-rock band from New York that released the album Rock City on Fire Sign Records in 1977, followed with Narita on Capitol in 1979 and two albums apiece on Elektra and CBS during the 1980s. Members: Mark Reale (guitar, 1975-2012), Guy Speranza (vocals, 1975-81), Peter Bitelli (drums, 1975-79), Phil Feit (bass, […]
Gerard were a Japanese symphonic-rock band that released two albums and an EP on Nexus in 1984/85. A lengthier run of titles appeared on Trycle, Musea, and Avalon during the subsequent quarter-century. Members: Toshio Egawa (keyboards), Yukihiro Fujimura (vocals, guitar, 1983-92), Masaki Tanimoto (drums, 1983-84), Yasumasa Uotani (bass, 1983-84), Toshimi Nagai (bass, 1990-92), Kota Igarashi […]
After Dinner were a Japanese art-pop band from Osaka that released an eponymous single and the album Glass Tube on Kageroh/Kang-Gung between 1982 and 1984. In 1989, they issued Paradise of Replica on RecRec. The band was led by singer/composer Haco, who appears in Fred Frith’s musical travelogue Step Across the Border. Members: Haco (vocals) […]
Squiggly Wigglies were an American zolo band from Portland that released five singles and three albums on Sforzando between 1991 and 1994. Members: Terry Sharkie (guitar, banjo, percussion, vocals), Toby Korder (xylophone, piano, synthesizer), Ezra Doyle (bass, vocals), Igor (drums), Mimi Giddy (vocals), Victoria Fifi (slide whistle, backing vocals) Squiggly Wigglies formed in the summer […]
Graham Parker (born Nov. 18, 1950) is an English New Wave/soul-rock singer and songwriter who released the popular 1976–79 albums Howlin’ Wind, Heat Treatment, Stick to Me, and Squeezing Out Sparks. His most popular songs include “Don’t Ask Me Questions,” “Heat Treatment,” “The Heat in Harlem,” “Local Girls,” and “Protection.” Up through his 1980 release […]
