Marion (band)

Marion
Background information
Origin	Macclesfield, Cheshire, England
Genres	Britpop, alternative rock
Years active	1993–2000, 2006–08, 2011–12, 2014–present
Labels	London Records Marion Recordings/Townsend
Members	Jaime Harding Andrew Tarling Andy McKerlie Blair Murray
Past members	Anthony Grantham Phil Cunningham Jake Evans Murad Mousa Damien Lawrence Nick Gilbert Julian Phillips Jack Mitchell Che Hargreaves Johnny Regan Wayne Ward Nick McCall
Website	www.marionthegroup.com

Marion are an English indie rock band, formed in 1993 in Macclesfield, Cheshire.

They released two studio album before splitting up in 1999, due to lead singer Jaime Harding's drug addiction which saw him stop turning up to rehearse with the band that year.

In 2006, Jaime Harding and Phil Cunningham recruited a new set of musicians and reformed the band. They started working on new material, having played their first live gig together as Marion in more than seven years on 1 April 2006 in Bath. They followed this up with sold-out shows in Manchester and London in September 2006.

The original lineup of the band reformed in September 2011. In Summer 2015, it was revealed that Harding was continuing with the band with himself as the sole original member of the band involved.

Biography

Pre-history

Jamie Harding and Phil Cunningham had played together in various bands since their school daying, including Cloud, Push The King and The Shags. After leaving school, Harding was immediately forced into work by his mother, taking a job in a garage.

Formation (1993)

The Harding became friends with Joe Moss (former manager of The Smiths), after reading Johnny Rogan's controversial book Morrissey & Marr/The Severed Alliance and liked the way Joe Moss was portrayed. Moss taught Harding about music history going back to 1920s blues. Moss had previously done for this Johnny Marr at the start of The Smiths.

Moss helped Jaime form a committed group of musicians including Anthony Grantham, Phil Cunningham and Murad Mousa who had all been in various bands with Jaime in the past. Once the group was formed, a 5 piece of Jaime Harding (singing, harmonica, lyrics), Anthony Grantham (guitar), Phil Cunningham (guitar), Julian Philips (bass), Murad Mousa (drums), Joe immediately found a permanent rehearsal space for Marion in the basement of The Night and Day Café on Oldham Street in Manchester's Northern Quarter. It took 9 months of 6/7 days a week writing and rehearsing for the band to be ready to play London gigs and attract a major record company deal.

After releasing the debut single 'Violent Men' on Rough Trade Records, a bidding war began between the major record labels, with Marion eventually signing to London Records and Island Music Publishing in October 1994. In March 1995, Julian left the group, replaced by Nick Gilbert who featured on all other Marion recordings.

Constant gigging eventually helped Marion into the charts with a Top 10 Selling Album in the form of their debut This World & Body in February 1996. Before that, Marion supported the likes of Morrissey, Radiohead, Ian McCulloch of Echo & The Bunnymen and Manic Street Preachers

Marion were linked to the 1990s Britpop music scene, appearing on the 'Britpop Now' BBC television special, among many other TV and Radio Britpop programmes, including a live performance of "Sleep" on Channel 4's cult nineties TV show The Word in February 1995. The group also went on to play at the Glastonbury Festival 3 times and a whole host of other festivals in the UK and Europe, as well as 2 tours of Japan and 4 short tours of America.

After a gruelling 18 month international touring campaign for debut album 'This World & Body' Marion were finding it difficult to write a second album, It was at this point that manager Joe Moss brought in Johnny Marr to co-write and produce Marion's second album The Program. Once the album had been recorded and was ready for release and marketing, Jaime had unfortunately become too ill to work regularly due to his drug habit, which meant that the album was never given a proper release or any promotion. The Program was the first record that Johnny Marr ever sang on.

Johnny Marr had always been impressed with Phil Cunningham's The Stooges-esque guitar playing and recruited him into the live version of Electronic, which then lead to Phil becoming a full-time member of New Order in the early 2000s, which has resulted in New Order's live sound becoming heavier and more rock and roll. Phil is still a permanent member of New Order and has been involved in the writing of various New Order and Bad Lieutenant records.

In 2006, Jaime Harding and Phil Cunningham recruited a new set of musicians and reformed Marion. They started working on new material, having played their first live gig together as Marion in more than 7 years on 1 April 2006 in Bath. They followed this up with sold-out shows in Manchester and London in September and December 2006, playing 50% new songs and 50% older Marion songs. Jaime became ill at the start of 2007 and had open-heart surgery, which yet again put Marion on hiatus.

In 2011 the original line up of Marion got together for 2 years of live shows, including a live album recorded at Manchester Academy in December 2011, entitled 'Alive In Manchester'. At the end of 2012, Jack Mitchell, Marion's drummer for around 10 years, became the drummer for Johnny Marr's new solo band that released the album The Messenger in February 2013 and have toured the world extensively since.

Reformation (2015 - present)

In summer 2015, Harding has formed a new lineup of Marion, including ex-Twisted Wheel drummer Blair Murray.

Appearances

Marion appeared on the 'Britpop Now' BBC television special. They played a live performance of "Sleep" on Channel 4's The Word in February 1995. The group played the Glastonbury Festival three times, along with festivals in the UK and Europe. The group completed two tours of Japan and four short tours of America.

Reception

Nominating "Sleep" for track of the day in August 2014, Q Magazine described the band as 'The Johnny Marr-endorsed, overlooked Britpop heroes.'

Discography

Albums

• This World and Body - (5 February 1996) No. 10 UK
• The Program - (September 1998)
• Alive in Manchester - (April 2012)

Singles

• "Violent Men" - (June 1994)
• "Sleep" - (February 1995) No. 53 UK
• "Toys for Boys" - (May 1995) No. 57 UK
• "Let's All Go Together" - (October 1995) No. 37 UK
• "Time" - (January 1996) No. 29 UK
• "Miyako Hideaway" - (March 1998) No. 45 UK

EPs

• "Sleep EP" - (March 1996) No. 17 UK (re-recording)
• "Sparkle EP - Japan only" - (May 1998)
• "Can't Stop Now EP" - (2006)
• "Live in the studio sessions EP" - (April 2008)

External links

• www.marionthegroup.com - Official Marion Website
• www.marionuk.co.uk - Official Fansite by Craig
• www.themarionarchives.co.uk - Official Fansite by Craig