The Members
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The Members | |
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 The Members in London, 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Camberley, Surrey, England |
| Genres | Punk rock |
| Years active | 1976–1983, 2007–present |
| Labels | Stiff, Virgin, Arista |
| Members |
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| Past members |
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| Website | theMembers.co.uk |
The Members is a British punk band that originated in Camberley, Surrey, England. In the UK, they are best known for their single "The Sound of the Suburbs", reaching No. 12 in the UK Singles Chart in 1979, and in Australia, "Radio" which reached No. 5 in 1982.
Career
[edit]The Members were formed by lyricist Nicky Tesco (Nick Lightowlers) in 1976, through an invited audition at a recording studio at Tooley Street, London.[1][dubious – discuss] The original personnel, with Tesco (vocals), was Gary Baker (guitar), and Steve Morley (bass guitar), initially with Steve Maycock then Clive Parker (drums). Morley and Parker were later replaced by Chris Payne and Adrian Lillywhite.[2]
In 1976, the band performed for its first engagements at The Red Cow (London W6), The Windsor Castle (London W9) and The Nashville Rooms (London W14). In that year, composer Jean Marie Carroll (aka JC Carroll) joined the band to complement Tesco's lyrics.[1] The Members had recorded a number of songs, but the first released recording was "Fear on the Streets", produced by Lillywhite's brother Steve Lillywhite.[2] This song was included on the first record released by the Beggars Banquet label, who made the punk compilation Streets (1977).[2][3] The song-writing collaboration between Tesco and Carroll moved The Members' sound towards an incorporation of reggae, shown in the first single released for Stiff Records, "Solitary Confinement", produced by Larry Wallis.[2] Following these releases, the band personnel became Tesco (vocals), Carroll (vocals and guitar), Nigel Bennett (guitar), Payne (bass) and Lillywhite (drums).[2]
In 1978/79, the Members continued to play the London pub and club circuit, became a feature in the music press and were championed by John Peel. They signed to Virgin Records in 1978, for which label they recorded "The Sound of the Suburbs", again produced by Steve Lillywhite.[2] This became The Members' biggest chart success and their best-known song in the UK. However, the follow-up single, "Offshore Banking Business", a reggae tune written by Carroll,[2] based on his experiences working in offshore banking at the private bank Coutts,[4] did not achieve the same popularity. A version of "Offshore Banking Business" was recorded for the early 1980s film Urgh! A Music War, produced by Michael White, and distributed by Filmways and Lorimar Productions.[citation needed]
The Members' first album, At the Chelsea Nightclub, was followed by a second for Virgin, 1980 – The Choice Is Yours.[2] Augmented by saxophonists Steve (Rudi) Thomson and Simon Lloyd (the latter of whom also provided horns and additional keyboards), the group recorded what would turn out to be their final album. This last album was first issued in the US as Uprhythm, Downbeat in 1982,[1] and it surfaced in the UK a year later, with a new title called Going West.[3] The album featured the singles "Radio," which made no. 5 in Australia,[5] and Working Girl, the music video for which gave the band exposure in North America via MTV.[citation needed]
The band broke up in 1983, when Tesco left the band after the last tour of the US. JC Carroll formed the UK fashion house, The Dispensary, with his then wife Sophy Lynn and began working on film soundtracks, most notably with film producer Stephen Malit and director Julien Temple.[6][user-generated source] Lillywhite went on to join the band King in the mid-1980s in time for their second album. Lloyd soon joined the Australian band Icehouse, remaining with them for their international smash hits "Electric Blue" and "Crazy". In 1989, Tesco appeared in Leningrad Cowboys Go America, written and directed by Aki Kaurismäki, a film about a fictional Russian rock band touring the US.[7] This fictional band then toured as an actual band, and recorded the Tesco song "Thru the Wire". Kaurismäki directed a video for "Thru the Wire", featuring Tesco.[8] As well as working as a music journalist for the magazine Music Week, Tesco became a commentator on new releases for BBC 6 Music's "Roundtable".[citation needed]
Reunion incarnation
[edit]In 2008, the original line up of the band reformed to play two concerts, then a line up of Carroll, Payne and Nick Cash resumed touring. In 2009, a new single "International Financial Crisis" (a re-write of "Offshore Banking Business") was released, recorded by Tesco, Carroll, Payne and Bennett, with artwork by the original Members' album sleeve designer, Malcolm Garrett. This line up played Glastonbury and Isle of Wight Festivals.[citation needed] The Members line-up of Carroll, Payne and Rat Scabies (drums) performed from 2010 to 2013, playing over 90 shows including three European tours and New Zealand and Australian tours.[citation needed] Nick Cash rejoined the band in 2014.
In March 2012, the Members released their fourth studio album, InGrrLand, featuring Carroll, Payne, Bennett, Cash and Rat Scabies. In December 2013, Nigel Bennett rejoined the Members. In 2014, the Members (comprising Carroll, Bennett and Cash), mounted a 23-date tour of the US; Carroll on bass guitar and lead vocals, Bennett on lead guitar, and Cash on drums. This was the band's first tour of the US for 32 years.[9]
In 2015, the band began work on their fifth studio album in studios in London and West Byfleet featuring a nucleus of Carroll, Cash, Payne and Bennett together with guest appearances from Guy Pratt and guitarist Steve Brookes.[citation needed] One Law, released in early 2016, was produced by Carroll, and received reviews in Louder Than War,[10] The Aberdeen Voice,[11] Record Collector and Vive Le Rock.[citation needed]
In 2021, the band released their seventh studio album Bedsitland[12] and JC Carroll's definitive story of the band, Still Annoying the Neighbours, was published.[13]
Since reforming the Members have performed all over the world; and apart from a break for the COVID pandemic, they continue to perform.[14]
On 26 February 2022, it was announced that Tesco had died, at the age of 67.[15] The BBC's Johnnie Walker and JC Carroll paid tribute to Tesco on the Sounds of the 70's BBC radio show.[16]
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]| Year | Title | UK | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | At the Chelsea Nightclub | 45 | Stiff/Virgin |
| 1980 | 1980 – The Choice Is Yours | - | Virgin |
| 1982 | Uprhythm, Downbeat | - | Virgin |
| 1995 | Sound of the Suburbs (Best Of) | - | Virgin |
| 2010 | Live in Berlin | - | Smash The System |
| 2012 | Ingrrland | - | AngloCentric |
| 2016 | One Law | - | AngloCentric – Cadiz Music |
| 2016 | At The Luton Hat Factory | - | AngloCentric |
| 2018 | Greatest Hits (all the Singles) | - | AngloCentric – Cadiz Music |
| 2019 | Version | - | Cleopatra Records |
| 2019 | InGrrLand (vinyl edition) | - | Cleopatra Records |
| 2021 | Bedsitland (vinyl, CD, Digital ) | - | AngloCentric records |
Singles
[edit]| Year | Title | UK | UK Indie | US Main | AUS[17] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | "Solitary Confinement" | - | - | - | - |
| 1979 | "The Sound of the Suburbs" | 12 | - | - | - |
| 1979 | "Offshore Banking Business" | 31 | - | - | - |
| 1979 | "Killing Time" | - | - | - | - |
| 1980 | "Romance" | - | - | - | - |
| 1980 | "Flying Again" | - | - | - | - |
| 1981 | "Working Girl" | 114 | 41 | 34 | - |
| 1982 | "Radio"[3] | - | - | - | 8 |
| 2009 | "International Financial Crisis" | - | - | - | - |
| 2011 | "New English Blues" | - | - | - | - |
| 2015 | "(I Love my)English Girls" | - | - | - | - |
| 2016 | "Emotional Triggers c/w Apathy in the UK" | - | - | - | - |
| 2016 | "Incident at Surbiton (3 Mixes)" | - | - | - | - |
| 2018 | "Smartphone Junkie c/w Non. Je ne Regrette Rein" | - | - | - | - |
| 2019 | "When U were mine c/w Ever Fallen in Love in Love" | - | - | - | - |
Compilation appearances
[edit]- Streets (Beggars Banquet 1977 – Track: "Fear on the Streets")
- The Moonlight Tapes (Danceville Records 1977 – Track: "Rat Up a Drainpipe")
- The Sound of the Suburbs (Columbia Records MOOD18 (1991) – Track: "The Sounds of the Suburbs")
Line-ups
[edit]| 1976 | 1976 | 1977 | 1977 |
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| 1977 – 1978 | 1978 – 1981 | 1981 | 1981 – 1983 |
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| 1983 | 1983 – 2007 | 2007 | 2008 |
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Disbanded |
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| 2009 | 2009 – 2010 | 2010 – 2013 | 2013 – December 2013 |
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| December 2013 – 2014 | 2014 | 2014 | 2014 |
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| 2014 – 2015 | 2016 | 2016 | 2016 |
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| 2017 – 2020 | 2020 – 2022 | 2022 (199 club – 45 years reunion) | 2022 – present |
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Timeline
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 November 2006. Retrieved 17 November 2006.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a b c d e f g h Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Indie and New Wave Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 176/7. ISBN 0-85112-579-4.
- ^ a b c Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 361. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ John Dizard (8 April 2016). "Offshore banking business, international crime!". Financial Times. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Forum – 1982 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
- ^ "Jc Carroll | Composer, Music Department, Actor". IMDb.com. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ "NICK TESCO conversations. Pt-08. Leningrad Cowboys and Aki Kaurismäki". YouTube. 20 May 2010. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ "NICK TESCO conversations. Pt-07. Berlin, Aki Kaurismäki, Thru the Wire". YouTube. 21 May 2010. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ Harr, Dan (25 August 2014). "UK Punk Trailblazers The Members Touring America Now". Nashville Music News. Archived from the original on 20 June 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ "The Members: One Law - album review". Louder Than War. 22 March 2016. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ "The Members One Law – A Punk Coming of Age Album". Aberdeen Voice. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ Simpson, Dave (12 April 2021). "The Members: how we made Sound of the Suburbs". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ Browne, Den (11 March 2021). "Still Annoying The Neighbours by JC Carroll – book review". Louder Than War. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "The Members, Tour Dates". Themembers.co.uk.
- ^ Robb, John (27 February 2022). "Nicky Tesco (The Members) RIP". Louder Than War. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ^ "BBC Radio 2 - Sounds of the 70s with Johnnie Walker, Remembering Nicky Tesco from the Members". Bbc.co.uk.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 197. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
External links
[edit] | This article's use of external links may not follow Wikipedia's policies or guidelines. (May 2024) |
Media related to The Members at Wikimedia Commons- The Members Official YouTube Channel
- The Members web site
- Nick Tesco music review blog.
- Review of The Members in Sacramento 2014
- Record Collector Article September 2015
- J C Carroll Official Site
- Nicky Tesco filmography
- Nick Cash: a bio
- Nick (Nicky) Tesco biographical videos.
- Vive Le Rock Magazine JC Carroll Book Review April 2021.
- Louder then War Magazine - JC Carroll Book Review April 2021.
- The Members discography at Discogs
- The Members at IMDb
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