Chris Joyce
Encyclopedia
Chris Joyce is known for being drummer with different new wave
groups and with Simply Red
in the 1980s.
Coming from Didsbury
, Manchester, he adopted the hippie
lifestyle. His most remote band was Fast Breeder, a short-lived late 1970s punk group from Manchester
who was formed by him on drums and Dave Rowbotham
on guitar, and managed by Tony Wilson
. Wilson called Joyce and Rowbotham to form a band alongside guitarist Vini Reilly
and bass guitarist Tony Bowers
, The Durutti Column
. That line-up of the band released only two songs from the first EP of Factory, A Factory Sample
, before Joyce, Rowbotham and Bowers quit the band to form another post-punk
band around 1979, The Mothmen
.
The Mothmen released only two studio albums and a number of singles, before disbanding in the 1980s. During his time with The Mothmen, Joyce worked with Pink Military, London Underground and Judy Nylon
. By mid-1980s, he was working with Suns of Arqa
, before forming Simply Red, alongside his bandmate Tony Bowers and singer Mick Hucknall
.
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
groups and with Simply Red
Simply Red
Simply Red were a British soul band that sold more than 50 million albums over a 25-year career. Their style drew influences from blue-eyed soul, new romantic, rock, reggae and jazz...
in the 1980s.
Coming from Didsbury
Didsbury
Didsbury is a suburban area of the City of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Mersey, south of Manchester city centre, in the southern half of the Greater Manchester Urban Area...
, Manchester, he adopted the hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
lifestyle. His most remote band was Fast Breeder, a short-lived late 1970s punk group from Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
who was formed by him on drums and Dave Rowbotham
Dave Rowbotham
Dave Rowbotham was a rock musician who played guitar and bass with different Manchester bands in the 1970s and the 1980s, and as studio musician.-Biography:...
on guitar, and managed by Tony Wilson
Tony Wilson
Anthony Howard Wilson, commonly known as Tony Wilson , was an English record label owner, radio presenter, TV show host, nightclub manager, impresario and journalist for Granada Television and the BBC....
. Wilson called Joyce and Rowbotham to form a band alongside guitarist Vini Reilly
Vini Reilly
Vincent "Vini" Gerard Reilly is an English musician and leader of the post-punk group The Durutti Column.-Biography:...
and bass guitarist Tony Bowers
Tony Bowers
Tony Bowers is a musician based in Italy who has worked with many bands, including Simply Red in the 1980s.He debuted with a blues band called Blind Eye, as second guitarist, although isn't considered as former member...
, The Durutti Column
The Durutti Column
The Durutti Column are an English post-punk band formed in 1978 in Manchester, England. The band is an ongoing project of guitarist Vini Reilly who is often accompanied by drummer Bruce Mitchell. Other current members are Keir Stewart and Reilly's girlfriend Poppy Morgan...
. That line-up of the band released only two songs from the first EP of Factory, A Factory Sample
A Factory Sample
A Factory Sample is a 7-inch double sampler EP released on 24 December 1978 by Factory Records of Manchester, England. It was the first vinyl recording to be released by the label...
, before Joyce, Rowbotham and Bowers quit the band to form another post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
band around 1979, The Mothmen
The Mothmen
The Mothmen were a short-lived post-punk band from England, formed around 1979 by Dave Rowbotham, Chris Joyce and Tony Bowers, shortly after they left The Durutti Column, including ex-Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias singer Bob Harding.-History:...
.
The Mothmen released only two studio albums and a number of singles, before disbanding in the 1980s. During his time with The Mothmen, Joyce worked with Pink Military, London Underground and Judy Nylon
Judy Nylon
Judy Nylon is an American artist who moved to London in 1970. She was half of the punk act called Snatch, which also featured Patti Palladin. Only those who lived in New York and London during the era that spanned glam rock, punk and no wave are likely to appreciate her importance, most of which...
. By mid-1980s, he was working with Suns of Arqa
Suns of Arqa
Suns of Arqa are a World Music collective founded in 1979 by Michael Wadada. Since the group's formation, over 200 people from around the world have played and recorded with them, and in many cases these were like-minded musicians Wadada met as he travelled the world...
, before forming Simply Red, alongside his bandmate Tony Bowers and singer Mick Hucknall
Mick Hucknall
Michael "Mick" Hucknall is a British singer and songwriter. He was the lead singer of the British band Simply Red, and is recognisable for his smooth, distinctive voice and wide vocal range, as well as his red curly hair.-Early life:...
.