Fashion (band)
Encyclopedia
Fashion were a British
New Wave
band
consisting of Dee Harris, Al 'Luke Sky' James, Alan Darby, John Mulligan
, Marlon Recchi, and Dik Davis.
The band had two or three eras. The first, from 1978 to 1980, was part of the underground music of the 1970s, while punk was making their last hits in Britain, when the band, named Fàshiön Music, released experimental post-punk
rock and like-reggae
/ska
oriented songs; and was also characterized by the presence of lead vocalist and guitarist Luke Sky
, who left in 1980, ending with that first era.
, England
, in 1978, and consisted of John Mulligan (bass, synthesizer), Dik Davis (drums), and Al James (lead vocals, guitar). James became known as Luke Sky, or simply Luke or Lûke, short for 'Luke Skyscraper' a pun
on Star Wars
and the fact that James was tall and thin.; while John Mulligan was known simply as Mulligan and Davis as Dïk. At that time, they also founded their own Fàshiön Music label, and they released their first three singles: Steady Eddie Steady, Citinite, and The Innocent.
Their sound was varied, playing punk
, post-punk
and indie repertoire, although Mulligan at that time also had a synthesizer which later characterized the future electro
and new romantic
years of the band (sounding like rock bands of the day, as Magazine
, The Cure
, and Joy Division).
After releasing three singles on their own label, they signed to I.R.S.
, for whom in 1979 they recorded and released their first album, Product Perfect
.
Between 1978 and 1980, they played shows with many bands who later became well known. A then recently formed Duran Duran
opened their shows, they toured the UK with U2, UK and USA with The Police, and opened for The B-52's
on their first British tour.
In March 1980, Fàshiön Music released their Silver Blades single. In 1980 they also released one more song, "Let Go", on a Birmingham bands compilation called Bouncing In The Red (EMI).
In June 1980, after a last gig in London with U2, Luke James left the band and moved to United States
. He now resides in the San Francisco Bay Area
of California
, and recently re-formed Fàshiön.
In different articles and webs, it has been announced Fàshiön Music recorded a number of demos during 1978-1979/80, but only three of them are online on the official band's Myspace created by Luke James, "Fashion" (later re-recorded for Product Perfect), "Fiction Factory", and "I Don't Take Drugs" (recently dropped).
A line-up contained Dik and Mulligan from the original line along with Tony Dial (former singer with the Neon Hearts) and bass player Ian Moore. Sessions were recorded for BRMB and this line up supported The Human League. They were based at the Holy City Zoo club in Birmingham during this period.
There is, however, now a CD available through Luke's Myspace and Fashion web pages that has all of the singles, as well as the unreleased demos of "Fiction Factory", "Let Go", "Bad Move", and a 1980 re-recording of the band's first single "Steady Eddie Steady".
(1982), saw a significant change in line-up, with James having left the band and Harris and Recchi joining. Fabrique, produced by Zeus B. Held
, contained the singles "Move On" and "Love Shadow", among others. It was later re-issued with additional material as Height of Fashion (1990), (2004). One of Harris' last gigs with Fashion occurred at the Botanical Gardens, Birmingham, England. Harris left Fashion before a proposed world tour of Fabrique
and the third release, later recording an album with Richard Wright
, keyboardist of Pink Floyd
, as Zee. Harris was replaced by Troy Tate
and guitarist Al Darby. Though Troy Tate did not record any studio material with Fashion, he performed his own songs with the band live. During Tate's period, Alan Darby showed off his immense talent for the guitar by modifying De Harris' guitar parts and even soloing in different modal ways. Songs during Tate's period include, "Love Is" and "What You Gonna Do Next." Tate was subsequently fired, with Darby left to perform leading vocals.
In 1984, Fashion released an album entitled Twilight Of Idols.
Later, gigs with the new singer, songwriter, and guitar player Darby took place in Dunsbury, England. According to a web response, Mulligan has recorded material with Nick Beggs
of Kajagoogoo
.
. In addition, James is finishing a book entitled [Stairway to Nowhere] and has recently completed an album of the same title. Released in February 2009, the [Stairway to Nowhere] album features James on vocals and various instruments, Vuk Pavlovic of Nature's Pocket providing drums for 3 tracks, and Balcony as the mastering and technical guru.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
New Wave
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...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
consisting of Dee Harris, Al 'Luke Sky' James, Alan Darby, John Mulligan
John Mulligan
For the 19th-century baseball player, see John Mulligan .Joshua Salvator Mulligan is a Birmingham, England born new nave musician. He is most prominently known as the bassist and keyboardist of the band Fashion from 1978-1984....
, Marlon Recchi, and Dik Davis.
The band had two or three eras. The first, from 1978 to 1980, was part of the underground music of the 1970s, while punk was making their last hits in Britain, when the band, named Fàshiön Music, released experimental 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...
rock and like-reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
/ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
oriented songs; and was also characterized by the presence of lead vocalist and guitarist Luke Sky
Luke James
Luke James is an English singer, a guitarist, and a writer who formed part of the New Wave scene in Birmingham as the lead singer and guitarist of post-punk band Fàshiön Music from 1978 to 1980...
, who left in 1980, ending with that first era.
Post-punk years: Fàshiön Music
Fashion was formed originally as Fàshiön Music, in BirminghamBirmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, in 1978, and consisted of John Mulligan (bass, synthesizer), Dik Davis (drums), and Al James (lead vocals, guitar). James became known as Luke Sky, or simply Luke or Lûke, short for 'Luke Skyscraper' a pun
Pun
The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use and abuse of homophonic,...
on Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
and the fact that James was tall and thin.; while John Mulligan was known simply as Mulligan and Davis as Dïk. At that time, they also founded their own Fàshiön Music label, and they released their first three singles: Steady Eddie Steady, Citinite, and The Innocent.
Their sound was varied, playing punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, 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...
and indie repertoire, although Mulligan at that time also had a synthesizer which later characterized the future electro
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
and new romantic
New Romantic
New Romanticism , was a pop culture movement in the United Kingdom that began around 1979 and peaked around 1981. Developing in London nightclubs such as Billy's and The Blitz and spreading to other major cities in the UK, it was based around flamboyant, eccentric fashion and new wave music...
years of the band (sounding like rock bands of the day, as Magazine
Magazine (band)
Magazine are an English post-punk group active from 1977 to 1981, then reformed in 2009. Their debut single, "Shot by Both Sides", is now acknowledged as a classic and their debut album, Real Life, is still widely admired as one of the greatest albums of all time...
, The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
, and Joy Division).
After releasing three singles on their own label, they signed to I.R.S.
I.R.S. Records
I.R.S. Records was a record label, started in the United States in 1979 by Miles Copeland III along with Jay Boberg and Carl Grasso. Miles was also the manager of Wishbone Ash, The Police, and later, Sting, as well as other bands. I.R.S. was the sister label of Copeland's Illegal Records .I.R.S...
, for whom in 1979 they recorded and released their first album, Product Perfect
Product Perfect
Product Perfect was the debut album of Fàshiön Music , released in 1979. It is their only album to feature guitarist–vocalist Luke James...
.
Between 1978 and 1980, they played shows with many bands who later became well known. A then recently formed Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
opened their shows, they toured the UK with U2, UK and USA with The Police, and opened for The B-52's
The B-52's
The B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...
on their first British tour.
In March 1980, Fàshiön Music released their Silver Blades single. In 1980 they also released one more song, "Let Go", on a Birmingham bands compilation called Bouncing In The Red (EMI).
In June 1980, after a last gig in London with U2, Luke James left the band and moved to United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He now resides in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and recently re-formed Fàshiön.
In different articles and webs, it has been announced Fàshiön Music recorded a number of demos during 1978-1979/80, but only three of them are online on the official band's Myspace created by Luke James, "Fashion" (later re-recorded for Product Perfect), "Fiction Factory", and "I Don't Take Drugs" (recently dropped).
A line-up contained Dik and Mulligan from the original line along with Tony Dial (former singer with the Neon Hearts) and bass player Ian Moore. Sessions were recorded for BRMB and this line up supported The Human League. They were based at the Holy City Zoo club in Birmingham during this period.
There is, however, now a CD available through Luke's Myspace and Fashion web pages that has all of the singles, as well as the unreleased demos of "Fiction Factory", "Let Go", "Bad Move", and a 1980 re-recording of the band's first single "Steady Eddie Steady".
New Romantic years: Fashiøn
Their most notable album, FabriqueFabrique
Fabrique was Fashion's 1982 second album. It was produced by Zeus B. Held. The album included the following UK hit singles: "Streetplayer " which reached No. 46 in April 1982 and "Love Shadow", which made No. 51 in August of the same year...
(1982), saw a significant change in line-up, with James having left the band and Harris and Recchi joining. Fabrique, produced by Zeus B. Held
Zeus B. Held
Zeus B. Held is a German music producer and musician, known for his work in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. He was involved with several artists of the Krautrock, Disco and New Wave era, such as Birth Control, Rockets, Gina X Performance, Dead Or Alive, John Foxx, Fashion and Men Without Hats on their...
, contained the singles "Move On" and "Love Shadow", among others. It was later re-issued with additional material as Height of Fashion (1990), (2004). One of Harris' last gigs with Fashion occurred at the Botanical Gardens, Birmingham, England. Harris left Fashion before a proposed world tour of Fabrique
Fabrique
Fabrique was Fashion's 1982 second album. It was produced by Zeus B. Held. The album included the following UK hit singles: "Streetplayer " which reached No. 46 in April 1982 and "Love Shadow", which made No. 51 in August of the same year...
and the third release, later recording an album with Richard Wright
Richard Wright (musician)
Richard William Wright was an English pianist, keyboardist and songwriter, best known for his career with Pink Floyd. Wright's richly textured keyboard layers were a vital ingredient and a distinctive characteristic of Pink Floyd's sound...
, keyboardist of Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, as Zee. Harris was replaced by Troy Tate
Troy Tate
Troy Tate is a musician and record producer who was a member of several bands including The Teardrop Explodes and Fashion as well as working as a solo artist.-Biography:...
and guitarist Al Darby. Though Troy Tate did not record any studio material with Fashion, he performed his own songs with the band live. During Tate's period, Alan Darby showed off his immense talent for the guitar by modifying De Harris' guitar parts and even soloing in different modal ways. Songs during Tate's period include, "Love Is" and "What You Gonna Do Next." Tate was subsequently fired, with Darby left to perform leading vocals.
In 1984, Fashion released an album entitled Twilight Of Idols.
Later, gigs with the new singer, songwriter, and guitar player Darby took place in Dunsbury, England. According to a web response, Mulligan has recorded material with Nick Beggs
Nick Beggs
Nick Beggs is a British musician, noted for playing the bass guitar and the Chapman Stick; he is a member of Kajagoogoo and formerly Iona and Ellis, Beggs, & Howard.-Personal life:...
of Kajagoogoo
Kajagoogoo
Kajagoogoo are a British pop band, best known for their hit single, "Too Shy", which reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 5 on the U.S...
.
Fàshiön Re-formed
29 years after the first Fashion album, Product Perfect (1979), original singer/guitarist James has re-released the first album on CDCompact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
. In addition, James is finishing a book entitled [Stairway to Nowhere] and has recently completed an album of the same title. Released in February 2009, the [Stairway to Nowhere] album features James on vocals and various instruments, Vuk Pavlovic of Nature's Pocket providing drums for 3 tracks, and Balcony as the mastering and technical guru.
Singles
- "Steady Eddie Steady" - (November 1978)
- "Citinite" - (June 1979)
- "The Innocent" - (September 28, 1979)
- "Silver Blades" - (March 1980)
- "Move On" - (1981)
- "You Only Left Your Picture" - (1982)
- "Streetplayer (Mechanik)" - (1982) UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#46 - "Something in Your Picture" - (1982)
- "Love Shadow" - (1982) UK #51
- "Eye Talk" - (1984) UK #69
- "Dreaming" - (1984)
- "You in the Night" - (1984)
- "Eye Talk" - (1986) - re-release
- "Something in Your Picture" - (1987) - re-release
- "Dressed to Kill" - (1987)
Albums (with chart position)
- Product PerfectProduct PerfectProduct Perfect was the debut album of Fàshiön Music , released in 1979. It is their only album to feature guitarist–vocalist Luke James...
(17 September 1979) - FabriqueFabriqueFabrique was Fashion's 1982 second album. It was produced by Zeus B. Held. The album included the following UK hit singles: "Streetplayer " which reached No. 46 in April 1982 and "Love Shadow", which made No. 51 in August of the same year...
(1982) - later re-released as The Height Of Fashion (2004) UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#10 - Twilight of IdolsTwilight of IdolsTwilight of Idols was Fashion's 1984 album produced by Zeus B. Held and their only to feature singer/songwriter Alan Darby.The track "Eye Talk" was released as a UK single, reaching No...
(1984) UK #69 - Stairway to Nowhere (2009)
External links
- Stairway To Nowhere - fàshiön Fàshiön homepage
- Official Fàshiön MySpace site relised by singer and guitarist Luke Sky Featuring only Fàshiön Music period and new material
- Fashion discography
- Fashion information
- Fashion fan page