Martin Bramah
Encyclopedia
Martin Bramah is a British musician best known as a founder member of both The Fall, Blue Orchids and Factory Star
.
Bramah met Mark E. Smith
and original keyboard player Una Baines
towards the end of 1975; Bramah and founding bassist Tony Friel were friends with Smith's sister Barbara. Originally, he was slated to be the group's vocalist but when Smith failed to learn even rudimentary guitar, he and Bramah swapped roles. Bramah would remain in the band until April 1979, leaving mid-tour due to increasing tension between him and Smith. Simon Ford states in "Hip Priest" that Bramah's relationship with Baines was one cause of this.
Bramah, alongside Baines then formed Blue Orchids, releasing an album and a clutch of singles on Rough Trade Records
. The group also acted as a backing band for Nico
during her 1982 UK tour; they can be heard on the Do or Die: Nico in Europe album. The group disbanded at the end of 1982, briefly reforming in 1985 for a further single. After this Bramah formed a new group named Thirst with ex-Fall drummer Karl Burns
.
In 1989, Bramah unexpectedly returned to The Fall, taking the place of Brix Smith
who had recently left. Bramah admitted to Simon Ford that his contact with Mark E. Smith around this time was not fortuitous; he had known of Smith's marital split and actively sought to rejoin The Fall. He stayed for the recording of Extricate
before being fired in Australia in August 1990. Following this he formed a fresh incarnation of Blue Orchids (this time alongside guitarist Craig Gannon
) releasing some singles, but their album would remain unreleased until 2003. A further return to The Fall was mooted around 1998 but, although Bramah rehearsed with some of the group's members, the reunion never took place.
Since then, Bramah steered fresh incarnations of Blue Orchids, releasing new albums and EPs, as well as overseeing reissues of the group's earliest material before becoming a solo artist in 2008, releasing the folk-influenced The Battle of Twisted Heel.
In early 2009, he formed a new group, Factory Star
, initially featuring Tim Lyons and Brian Benson (of The Sandells), subsequently featuring fellow ex-Fall members Steve Hanley
on bass, Paul Hanley
on drums and Hop Man Jr of Gnod, and the Monochrome Set on keyboards. The Hanleys departed during 2010 to be replaced by Chris Dutton (formerly of Sicknurse, and now in the revived Hamsters) and Tom Lewis. The debut album Enter Castle Perilous was released on Occultation Records in March 2011.
Factory star
Factory Star are an English post-punk group, formed in Manchester in December 2008. The group was formed by singer/songriter/guitarist Martin Bramah. Factory Star began life as Bramah, Tim Lyons and Brian Benson . In April 2009 they were replaced by Steve Hanley , Paul Hanley , and *...
.
Bramah met Mark E. Smith
Mark E. Smith
Mark Edward Smith is the lead singer, lyricist, frontman, and only constant member of the English post-punk band The Fall.-Early life:...
and original keyboard player Una Baines
Una Baines
Una Baines was best known as the keyboard player in the first line-up of British post-punk/new wave band The Fall. Her strong feminist ideals shaped the band's early political stance and she remains one of the very few Fall members, other than frontman Mark E...
towards the end of 1975; Bramah and founding bassist Tony Friel were friends with Smith's sister Barbara. Originally, he was slated to be the group's vocalist but when Smith failed to learn even rudimentary guitar, he and Bramah swapped roles. Bramah would remain in the band until April 1979, leaving mid-tour due to increasing tension between him and Smith. Simon Ford states in "Hip Priest" that Bramah's relationship with Baines was one cause of this.
Bramah, alongside Baines then formed Blue Orchids, releasing an album and a clutch of singles on Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
. The group also acted as a backing band for Nico
Nico
Nico was a German singer, lyricist, composer, musician, fashion model, and actress, who initially rose to fame as a Warhol Superstar in the 1960s...
during her 1982 UK tour; they can be heard on the Do or Die: Nico in Europe album. The group disbanded at the end of 1982, briefly reforming in 1985 for a further single. After this Bramah formed a new group named Thirst with ex-Fall drummer Karl Burns
Karl Burns
Karl Burns is a British musician best known as drummer for The Fall, featuring in many incarnations of the band between 1977 and 1998....
.
In 1989, Bramah unexpectedly returned to The Fall, taking the place of Brix Smith
Brix Smith
Brix Smith-Start is an American singer, guitarist and television presenter, best known for being a member of post-punk band The Fall, and as lead singer and songwriter with The Adult Net.-Biography:Brix grew up in Los Angeles and Chicago...
who had recently left. Bramah admitted to Simon Ford that his contact with Mark E. Smith around this time was not fortuitous; he had known of Smith's marital split and actively sought to rejoin The Fall. He stayed for the recording of Extricate
Extricate
Extricate is a 1990 album by post-punk band The Fall. It was made immediately after bandleader Mark E. Smith divorced Brix Smith. Brix's departure influenced more than just the subject matter of the album, it also helped define the sound of this album: her background vocals and post-punk guitar,...
before being fired in Australia in August 1990. Following this he formed a fresh incarnation of Blue Orchids (this time alongside guitarist Craig Gannon
Craig Gannon
Craig Gannon , is an English guitar player. Previously best known for being the second guitarist in The Smiths, he is now a composer for film and television.-Career:...
) releasing some singles, but their album would remain unreleased until 2003. A further return to The Fall was mooted around 1998 but, although Bramah rehearsed with some of the group's members, the reunion never took place.
Since then, Bramah steered fresh incarnations of Blue Orchids, releasing new albums and EPs, as well as overseeing reissues of the group's earliest material before becoming a solo artist in 2008, releasing the folk-influenced The Battle of Twisted Heel.
In early 2009, he formed a new group, Factory Star
Factory star
Factory Star are an English post-punk group, formed in Manchester in December 2008. The group was formed by singer/songriter/guitarist Martin Bramah. Factory Star began life as Bramah, Tim Lyons and Brian Benson . In April 2009 they were replaced by Steve Hanley , Paul Hanley , and *...
, initially featuring Tim Lyons and Brian Benson (of The Sandells), subsequently featuring fellow ex-Fall members Steve Hanley
Steve Hanley (musician)
Steve Hanley is an Irish-born English musician, based in Manchester. He is best known for playing bass guitar in The Fall from 1979 to 1998, and afterwards in The Lovers....
on bass, Paul Hanley
Paul Hanley (musician)
Paul Hanley is an English musician, based in Manchester. He is best known for playing drums in The Fall and The Lovers.-Career:...
on drums and Hop Man Jr of Gnod, and the Monochrome Set on keyboards. The Hanleys departed during 2010 to be replaced by Chris Dutton (formerly of Sicknurse, and now in the revived Hamsters) and Tom Lewis. The debut album Enter Castle Perilous was released on Occultation Records in March 2011.