Melvyn J Taub
Encyclopedia
Melvyn J Taub is a London
-based pop/rock singer and some-time actor, primarily known for his role as singer in 1980s bubblegum pop
band The Jetset
and as a part of Mari Wilson
's touring revue band The Wilsations.
, Taub formed the Jetset in July 1981 the band developed their style under the guidance of former Advertising and Secret Affair
drummer Paul Bultitude
, playing their first gig at the Rock Garden in Covent Garden, London, in 1981, and gaining valuable live experience as a touring support act to Secret Affair
later the same year and during 1982.
The band set about crafting perfectly executed and packaged bubblegum pop, inspired by the music and merchandising of The Monkees
and The Beatles
. From the beginning The Jetset
presented themselves as already every bit as famous as their Sixties heroes. The band’s marketing sowed the seeds of Jetset myth before they were even well known. An eye-catching EP
sleeve included the band clowning around in stills “from their forthcoming TV series”, hanging out of the Monkee-influenced ‘Jetsetmobile’ (a very English Ford Capri with customised ‘JETSET’ number plates). They even had a suitably barmy Jetset cartoon strip that appeared in Shadows & Reflections, the underground magazine of long-time Jetset champion Chris Hunt
.
Melvyn J added the trademark nasal vocals to The Jetset's authentic Sixties pop sound and the band went on to record five albums before their acrimonious split in 1988. As Paul Bevoir
started to assume more control of the band's direction and sound, and took on more of the singing duties, Bultitude and Taub quit the band, leaving Bevoir to finish the final Jetset album without them. Bevoir had occasionally appeared live as The Jetset without Taub, most notably on a tour of the USA in 1986.
's Wilsations as backing vocalists in 1981. Bevoir soon left to focus on his own music, while Melvyn J went on to enjoy chart success with the Wilsations, before returning to work with Bevoir in The Jetset.
television film in the early 1980s, starring alongside Koo Stark
and directed by Julien Temple
, as well as in a number of TV commercials worldwide.
Upon leaving Sony in 2003, he formed The International Department, an international music promotion company, with Paul Bultitude
and Doe Phillips. He continues to work closely with Oasis
, Travis
, Manic Street Preachers
and Simply Red
, to name but a few, in promotional and tour management roles.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based pop/rock singer and some-time actor, primarily known for his role as singer in 1980s bubblegum pop
Bubblegum pop
Bubblegum pop is a genre of pop music with an upbeat sound contrived and marketed to appeal to pre-teens and teenagers, produced in an assembly-line process, driven by producers, often using unknown singers.Bubblegum's classic period ran from 1967 to 1972...
band The Jetset
The Jetset
The Jetset were a 1980s English pop band, who were associated with the British Mod revival.-Career:Formed in 1979 by teenage friends Paul Bevoir and Melvyn J Taub, the band developed their style under the guidance of former Advertising and Secret Affair drummer, Paul Bultitude...
and as a part of Mari Wilson
Mari Wilson
Mari Wilson is an English singer, best known for her sometimes quirky, early 1960s-influenced pop music songs, and her beehive hairstyle.-Career:...
's touring revue band The Wilsations.
Early life
Melvyn Jeremy Taub was born in London, the only son of Wilfred Taub (originally Schlachtaub) and Adela Robin. He attended the Clapton Jewish Day School, where he met his future Jetset band mate Angus Nanan, before continuing his education at Central Foundation Boys' Grammar School.The Jetset
Along with teenage friend Paul BevoirPaul Bevoir
Paul Bevoir , is a pop/rock songwriter and musician. He is probably best known as a member of the 1980s English pop band The Jetset, who were associated with the British Mod revival.-Early life:...
, Taub formed the Jetset in July 1981 the band developed their style under the guidance of former Advertising and Secret Affair
Secret Affair
Secret Affair were a mod revival band, formed in 1978 and disbanded in 1982. They reformed to perform and record in the 2000s.-Career:In a period of a little over two years, Secret Affair posted five releases in the UK Singles Chart and released three albums...
drummer Paul Bultitude
Paul Bultitude
Paul Bultitude is an English musician and record producer. He was the drummer in power pop band Advertising, working with his cousin Dennis Smith, Tot Taylor and Simon Boswell, before replacing Seb Shelton as the drummer in Secret Affair...
, playing their first gig at the Rock Garden in Covent Garden, London, in 1981, and gaining valuable live experience as a touring support act to Secret Affair
Secret Affair
Secret Affair were a mod revival band, formed in 1978 and disbanded in 1982. They reformed to perform and record in the 2000s.-Career:In a period of a little over two years, Secret Affair posted five releases in the UK Singles Chart and released three albums...
later the same year and during 1982.
The band set about crafting perfectly executed and packaged bubblegum pop, inspired by the music and merchandising of The Monkees
The Monkees
The Monkees are an American pop rock group. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork,...
and The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. From the beginning The Jetset
The Jetset
The Jetset were a 1980s English pop band, who were associated with the British Mod revival.-Career:Formed in 1979 by teenage friends Paul Bevoir and Melvyn J Taub, the band developed their style under the guidance of former Advertising and Secret Affair drummer, Paul Bultitude...
presented themselves as already every bit as famous as their Sixties heroes. The band’s marketing sowed the seeds of Jetset myth before they were even well known. An eye-catching EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
sleeve included the band clowning around in stills “from their forthcoming TV series”, hanging out of the Monkee-influenced ‘Jetsetmobile’ (a very English Ford Capri with customised ‘JETSET’ number plates). They even had a suitably barmy Jetset cartoon strip that appeared in Shadows & Reflections, the underground magazine of long-time Jetset champion Chris Hunt
Chris Hunt
Chris Hunt is a magazine editor, journalist and author. He has worked in journalism for over twenty years, most often writing about football or rock music. He was managing editor of Match from 1993 to 2001, a period that saw the weekly title become Britain's biggest selling football magazine...
.
Melvyn J added the trademark nasal vocals to The Jetset's authentic Sixties pop sound and the band went on to record five albums before their acrimonious split in 1988. As Paul Bevoir
Paul Bevoir
Paul Bevoir , is a pop/rock songwriter and musician. He is probably best known as a member of the 1980s English pop band The Jetset, who were associated with the British Mod revival.-Early life:...
started to assume more control of the band's direction and sound, and took on more of the singing duties, Bultitude and Taub quit the band, leaving Bevoir to finish the final Jetset album without them. Bevoir had occasionally appeared live as The Jetset without Taub, most notably on a tour of the USA in 1986.
Mari Wilson's Wilsations
Through their connection with Bultitude, Bevoir and Taub had temporarily joined Mari WilsonMari Wilson
Mari Wilson is an English singer, best known for her sometimes quirky, early 1960s-influenced pop music songs, and her beehive hairstyle.-Career:...
's Wilsations as backing vocalists in 1981. Bevoir soon left to focus on his own music, while Melvyn J went on to enjoy chart success with the Wilsations, before returning to work with Bevoir in The Jetset.
Actor
As an actor, Melvyn J appeared in It's All True, a highly acclaimed ArenaArena (TV series)
Arena is a British television documentary series, made and broadcast by the BBC. It has run since 1 October 1975, and over five hundred episodes have been made. Arena covers all manner of subjects, from profiles of notable people such as Bob Dylan to the Ford Cortina car...
television film in the early 1980s, starring alongside Koo Stark
Koo Stark
Kathleen Dee-Anne Stark, better known as Koo Stark , is an American film actress and photographer. She is known for her appearance in the film Emily and subsequent relationship with Prince Andrew, son of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, before his marriage to Sarah, Duchess of York.-...
and directed by Julien Temple
Julien Temple
Julien Temple is an English film, documentary and music video director. He began his career with short films featuring the Sex Pistols, and has continued with various off-beat projects, including The Great Rock And Roll Swindle, Absolute Beginners and a documentary film about Glastonbury.-Temple...
, as well as in a number of TV commercials worldwide.
Later career
Early demos recorded by Melvyn J have subsequently been released under the name of Melvyn And the Smarties, but after the demise of The Jetset he turned his back on the legend of the band and continued to work in the mainstream music industry as an international press & promotions manager for EastWest Records and Sony Music.Upon leaving Sony in 2003, he formed The International Department, an international music promotion company, with Paul Bultitude
Paul Bultitude
Paul Bultitude is an English musician and record producer. He was the drummer in power pop band Advertising, working with his cousin Dennis Smith, Tot Taylor and Simon Boswell, before replacing Seb Shelton as the drummer in Secret Affair...
and Doe Phillips. He continues to work closely with Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
, Travis
Travis (band)
Travis are a post-Britpop band from Glasgow, Scotland, comprising Fran Healy , Dougie Payne , Andy Dunlop and Neil Primrose...
, Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers are a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore. The band are part of the Cardiff music scene, and were at their most prominent during the 1990s...
and 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...
, to name but a few, in promotional and tour management roles.