The Chameleons
Encyclopedia
The Chameleons were an English post-punk
band that formed in Middleton
, Greater Manchester
, England in 1981. They consisted of singer and bassist Mark Burgess
, guitarist Reg Smithies, guitarist Dave Fielding, and drummer John Lever (replacing original drummer Brian Schofield). The core quartet were sometimes augmented live by keyboardists Alistair Lewthwaite and Andy Clegg in the 1980s, and percussionist/vocalist Kwasi Asante during their reunion period (ex-Magazine
drummer Martin Jackson also briefly replaced Lever during 1982-83 while the latter was on sabbatical).
s in the 1980s, following 1982 debut single
"In Shreds" (the fruit of a brief signing to Epic
, latterly reissued on the Statik label), and several radio sessions for the BBC Radio 1
DJ John Peel
. The Chameleons released their first album, Script of the Bridge
, on the Statik label in 1983. After their third release, 1986's Strange Times and the 1987 sudden death of band manager Tony Fletcher, they disbanded. Burgess then fronted The Sun and the Moon (with Lever), who issued one eponymous album on Geffen in 1988, followed by an array of solo projects. Guitarists Fielding and Smithies formed The Reegs, who released two albums: Return of the Sea Monkeys (1991) and Rock the Magic Rock (1993). John Lever later joined Bushart, who released the album Yesterday is History (2008).
The Chameleons had been broken up for well over a decade, before playing a small series of live dates in 2000, and the release of the album Strip (which reworked older material in an acoustic format). After a final studio album, 2001's Why Call It Anything?
, another unplugged album (This Never Ending Now), and a reunion tour which took them across Europe and the United States, the band dissolved once again in early 2003.
In 2009, Mark Burgess and John Lever reformed to play Chameleons back catalogue material, under the name Chameleons Vox.
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 that formed in Middleton
Middleton, Greater Manchester
Middleton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Irk, south-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England in 1981. They consisted of singer and bassist Mark Burgess
Mark Burgess (musician)
Mark Burgess is an English singer, bass player and songwriter. He was the lead singer, co-founder and main force behind English post-punk band The Chameleons. He currently resides in Germany and the UK.-Biography:...
, guitarist Reg Smithies, guitarist Dave Fielding, and drummer John Lever (replacing original drummer Brian Schofield). The core quartet were sometimes augmented live by keyboardists Alistair Lewthwaite and Andy Clegg in the 1980s, and percussionist/vocalist Kwasi Asante during their reunion period (ex-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...
drummer Martin Jackson also briefly replaced Lever during 1982-83 while the latter was on sabbatical).
History
The band initially released three studio albumAlbum
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s in the 1980s, following 1982 debut single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"In Shreds" (the fruit of a brief signing to Epic
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
, latterly reissued on the Statik label), and several radio sessions for the BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
DJ John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
. The Chameleons released their first album, Script of the Bridge
Script of the Bridge
Script of the Bridge is the 1983 debut album by The Chameleons. The album was later released on limited edition picture disc by Statik Records in 1985. The Chameleons U.K...
, on the Statik label in 1983. After their third release, 1986's Strange Times and the 1987 sudden death of band manager Tony Fletcher, they disbanded. Burgess then fronted The Sun and the Moon (with Lever), who issued one eponymous album on Geffen in 1988, followed by an array of solo projects. Guitarists Fielding and Smithies formed The Reegs, who released two albums: Return of the Sea Monkeys (1991) and Rock the Magic Rock (1993). John Lever later joined Bushart, who released the album Yesterday is History (2008).
The Chameleons had been broken up for well over a decade, before playing a small series of live dates in 2000, and the release of the album Strip (which reworked older material in an acoustic format). After a final studio album, 2001's Why Call It Anything?
Why Call It Anything?
Why Call It Anything? is a pop rock album by The Chameleons. Released 01 July 2001 on Artful Records, it is their album of all-new material since Strange Times in 1986.-Track listing:...
, another unplugged album (This Never Ending Now), and a reunion tour which took them across Europe and the United States, the band dissolved once again in early 2003.
In 2009, Mark Burgess and John Lever reformed to play Chameleons back catalogue material, under the name Chameleons Vox.
Studio albums
- Script of the BridgeScript of the BridgeScript of the Bridge is the 1983 debut album by The Chameleons. The album was later released on limited edition picture disc by Statik Records in 1985. The Chameleons U.K...
(1983, Statik; issued 1984 on MCA in the US; reissued 2008 as 25th Anniversary 2CD edition) - What Does Anything Mean? BasicallyWhat Does Anything Mean? BasicallyWhat Does Anything Mean? Basically, released in 1985 , is the second album released by The Chameleons.-Track listing:All songs written, arranged and performed by The Chameleons...
(1985, Statik) - #60 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... - Strange Times (1986, Geffen) - #44 UK
- StripStrip (The Chameleons album)-Track listing:All tracks by The Chameleons#"Less Than Human"#"Nathan's Phase"#"Here Today"#"Soul in Isolation"#"Pleasure and Pain"#"Paradiso"#"Caution"#"On the Beach"#"Road to San Remo"#"Indian"- Personnel :*Jonathan Barrett – producer, engineer...
(2000, Paradiso) - Why Call It Anything?Why Call It Anything?Why Call It Anything? is a pop rock album by The Chameleons. Released 01 July 2001 on Artful Records, it is their album of all-new material since Strange Times in 1986.-Track listing:...
(2001, Artful) - This Never Ending NowThis Never Ending NowThis Never Ending Now is a rock album by The Chameleons.Released in September 2002 on Paradiso Records, it was the final non-live album they ever released, apart from the remastered editions of Script of the Bridge and What Does Anything Mean? Basically in 2008 and 2009 respectively. It consists of...
(2002, Paradiso)
Live albums
- Tripping Dogs (1992, Glass Pyramid)
- Here Today...Gone Tomorrow (1992, Imaginary)
- Live In Toronto (1992, Imaginary)
- Aufführung in Berlin (1993, Imaginary)
- Free Trade Hall Rehearsal (1993, Imaginary)
- Live at the Gallery Club Manchester (1996, Visionary; reissued 2001 on Cherry Red)
- Live Shreds (1996, Cleopatra)
- Live (2002, Paradiso)
- Live at the Academy (2003, Paradiso)
Compilation albums
- The Fan and the Bellows (1986, Hybrid)
- John Peel Sessions (1990, Strange Fruit)
- Here Today...Gone Tomorrow (1992, Imaginary)
- The Radio 1 Evening Show Sessions (1993, Nighttracks)
- Dali's Picture/Live in Berlin (1993, Imaginary)
- Northern Songs (1994, Bone Idol)
- Return of the Roughnecks: The Best of the Chameleons (2CD) (1997, Dead Dead Good)
Singles and EPs
- "In Shreds" / "Less Than Human" (1982, Epic)
- "Up the Down Escalator" (1983, Statik; Germany)
- "Don't Fall" (1983, Statik; France)
- "As High As You Can Go" (1983, Statik)
- "A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days" (1983, Statik)
- "In Shreds" / "Nostalgia" (1985, Statik) - #11 UK Indie
- "Singing Rule Britannia (While the Walls Close In)" (1985, Statik) - #2 UK Indie
- "Mad Jack" (1986, Geffen)
- "Tears" (1986, Geffen)
- "Swamp Thing" (1986, Geffen)
- "Tony Fletcher Walked on Water....La La La La La-La La-La-LaTony Fletcher Walked on Water....La La La La La-La La-La-LaTony Fletcher Walked on Water....La La La La La-La La-La-La is an album by The Chameleons, released on Glass Pyramid three years after the band had broken up...
" (1990, Glass Pyramid; post-breakup EP recorded in 1987)
External links
- View From A Hill: The Chameleons UK by Mark Burgess (Autobiography)
- The Chameleons: Home Is Where the Heart Is - Official webpage with news, articles, discography, lyrics, and store
- [ Biography at allmusic.com]
- The Chameleons on MySpace
- The Chameleons perform "Second Skin" 1984