No they didn’t begin life as a mod revival band. Due to unusually high levels of youthful apathy they nearly didn’t begin at all. BEN BARTLETT (bass player) only persuaded ANDREW MALTMAN (drummer) into the band by telling him that their first gig would be at London’s famous Marquee Club (OCT 1985). He forgot to tell him that they would be supporting a heavy metal band with 400 braying fans.
If complete lack of musical ego was the key to their collective personality, then dramatic musical arrangement was the key to their songwriting. Firmly based in the 'three guitars one drum' indie-pop tradition, CHRIS BLUNKELL (singer/rhythm guitar) and NICK APPLETON (lead guitar) weren’t afraid to work with their bassist and drummer, rather than merely regard them as the rhythm section.
With all four members having a creative input, the resulting musical tension frequently erupted into the most dramatic musical passages. Chris Blunkell woul...
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