Modern English
Formed in Colchester, Essex, England, in 1977 by Robbie Grey (vocals), Gary McDowell (guitar, vocals), and Michael Conroy (bass, vocals), and originally known as the Lepers. Richard Brown (drums) and Stephen Walker (keyboards) were subsequently added to the line-up of this durable indie rock band. A debut single, "Drowning Man" was released in 1980 on the Limp Records label. The band's full-length Mesh & Lace, released in suitably arty packaging by 4AD Records a year later, drew heavily on the gloom rock sound already patented by bands such as Joy Division, and had little originality or focus. The follow-up After The Snow, recorded by the same line-up, was a minor revelation, as they introduced warmth and strong guitar harmonies (most notably on the minor classic "I Melt With You"), rejecting the tinny bleakness of the debut. It was well received in the USA, and the band relocated to New York to consolidate a popularity encouraged by college radio. Richochet Days had a crisper production but less creative experimentation. By Stop Start, released by Sire Records in 1986, Walker and Brown had left, and Aaron Davidson (keyboards, guitar) had joined. The band had tried too hard for commercial approval and was left with an unspecific rock/pop sound that caused them to split soon afterwards. Grey returned to England to form a new outfit, but reconvened Modern English in 1990 with Davidson and Conroy. They released Pillow Lips on the TVT label, but to little interest. Grey subsequently put the band on hold to study and travel. In 1995, he re-formed Modern English with Matthew Shipley (keyboards) and Steven Walker (guitar), and recorded Everything's Mad for the Imago label. The band continues to tour extensively on the US club circuit, and in 2001 signed a new recording contract with A.P.G. Music.
Listen to Modern English
at Finetune.
Albums
- (2007) Everything is Mad
Top Tracks
- I Melt With You
- Heaven
- I Dont Know Anything
- I Can't Breath
- Waves (When I Cum)
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