Lloyd Cole

Lloyd's music career began as part of the band The Commotions, their debut in 1984 cemented Cole's reputation as a social commentator. 'Rattlesnakes' contained a number of literary and pop culture references mentioning varying people including Arthur Lee, Simone de Beauvoir, Grace Kelly, Eva Marie Saint, Truman Capote, and Joan Didion. After two more albums, 'Easy Pieces' and 'Mainstream' the band disbanded and Lloyd moved back to New York to concentrate on a solo career.

His self titled debut was a success in his homeland, charting at #11 on the album charts and featured a small hit 'No Blue Skies'. The follow-up also fared relatively well in the UK, peaking at #21. 'Don't Get Weird On Me Babe' was an album of two halves, one followed Cole's conventional rock stylings whilst the other included a symphony orchestra.

He had two more albums chart within the UK top 40 chart before dropping off the commercial radar. In the mid-90's Cole's label Universal Music had a large purge of the artist roster and their contract with Lloyd was terminated despite having two full length albums still in their possession. In 2013 Cole returned to the UK charts for the first time in fifteen years with 'Standards' which peaked at #74.