Born in Southampton, England, Jones spent a lot of his youth living in various places, including Cardiff, Wales and Canada. He became interested in music from an early age, learning to play keyboards and went on to attend the Royal Northern College of Music. His studies were short lived, with Jones dropping out and moving to Southampton, where he played in several jazz and funk bands. Soon he started performing his own music as a solo artist, incorporating synthesizers and drum machines into his eclectic sound. Jones managed to attract the attention of John Peel, who invited him to play a BBC session. This exposure helped Jones gain support slots for a number of new wave acts across the UK, which eventually led to being offered a record deal with WEA in Europe and Elektra Records in the US in 1983.
His first single, “New Song,” was released the same year, becoming a popular hit and reaching number three in the charts. This was followed by “What is Love,” which bettered his last, peaking at number two. His debut album arrived the following year in 1984, titled “Humans Lib,” which quickly was a commercial hit and reached the top spot in the UK charts. Exposure on MTV aided his success in America, achieving several top 40 hits.
In 1985, Jones released his second album, “Dream Into Action,” and also formed a live touring band. The album was a huge success, becoming certified Platinum in the US and reaching number ten in the charts. It featured hit singles such as “Things Can Only Get Better,” “Like to Get to Know You Well” and “Life in One Day.” Whilst performing well in the US charts, his success in the UK began to decline, although he was still breaking into the top 20, but was unable to achieve the same success as earlier releases.
Jones had another strong album with “Cross That Line” in 1989, although it only managed to peak at 65 in the US charts. After releasing a greatest hits album, Jones was dropped from Elektra. Jones responded by embarking on extensive tours, as well as doing acoustic sets, displaying his versatility. Jones continued to tour well in to the 2000s, releasing several live albums. In 2005, he recorded a new album, “Revolution of the Heart,” which kept his music alive. In 2009, he released “Ordinary Heroes,” which featured orchestral influences and piano.
Forming out of the ashes of two different bands called The Intellektuals and 57 Men, Wang Chung originally formed as Huang Chung in 1980, and thanks to the contacts that the trio had made while in those previous bands, signed to 101 Records soon after forming. The band, made up of singer and guitarist Jeremy Ryder (A.K.A Jack Hues), bassist Nick Feldman (Nick DeSpig) and Darren Costin (Darren Darwin) on the drums, debuted their first tracks on a set of 101 Records compilation albums before signing a two-album deal with Arista Records in 1981. Their first album sank without a trace, but after they changed their name to Wang Chun in 1983 and had their record deal switched from Arista to Geffen in the same year, the band's career was saved after the release of their second album “Points On The Curve”. The album was released in January 1984, and it was the record's second single “Dance Hall Days” that certified the band as possible stars, hitting number 21 in the UK and number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The band were poised to make a huge breakthrough, and that's exactly what happened with the release of September 1986's “Everybody Have Fun Tonight”. The single rocketed to the number two spot on the Billboard Hot 100, and it's follow up “Let's Go” was another huge hit as well, placing in the top 10 of the same chart. However, the band couldn't keep up their run of hits and split up in 1990. However, ever since 1997, the band have been back together and releasing albums that are even more acclaimed than their 80's heyday, the band are also playing the best live shows of their career, so now has never been a better time to be a Wang Chung fan, which isn't something you can say about many bands who made their name in the 1980's. For constantly improving with age, and proving a far better band than many would assume them to be, Wang Chung come highly recommended.
The original lineup of The Beat were together for just five years, splitting in 1984 after meeting with both critical and commercial success with their blend of ska, reggae and 2 tone. In that time, they toured with some of the biggest musical names on the planet, including R.E.M., The Specials, David Bowie, Talking Heads, The Clash and The Police. Since the breakup, they’ve performed together just once - in 2003 at London’s Royal Festival Hall. VH1’s Bands Reunited television show tried, unsuccessfully, to make the reunion a permanently going concern, but instead, the two singers from the original band - Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger - have fronted their own versions of the group.
Wakeling is the singer in The English Beat, who have continued to tour and record. They contributed a couple of brand new songs to a Scooby-Doo cartoon in 2013, and announced plans in 2014 for a new album the following year, set to be titled For Crying Out Loud. It is set to be paid for via crowdfunding - in particular, PledgeMusic - and will be their first proper release since summer 2012, when they dropped a box set titled The Complete Beat. Rhythm Epkins, Matt Morrish, Kevin Lum and Larry Young round out the current lineup of The English Beat.
If nothing else, Howard Jones deserves a certain level of kudos just for managing to make it as a successful pop star with a name as completely unremarkable as that one; he emerged from unremarkable surroundings, too, hailing from Rhiwbina in South Wales, but that didn’t stop him from becoming one of the most consistent pop singers of the eighties; after appearing at Live Aid in 1984, the same year he released his debut record Human’s Lib to sales that would ultimately take it to multiple platinum status, he continued to turn out solid pop records, including Dream Into Action, One to One and Cross That Line, throughout the rest of the decade, tapping into the popular new wave stylings of the era and marrying them to his own brand of electropop. He’s continued to record and tour since, and retains a significant cult fanbase as far as the latter practice is concerned; he gave them a real treat two years ago, too, when he played Human’s Lib and Dream Into Action in their entirety across eight dates in the UK, backed by a full live band. He’s managed to shake off being entirely associated with his eighties heyday, though, and plays his own shows rather than line up alongside other nostalgia acts at bigger gigs; he’s one of British pop’s real originals.
Joeg_67
I couldn't believe it, the band Wang Chung still plays concerts! I was down in Miami last year on vacation, and saw an advertisement in a bar, so I had to attend. I was a little kid when they came out in the eighties so I wasn't able to go to any of their concerts while I was in diapers, but this was a chance to see if they still had it.
I'll say they do, if in a little more mature and less hair spray manner. They aren't stuck in the decade that their song is, and look pretty good for their age. They still bring a lot of energy to the stage and the audience always loves to hear "Everybody Have Fun Tonight."
Wang Chung was a huge part of my childhood, a song in the soundtrack of my early life. Their 80s dance music can always bring a smile to my face.
Their ability to do that with audiences of all ages and walks of life makes them a must-listen for everyone. Their style and staying power are well earned. They've been playing since 1980 out of England and rocking it all across the world ever since.
Simply put, to see The English Beat live is to experience profound happiness from the top of your pork pie hat to the tips of your checkered shoes!
From the moment Dave Wakeling and the rest of this legendary 2 Tone ska band take the stage, the dancing (“skanking!”) begins. Songs like “Save it for Later” are well-known classics but you may be surprised at just how many of their upbeat, saxophone-infused songs you’ll recognize.
Playing at smaller venues, Dave engages the audience between songs with funny stories of life in his hometown of Birmingham, England, and other witty commentary. They usually play a long set – upwards of two hours. And afterwards it’s not unusual for Dave and the band to shake hands & pose for pictures with their fans that crowd the front of the stage.
My love affair with The English Beat began in 1980 when they first toured the U.S. I went to see headliner, The Pretenders, but left the concert completely in love with the opening act, The English Beat. And you’ll fall in love, too, when you see them.
nmorlock
Modern English provides all the sounds that you could ask for in a New Wave band. They are still as energetic as ever when they take the stage, providing the heavily layered soundscapes and jagged hooks that they have perfected.
They are masters at combining their guitars to create large, orchestral sounds. The lead guitarist always has an interesting and catchy riff to play in the song, which is usually saturated in heavy flanging and chorus effects that give the sound a shimmering quality. The bass playing is always driving the songs in an aggressive tone that draws comparison to Joy Division’s style. Modern English also incorporates more poppy elements to their songs through the use of synthesizers that create nice atmospheric soundscapes as well as very catchy leads.
Modern English still stays true to the style of the ‘80s, often wearing skinny jeans and suave black jackets. The lead singer, Robbie Grey, often sports sunglasses and struts around stage inciting the audience to participate in the fun. Modern English’s performances also usually consist of a fun light show with bright colorful lights beaming across the stage to the tempo of the music. The venue turns into a party with all members of the audience dancing and singing when songs like “Ink and Paper” are played.
Modern English plays an exciting setlist that consists of most of their hits and draws heavily from the After Snow album, which contains classic songs like “I Melt With You” and “Someone’s Calling”. Their live performances are absolutely enthralling and fun, and the delivery of their music live is still top notch.
wjmcc
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