Andy Diagram
Encyclopedia
Andy Diagram is a British musician and trumpet player. He has worked with the instrument in a variety bands and contexts ranging from pop and rock to experimental jazz, art rock and dance music. He is best known for his work with James
(having been a member from 1989 to 1992 during the band's popular peak in the UK, and rejoining for the ongoing band reformation in 2007), with Spaceheads and with former Pere Ubu
singer David Thomas
.
Spending much of the 1980s in Manchester
, England
, he recorded and toured with a range of bands on the rock, pop and jazz scenes (from The Diagram Brothers
, Dislocation Dance
and the Pale Fountains) before joining James
in 1989. Andy stayed on for two of the band's most successful albums (Gold Mother and Seven) before leaving James in 1992. (He made a special return for the band's farewell tour in 2001 at the MEN Arena.)
Moving to London in 1992 he became a founder member of The Honkies, which stormed the London improvised music scene of the early 1990s. He now records and tours the world with his own, much acclaimed band The Spaceheads, where his unique sound and melodic sense are complemented by the emotive rhythms of drummer Richard Harrison
. He has also been recording and touring with David Thomas
as a regular member of Two Pale Boys for the last ten years.
Following the reunion of James in 2007, Andy returned to the band during their festival tour in the summer of that year and played on the new album Hey Ma
, released on 7 April 2008. He is now a full time member of the band again, featuring on every live performance in 2008.
Andy performed with the Pale Fountains at their 25th anniversary reunion concerts in Liverpool and London on 2 and 3 February 2008 and is rumoured to be working with Shack (band)
on their next record.
Andy currently lives in London, where he is active on the jazz and improvised music scenes.
with Dislocation Dance:
with The Pale Fountains:
with Yargo:
with James:
with The Honkies:
with Spaceheads:
with David Thomas and Two Pale Boys:
James (band)
James are a British rock band from Manchester, England. They formed in 1982 and were active throughout the 1980s, but most successful during the 1990s. Their hit singles include "Come Home", "Sit Down", and "She's a Star" as well as their American College Radio hit "Laid"...
(having been a member from 1989 to 1992 during the band's popular peak in the UK, and rejoining for the ongoing band reformation in 2007), with Spaceheads and with former Pere Ubu
Pere Ubu (band)
Pere Ubu is an experimental rock music group formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1975. Despite many long-term band members, singer David Thomas is the only constant...
singer David Thomas
David Thomas
-Arts:* Dave Thomas , Canadian actor and comedian* David A. Thomas * David Thomas , Welsh composer* David Thomas , American singer, songwriter, and musician, member of group Pere Ubu...
.
Biography
Andy Diagram has been a unique voice on the trumpet for more than 25 years. He developed his own style over that time in a variety of very different projects. Creating large soundscapes of brass with the use of electronics, looping his trumpet in multiple echo machines, and with the ingenious use of harmonisers he builds not just luscious washes of sound but also pulsating and infectious rhythms.Spending much of the 1980s in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, he recorded and toured with a range of bands on the rock, pop and jazz scenes (from The Diagram Brothers
The Diagram Brothers
The Diagram Brothers were a post-punk band from Manchester, England active between 1979 and 1982. The band comprised Andy Diagram , Fraser Diagram , Lawrence Diagram , Jason Diagram , and Simon Diagram...
, Dislocation Dance
Dislocation Dance
Dislocation Dance were a post-punk band from Manchester, England. The group's original line-up is obscure; their first EP, a self-titled 7" as a co-release between two labels, Delicate Issues and New Hormones recorded in May 1980, lists its line-up as 'B' on vocals and keyboard; 'Dick' on drums;...
and the Pale Fountains) before joining James
James (band)
James are a British rock band from Manchester, England. They formed in 1982 and were active throughout the 1980s, but most successful during the 1990s. Their hit singles include "Come Home", "Sit Down", and "She's a Star" as well as their American College Radio hit "Laid"...
in 1989. Andy stayed on for two of the band's most successful albums (Gold Mother and Seven) before leaving James in 1992. (He made a special return for the band's farewell tour in 2001 at the MEN Arena.)
Moving to London in 1992 he became a founder member of The Honkies, which stormed the London improvised music scene of the early 1990s. He now records and tours the world with his own, much acclaimed band The Spaceheads, where his unique sound and melodic sense are complemented by the emotive rhythms of drummer Richard Harrison
Richard Harrison
-Politicians:*Richard Harrison , British Quartermaster-General to the Forces and Inspector-General of Fortifications*Richard Harrison , former Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives...
. He has also been recording and touring with David Thomas
David Thomas (musician)
David Lynn Thomas is an American singer, songwriter, and musician.He was one of the founding members of the short-lived protopunkers Rocket From The Tombs , where he went by the name of Crocus Behemoth, and of punk group Pere Ubu . He has also released several solo albums...
as a regular member of Two Pale Boys for the last ten years.
Following the reunion of James in 2007, Andy returned to the band during their festival tour in the summer of that year and played on the new album Hey Ma
Hey Ma
Hey Ma is the tenth studio album by British alternative rock band James. It was released on April 7, 2008.- Recording and production :...
, released on 7 April 2008. He is now a full time member of the band again, featuring on every live performance in 2008.
Andy performed with the Pale Fountains at their 25th anniversary reunion concerts in Liverpool and London on 2 and 3 February 2008 and is rumoured to be working with Shack (band)
Shack (band)
Shack are an English band formed in Liverpool in 1987. Originally Shack consisted of Mick Head , his brother John Head , Justin Smith and Mick Hurst.-The Pale Fountains:...
on their next record.
Andy currently lives in London, where he is active on the jazz and improvised music scenes.
Discography (selected)
with The Diagram Brothers:- Some Marvels of Modern Science (New Hormones, ORG17, 1981)
with Dislocation Dance:
- Slip That Disc (New Hormones, ORG10, 1981).
- Midnight Shift (Rough Trade, Rough 63, 1983)
with The Pale Fountains:
- Pacific Street (Virgin Records V2274, 1983)
- From Across the Kitchen Table (Virgin Records 206 872-270, 1985)
with Yargo:
- Bodybeat (FFFR/London LONP 64, 1987)
with James:
- Gold Mother (Phonogram 846 189-1, 1990)
- Seven(Phonogram 866 495-1, 1992)
- Hey Ma (Mercury, 2008)
- The Night Before (Mercury, 2010)
- The Morning After (Mercury, 2010)
with The Honkies:
- All My Screws Fell Out (Megaphone 006, 1992)
- Who Eats? (Megaphone 015, 1993)
with Spaceheads:
- Spaceheads (Dark Beloved Cloud DBC204 or Red Note REDNOTE3 1995).
- Round the Outside (Space Records SPACE01, 1997).
- Ho! Fat Wallet (Dark Beloved Cloud DBC212, US, 1998).
- Angel Station (Pandemonium PAN032 or Merge Records MRG157 1999).
- The Time of the Ancient Astronaut (Bip Hop BLEEP 04 2001).
- Low Pressure (Bip Hop BLEEP14 or Merge Records MRG183 2003).
- A Very Long Way from Anywhere Else (Bip Hop BLEEP35 2007).
with David Thomas and Two Pale Boys:
- Surfs Up! (Gliterhouse GRCD519, 2000)
- 18 Monkeys on a Dead Mans Chest (Smog Veil, SV51CD 2004)