Chiefs of Relief
Encyclopedia
Chiefs of Relief were a British
rock group formed shortly after the demise of Bow Wow Wow
in 1984. Led by guitarist
-vocalist Matthew Ashman
(who for a brief time tried to continue Bow Wow Wow as their lead singer after the departure of Annabella Lwin
for a solo career), drummer
Paul Cook
(of the Sex Pistols
), keyboard player Duncan Grieg, and bassist
Lance Burman. An early lineup included Ashman and Cook with former Bow Wow Wow members David Barbarossa
and Leigh Gorman
.Often compared to Big Audio Dynamite (who they would later open for on tour), The Chiefs fused rock with hip hop & electronic elements from the era.
The group's only full-length album was 1988's self-titled release, which was issued in the US by Sire Records
. Ashman died in 1995 and on the fifteenth anniversary of his death, the band reunited for a tribute concert for Ashman on 21 November 2010 at the Scala in London, in a show with Adam Ant
topping the bill and also featuring later Ashman bands Bow Wow Wow
and Agent Provocateur
).
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
rock group formed shortly after the demise of Bow Wow Wow
Bow Wow Wow
Bow Wow Wow were an English 1980s New Wave band created by Malcolm McLaren to promote his and business partner Vivienne Westwood's New Romantic fashion lines.The group's music is described as having an "African-derived drum sound".-History:...
in 1984. Led by guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
-vocalist Matthew Ashman
Matthew Ashman
Matthew James Ashman was an English guitarist with Adam and the Ants and Bow Wow Wow. He died of diabetes-related complications in 1995, aged 35.-Career:...
(who for a brief time tried to continue Bow Wow Wow as their lead singer after the departure of Annabella Lwin
Annabella Lwin
Annabella Lwin is an Anglo-Burmese singer, songwriter and record producer best known as the lead singer of Bow Wow Wow.-Biography:Lwin was born to a Burmese father and an English mother in Rangoon, Burma .Medina, Maximillian Mark; ChopBlock.com Her birth name in Burmese translates to "High,...
for a solo career), drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Paul Cook
Paul Cook
Paul Thomas Cook is an English drummer and member of the punk rock band Sex Pistols.-Early life and career:...
(of the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
), keyboard player Duncan Grieg, and bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Lance Burman. An early lineup included Ashman and Cook with former Bow Wow Wow members David Barbarossa
David Barbarossa
David Barbarossa is a British drummer.As part of both Adam and the Ants and Bow Wow Wow, Barbarossa was instrumental in creating the "Tribal" drumming trend that was popular among British and some American bands, circa 1979–1983...
and Leigh Gorman
Leigh Gorman
Leigh Gorman is an English rock musician, record producer, and composer best known for his work as the bass player for Bow Wow Wow.-Early life:...
.Often compared to Big Audio Dynamite (who they would later open for on tour), The Chiefs fused rock with hip hop & electronic elements from the era.
The group's only full-length album was 1988's self-titled release, which was issued in the US by Sire Records
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
. Ashman died in 1995 and on the fifteenth anniversary of his death, the band reunited for a tribute concert for Ashman on 21 November 2010 at the Scala in London, in a show with Adam Ant
Adam Ant
Adam Ant is an English musician who gained popularity as the lead singer of New Wave/post-punk group Adam and the Ants and later as a solo artist, scoring ten UK top ten hits between 1980 and 1983, including three No.1s...
topping the bill and also featuring later Ashman bands Bow Wow Wow
Bow Wow Wow
Bow Wow Wow were an English 1980s New Wave band created by Malcolm McLaren to promote his and business partner Vivienne Westwood's New Romantic fashion lines.The group's music is described as having an "African-derived drum sound".-History:...
and Agent Provocateur
Agent Provocateur (band)
Agent Provocateur were a British electronica band, consisting of John Gosling, Matthew Ashman , Dan Peppe, Danny Saber and Cleo Torez...
).