Mark Burgess (musician)
Encyclopedia
Mark Burgess is an English
singer, bass player
and songwriter. He was the lead singer, co-founder and main force behind English post-punk
band The Chameleons
. He currently resides in Germany and the UK.
s Dave Fielding and Reg Smithies and drummer
John Lever. After three full-length albums, the band split up in 1987, with the relationship between Burgess and Fielding particularly strained.
Soon after, Burgess and John Lever formed The Sun and the Moon with guitarists Andy Clegg (who had played keyboards
with The Chameleons) and Andy Whitaker, releasing an eponymous 1988 album on Geffen before splitting up.
Zima Junction, Burgess' first solo album (under the name Mark Burgess & the Sons of God), was released in 1993, backed by former Wonky Alice guitarist Yves Altana among others. The duo of Burgess and Altana issued the Paradyning album a year later.
In 1997, Burgess and Altana formed Invincible, recording the album
Venus with drummer Geoff Walker in a water tower
in North Manchester. The group toured the UK in 1998 with Phil Cuthbert playing bass and keyboards. Following the tour, Cuthbert left the group to pursue a solo career, at which point Burgess took over on bass, and Danny Ashberry was recruited to fill the keyboard/backing vocal role. After several concert
s, Walker was replaced by drummer Craig Barrie. Upon the album's release in 1999, Invincible embarked on a successful UK tour, before the band disintegrated.
The Chameleons reunited in 2000 with all four original members, originally for several live performances in England. They eventually added Ghana-born percussionist/vocalist Kwasi Asante, releasing several live albums and one new studio recording, Why Call It Anything, and touring North America, before a final acrimonious breakup in early 2003.
Burgess and Altana next formed the band Bird, initially with Barrie on drums (supporting New Model Army
on their UK tour). In 2006 they enlisted drummer Achim Faerber, playing a selection of Invincible and Chameleons songs interwoven with a selection of new material. In November 2006, Bird played a short set at the Middleton Civic Hall, Manchester as part of a benefit concert for lighting technician and ex-Chameleons live keyboard player Andy Moore, who had been diagnosed with a brain tumour whilst touring with Jamie Cullum
. Moore died one year later, in November 2007.
In 2007, Burgess joined forces with Jack Sobel and John Kolbeck, formerly of The Messengers, to form Black Swan Lane
. Augmented by former Burgess bandmates Altana and Faerber, Asante, and guest vocalist Anna-Lynne Williams
(Trespassers William
), they soon recorded A Long Way From Home, issued on Eden Records. One of the album tracks, "In the Ether," was later featured in 2009 film Adventureland
.
On 7 November 2008, Burgess, Sobel, Andy Clegg and Andy Whitaker performed a one-off concert as The Sun and the Moon in Atlanta, Georgia
. During the rehearsals for this show, Clegg and Whitaker became involved in the writing and recording of the second Black Swan Lane album, The Sun and the Moon Sessions. Asante and Burgess friend Jimmy Oakes also contributed to the album, issued in June 2009.
The Mark Burgess autobiography View From a Hill was released by the independent Guardian Angel publishing house in 2007.
In November 2009, a five-song EP with producer Pocket (musician)
was released, featuring two songs, "A Force Of Nature" and "Heaven," with lyrics and lead vocals by Burgess. In 2009, Burgess reunited with Lever under the name The Chameleons Vox, performing and touring Chameleons back catalogue material. He currently performs with John Lever's band, Bushart, throughout Europe.
Burgess toured the United States from 2009-2011, performing acoustic and live full band shows.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
singer, bass player
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and songwriter. He was the lead singer, co-founder and main force behind English post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
band The Chameleons
The Chameleons
The Chameleons were an English post-punk band that formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester, England in 1981. They consisted of singer and bassist Mark Burgess, guitarist Reg Smithies, guitarist Dave Fielding, and drummer John Lever...
. He currently resides in Germany and the UK.
Biography
Burgess formed The Chameleons in 1981, with guitaristGuitarist
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...
s Dave Fielding and Reg Smithies and 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...
John Lever. After three full-length albums, the band split up in 1987, with the relationship between Burgess and Fielding particularly strained.
Soon after, Burgess and John Lever formed The Sun and the Moon with guitarists Andy Clegg (who had played keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
with The Chameleons) and Andy Whitaker, releasing an eponymous 1988 album on Geffen before splitting up.
Zima Junction, Burgess' first solo album (under the name Mark Burgess & the Sons of God), was released in 1993, backed by former Wonky Alice guitarist Yves Altana among others. The duo of Burgess and Altana issued the Paradyning album a year later.
In 1997, Burgess and Altana formed Invincible, recording the album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Venus with drummer Geoff Walker in a water tower
Water tower
A water tower or elevated water tower is a large elevated drinking water storage container constructed to hold a water supply at a height sufficient to pressurize a water distribution system....
in North Manchester. The group toured the UK in 1998 with Phil Cuthbert playing bass and keyboards. Following the tour, Cuthbert left the group to pursue a solo career, at which point Burgess took over on bass, and Danny Ashberry was recruited to fill the keyboard/backing vocal role. After several concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s, Walker was replaced by drummer Craig Barrie. Upon the album's release in 1999, Invincible embarked on a successful UK tour, before the band disintegrated.
The Chameleons reunited in 2000 with all four original members, originally for several live performances in England. They eventually added Ghana-born percussionist/vocalist Kwasi Asante, releasing several live albums and one new studio recording, Why Call It Anything, and touring North America, before a final acrimonious breakup in early 2003.
Burgess and Altana next formed the band Bird, initially with Barrie on drums (supporting New Model Army
New Model Army
The New Model Army of England was formed in 1645 by the Parliamentarians in the English Civil War, and was disbanded in 1660 after the Restoration...
on their UK tour). In 2006 they enlisted drummer Achim Faerber, playing a selection of Invincible and Chameleons songs interwoven with a selection of new material. In November 2006, Bird played a short set at the Middleton Civic Hall, Manchester as part of a benefit concert for lighting technician and ex-Chameleons live keyboard player Andy Moore, who had been diagnosed with a brain tumour whilst touring with Jamie Cullum
Jamie Cullum
Jamie Cullum is an English pop and jazz-pop singer-songwriter. Though he is primarily a vocalist/pianist he also accompanies himself on other instruments including guitar and drums. Since April 2010, he has been presenting a weekly jazz show on BBC Radio 2, broadcast on Tuesdays from 19:00.- Early...
. Moore died one year later, in November 2007.
In 2007, Burgess joined forces with Jack Sobel and John Kolbeck, formerly of The Messengers, to form Black Swan Lane
Black Swan Lane
Black Swan Lane is a US/UK indie-rock band/project founded in 2007 by Jack Sobel and John Kolbeck and Mark Burgess ....
. Augmented by former Burgess bandmates Altana and Faerber, Asante, and guest vocalist Anna-Lynne Williams
Anna-Lynne Williams
Anna-Lynne Williams is the lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist of Trespassers William, an indie rock band based out of Seattle, Washington....
(Trespassers William
Trespassers William
Trespassers William are an indie rock/dream pop band known for their ethereal music. Hailing from Southern California, they work and live in the Sodo/Capitol Hill area of Seattle, Washington. Their latest release is the 2009 EP, The Natural Order of Things. They are currently working on their...
), they soon recorded A Long Way From Home, issued on Eden Records. One of the album tracks, "In the Ether," was later featured in 2009 film Adventureland
Adventureland (film)
Adventureland is a 2009 Retro comedy-drama film written and directed by Greg Mottola. The film stars Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Margarita Levieva, Ryan Reynolds, Martin Starr, Bill Hader, and Kristen Wiig.-Plot:...
.
On 7 November 2008, Burgess, Sobel, Andy Clegg and Andy Whitaker performed a one-off concert as The Sun and the Moon in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. During the rehearsals for this show, Clegg and Whitaker became involved in the writing and recording of the second Black Swan Lane album, The Sun and the Moon Sessions. Asante and Burgess friend Jimmy Oakes also contributed to the album, issued in June 2009.
The Mark Burgess autobiography View From a Hill was released by the independent Guardian Angel publishing house in 2007.
In November 2009, a five-song EP with producer Pocket (musician)
Pocket (musician)
Pocket is the remixer/producer alias for Richard Jankovich. Since 2005, he has released many "pocket mixes" for artists like Joanna Newsom, Beck, Kristin Hersh, Antony and The Johnsons, Radiohead, Cat Power, Of Montreal and more.-Biography:...
was released, featuring two songs, "A Force Of Nature" and "Heaven," with lyrics and lead vocals by Burgess. In 2009, Burgess reunited with Lever under the name The Chameleons Vox, performing and touring Chameleons back catalogue material. He currently performs with John Lever's band, Bushart, throughout Europe.
Burgess toured the United States from 2009-2011, performing acoustic and live full band shows.
Discography
- 1993 Zima Junction (as Mark Burgess & the Sons of God; Imaginary)
- 1994 Manchester 1993 (as Mark Burgess & the Sons of God; Pivot)
- 1994 Spring Blooms Tra-La (as Mark Burgess & the Sons of God; Indigo)
- 1995 Paradyning (with Yves Altana; Dead Dead Good)
- 2002 Paradyning Live in Frankfurt '96 (with Yves Altana; Alchemized)
- 2004 Magic Boomerang (compilation including rare material; Indigo)
- 2009 A Force Of Nature (collaboration with Pocket (musician)Pocket (musician)Pocket is the remixer/producer alias for Richard Jankovich. Since 2005, he has released many "pocket mixes" for artists like Joanna Newsom, Beck, Kristin Hersh, Antony and The Johnsons, Radiohead, Cat Power, Of Montreal and more.-Biography:...
)
The Sun and the Moon
- 1988 The Sun and The Moon (Geffen)
- 1999 The Great Escape (reissue of The Sun and the Moon with bonus singles)
Black Swan Lane
- 2007 A Long Way From Home (Eden Records)
- 2009 The Sun and the Moon Sessions (Eden Records)
- 2010 Things You Know And Love (Eden Records)