The Bible (band)
Encyclopedia
The Bible are an English
rock
band
. The band released two critically acclaimed album
s in the mid 1980s and are best known for the independent chart hits "Graceland" and "Mahalia". Lead singer Boo Hewerdine
has also maintained a solo career since the band's first split in 1990.
drummer
Tony Shepherd (who had previously drummed for Freddie Starr
) and bassist Clive Lawson. The band released the mini-LP
Walking the Ghost Back Home in 1986 on the independent record label
, Backs Records, giving them a top-ten hit on the UK Independent Chart, staying in the chart for ten weeks. This was followed by the first release of "Graceland" as a single, which gave them a minor hit in the UK, after which Lawson was replaced by Leroy Lendor.
After follow-up single "Mahalia", which reached number 15 on the UK Independent Chart, Flanagan left, to be replaced by Dave Larcombe, with guitarist Neil MacColl (brother of Kirsty MacColl
and formerly a member of The Roaring Boys) also joining. The album was well received by music pundits
, and this brought the band to the attention of Chrysalis Records
. Signing to Chrysalis, "Graceland" was re-released as a single in February 1987, but only charted slightly higher than the original release. Greg Harewood joined on bass guitar, replacing temporary member Constance Redgrave.
In January 1988, the band's second album, Eureka, was released. It peaked at number 71 on the UK Albums Chart
. Two singles taken from the album failed to chart, but a re-recorded "Graceland" gave them their highest charting single, reaching number 51 in the UK in April 1989. "Honey Be Good" gave them a second hit later that year, reaching number 54. In 1989, Hewerdine decided to leave the group and pursue solo
projects. The remainder of the group renamed themselves Liberty Horses.
In 1993, The Bible reformed for a tour and released the Dreamlife EP
in 1994. Tracks for a new album were recorded but the band split up again before this could be released. The album was eventually released posthumously in 2000, under the name of Dodo.
In late 2011, The Bible announced that they had reformed again (with a lineup including Boo Hewerdine, Tony Shepherd and Neill MacColl) and performed two concerts (at the ABC 1/2 in Glasgow on September 29 and The Grand in Clapham, London on September 30) to promote the new Red Grape Records reissue of Walking the Ghost Back Home. The band are also apparently writing new material together.
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...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
. The band released two critically acclaimed 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...
s in the mid 1980s and are best known for the independent chart hits "Graceland" and "Mahalia". Lead singer Boo Hewerdine
Boo Hewerdine
Boo Hewerdine is an English singer-songwriter. His work includes lead singer and creative force behind The Bible, formed in the 1980s, and reformed in 1994, as well as solo recordings and work for film. He lives in Ely....
has also maintained a solo career since the band's first split in 1990.
History
In 1985 Hewerdine and his bandmate Kevin Flanagan from earlier ensemble The Great Divide, formed The Bible, recruiting jazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
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...
Tony Shepherd (who had previously drummed for Freddie Starr
Freddie Starr
Freddie Starr is an English comedian who became famous in the early 1970s. He is also an impressionist and singer, with a chart album After the Laughter and UK Top 10 single, "It's You", in March 1974 to his credit.-Early career:Under his real name, he appeared as a teenager in the film Violent...
) and bassist Clive Lawson. The band released the mini-LP
Mini-LP
A Mini-LP or Mini-album is a short album, usually retailing at a lower price than an album that would be considered "full-length".-History:...
Walking the Ghost Back Home in 1986 on the independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
, Backs Records, giving them a top-ten hit on the UK Independent Chart, staying in the chart for ten weeks. This was followed by the first release of "Graceland" as a single, which gave them a minor hit in the UK, after which Lawson was replaced by Leroy Lendor.
After follow-up single "Mahalia", which reached number 15 on the UK Independent Chart, Flanagan left, to be replaced by Dave Larcombe, with guitarist Neil MacColl (brother of Kirsty MacColl
Kirsty MacColl
Kirsty Anna MacColl was an English singer-songwriter.MacColl scored several pop hits from the early 1980s to the early 1990s...
and formerly a member of The Roaring Boys) also joining. The album was well received by music pundits
Music journalism
Music journalism is criticism and reportage about music. It began in the eighteenth century as comment on what is now thought of as 'classical music'. This aspect of music journalism, today often referred to as music criticism , comprises the study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation of...
, and this brought the band to the attention of Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
. Signing to Chrysalis, "Graceland" was re-released as a single in February 1987, but only charted slightly higher than the original release. Greg Harewood joined on bass guitar, replacing temporary member Constance Redgrave.
In January 1988, the band's second album, Eureka, was released. It peaked at number 71 on the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
. Two singles taken from the album failed to chart, but a re-recorded "Graceland" gave them their highest charting single, reaching number 51 in the UK in April 1989. "Honey Be Good" gave them a second hit later that year, reaching number 54. In 1989, Hewerdine decided to leave the group and pursue solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
projects. The remainder of the group renamed themselves Liberty Horses.
In 1993, The Bible reformed for a tour and released the Dreamlife EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
in 1994. Tracks for a new album were recorded but the band split up again before this could be released. The album was eventually released posthumously in 2000, under the name of Dodo.
In late 2011, The Bible announced that they had reformed again (with a lineup including Boo Hewerdine, Tony Shepherd and Neill MacColl) and performed two concerts (at the ABC 1/2 in Glasgow on September 29 and The Grand in Clapham, London on September 30) to promote the new Red Grape Records reissue of Walking the Ghost Back Home. The band are also apparently writing new material together.
Albums
- Walking The Ghost Back Home (1986), Backs - UK Indie #10
- Eureka (1988), Chrysalis - UK #71
- Dodo (2000), Haven Records
Singles
- "Graceland" (1986), Backs - UK #87
- "Mahalia" (1986), Backs - UK Indie #15
- "Graceland" (1987), Chrysalis - UK #86
- "Crystal Palace" (1988), Chrysalis - UK #82
- "Honey Be Good" (1988), Chrysalis
- "Skywriting" (1988), Chrysalis
- "Graceland (new version)" (1989), Chrysalis - UK #51
- "Honey Be Good" (1989), Chrysalis - UK #54
- Dreamlife EP (1994)
Compilation albums
- The Bible (1989), Chrysalis - UK #67
- Random Acts Of Kindness (1995), Haven