The Chrysanthemums were an English pop group active between 1987 and 1998. The project began as a collaboration between multi-instrumentalist Terry Burrows

Terry Burrows

Terence Ashley Burrows is an English multi-instrumental musician and author based in London. Best known as a performer under the pseudonym Yukio Yung, Burrows is also a prolific author of books relating to music tuition, technology, business, popular psychology and history - including KISS Guide...

 (known in the band as "Yukio Yung") and Alan Jenkins, the leader of The Deep Freeze Mice

The Deep Freeze Mice

The Deep Freeze Mice were an English New Wave band that were active between 1979 and 1989. They were based in Leicester, and consisted of the core members Alan Jenkins , Sherree Lawrence , and Mick Bunnage...

. The first releases were performed in the studio by Burrows and Jenkins alone. Other personnel were gradually added, including Vladimir Zajkowiecz on bass, Robyn Gibson on drums and Jonathan Lemon

Jonathan Lemon

Jonathan Lemon is an artist, cartoonist and musician who lives in San Francisco, California.Lemon was born in Watford, England and gained a degree in Visual and Performing Arts from the University of Brighton...

 on keyboards, enabling them to complete several tours of mainland Europe, where there was most interest in their work.

The music was a blend of psychedelic

Psychedelic

The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...

 pop, punk

Punk rock

Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...

 and elements of progressive rock

Progressive rock

Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...

. Lyrics were often surreal in nature, and delivered by Burrows in classic laconic English tones reminiscent of Ray Davies

Ray Davies

Ray Davies, CBE is an English rock musician. He is best known as lead singer and songwriter for the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave...

 or Syd Barrett

Syd Barrett

Syd Barrett , born Roger Keith Barrett, was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter, best remembered as a founding member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic...

.

The original band became inactive in the mid-1990s. Burrows and Zajkowiecz later reconnected - along with Andy Ward, drummer with Camel

Camel (band)

Camel are an English progressive rock band formed in 1971. An important group in the Canterbury scene, they have been releasing studio and live recordings steadily, with considerable success, since their formation.-1970s:...

, Marillion

Marillion

Marillion are a British rock band, formed in Aylesbury, England in 1979. Their recorded studio output comprises sixteen albums generally regarded in two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original vocalist & frontman Fish in late 1988, and the subsequent arrival of replacement Steve...

 and The Bevis Frond

The Bevis Frond

The Bevis Frond is a British musical group whose range covers hard edge to melancholy vintage indie rock to poetic, "classic-rock" songcraft with a thick Walthamstow accent. Nick Saloman is the band's frontman and songwriter...

 - to record an album and single as Chrys&themums, creating a sound largely indistinguishable from the band's earlier releases.

Burrows continues to record as Yukio Yung (and under numerous other aliases). He also went on to become a prolific and successful author. Jenkins formed The Creams and opened a recording studio in Leicester, England. His most recent project was guitar instrumental band, The Thurston Lava Tube

The Thurston Lava Tube

This article is about a musical ensemble. For information on the lava tube of the same name, please see Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.The Thurston Lava Tube is a psychedelic, experimental surf instrumental band from Leicester, England....

.

A number of the band's tracks also featured R. Stevie Moore

R. Stevie Moore

Robert Steven Moore is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. In addition to having numerous albums released on labels around the world, the prolific Moore has self-released over 400 cassette and CD-R albums since 1968, as well as dozens of home videos, mostly through the R. Stevie Moore...

, cult one-man-band and pioneer of lo-fi home recording. Moore and Burrows continue to record together as The Yung & Moore Show.

Discography

• Mouth Pain (1987 single)
• Is That A Fish On Your Shoulder Or Are You Just Pleased To See Me? (1987 album)
• The **** Sessions (1988 12-inch single)
• Little Flecks Of Foam Around Barking (1988 double album)
• Picasso's Problem/Live at London Palladium (1990 mini album)
• Porcupine Quills (1991 single)
• Odessey and Oracle (1992 album)
• Chrysanthemums Go Germany/Insekt Insekt (1995 album)
• The Baby's Head (as Chrys&themums) (1997 album)
• A Thousand Tiny Pieces (as Chrys&themums) (1997 single)