The Janitors were an alternative rock

Alternative rock

Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...

 band from Sunderland & Newcastle

Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...

, formed in 1984.

History

They were led by singer Andrew Denton, who was backed by Craig Hope (guitar, keyboards), Simon Warnes (bass guitar), and Tim Stirland (drums). Described as "a mixture of Membranes

The Membranes

The Membranes were a post-punk band formed in Blackpool, Lancashire in 1977, the initial line-up being John Robb , Mark Tilton , Martin Critchley and Martin Kelly . Critchley soon left, with Robb and Tilton taking on vocals, and Kelly moving to keyboards, with "Coofy Sid" taking over on drums...

 meeting Captain Beefheart

Captain Beefheart

Don Van Vliet January 15, 1941 December 17, 2010) was an American musician, singer-songwriter and artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. His musical work was conducted with a rotating ensemble of musicians called The Magic Band, active between 1965 and 1982, with whom he recorded 12...

, they signed to Marc Riley

Marc Riley

Marc Riley is a British musician, alternative rock critic and radio DJ on BBC 6 Music. Formerly a member of The Fall, he had his own record label, In-Tape, and also worked as a record plugger...

's In-Tape label, releasing their debut single, "Chicken Stew" in July 1985. It went on to reach the top 10 of the UK Independent Chart. Second single "Good to be King" was also an indie hit, reaching number 14, and debut album Thunderhead, produced by Jon Langford

Jon Langford

Jon Langford born October 11, 1957, Newport, Monmouthshire is a Welsh-born musician and artist who is presently based in Chicago. He is the younger brother of science-fiction author and critic David Langford...

 of The Mekons, peaked at number 6 on the indie albums chart. The band recorded three sessions for John Peel

John Peel

John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...

's BBC Radio 1

BBC Radio 1

BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...

 show, one each year between 1985 and 1987. Warnes left, to be replaced by Pete Crow, who was subsequently replaced by Jeff Murray, and the band moved to the Abstract label. In 1988 Phil Storey joined on rhythm guitar. After two further singles, their second album, Deafhead, was released in June 1988. The band split up after releasing one more single.

Singles, EPs

• "Chicken Stew" (1985), In-Tape - UK Indie #9
• "Good to be King" (1986), In-Tape - UK Indie #14
• "Family Fantastic" (1987), Abstract
• "Moonshine" (1988), Abstract
• "Halfway to Happening" (1988), Abstract

Compilation appearances

• Imminent 4 (1986), Food
  Food Records
  Food Records was a record label set up in 1984 by David Balfe, who later took on Andy Ross as his partner. Originally formed as an independent record label with distribution going through Rough Trade Distribution, Food licenced acts to the Polygram offshoot London and Warner's WEA Records, before...
  
  : "Really Shrinking"
• Six Disques Bleu (1987), Abstract: "No Where"
• British Airwaves (1988), JCI: "Going To Be"
• Good Morning Mister Presley (198?), Grunt Grunt A Go Go: "The Devil Goes To Whitley Bay"