The Royal Family and the Poor
Encyclopedia
The Royal Family and the Poor are a band from Liverpool
, England, centred around multi-instrumentalist Mike Keane. After recording two singles and two albums for Factory Records
in the 1980s, the band continued to release music into the 21st century.
for his Factory label. It was Wilson who gave the band their name, taken from Fred and Judy Vermorel's book Sex Pistols, the Inside Story. Their first release was the album A Factory Quartet, a double-album shared with The Durutti Column
, Kevin Hewick
, and Blurt
, released in December 1980, and featuring six tracks by the band. Their debut single, "Art on 45", the last record produced for Factory by Martin Hannett
, was released in February 1982.
McGough left to join The Pale Fountains
, later becoming the manager of Happy Mondays
. The band's original lineup disbanded, Keane touring in support of China Crisis
under the name The Legend Agency, playing over backing tapes. He recorded tracks intended for released as The Legend Agency with Matt Johnson
, but they were not released. Keane struggled with heroin addiction, and took a break from music, walking what he described as a "pilgrimage" on the Pilgrim's Way to Canterbury
. He returned to record for Factory in 1983, on what would be released the following year as the occult-themed album The Project Phase 1 - The Temple Of The 13th Tribe, produced by Peter Hook
and featuring Lita Hara of Stockholm Monsters
and John Neesham (of Walkingseeds
). A second album, The Project - Phase 2 - We Love The Moon, was released in 1986, accompanied by a single, "We Love The Moon". The band then moved to Keane's own Gaia Communications label, continuing their occult-themed and more electronic-oriented music on several further albums, including In the Sea of E (1987), Songs For The Children Of Baphomet (2001), North-West Soul (2004), with Keane the only constant member. In 2010 McDonald re-emerged to self-release an album titled The Pope's Daughter, though Keane was not involved.
Other members at various times included bassist Ambrose Reynolds
, who had previously played in Liverpool bands such as Big in Japan
, Hollycaust
, Nightmares in Wax, and Walkie Talkies, and was also a member of Pink Industry
, Jeff Turner (saxophone, clarinet, guitar, violin), Karen Halewood (synthesizer, vocals), John Walsh (bass guitar), Phil Hurst (drums), and Kif (drums).
Compilations:
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England, centred around multi-instrumentalist Mike Keane. After recording two singles and two albums for Factory Records
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
in the 1980s, the band continued to release music into the 21st century.
History
The band was formed in 1978 by Keane, who played guitar, bass guitar, synthesizer, piano, and percussion, and also programmed drum machines. The band also included members of Liverpool's 'Situationist Youth Collective', including Nathan McGough and art graduate Arthur McDonald. In his book Shadowplayers, James Nice describes the band as "less of a group than a pseudo-Situationist provocation". Initially the band's music consisted of McDonald's situationist lyrics over Keane's synthesizer played through a record player. A crudely-recorded demo tape recorded in 1979 saw them picked up by Tony WilsonTony Wilson
Anthony Howard Wilson, commonly known as Tony Wilson , was an English record label owner, radio presenter, TV show host, nightclub manager, impresario and journalist for Granada Television and the BBC....
for his Factory label. It was Wilson who gave the band their name, taken from Fred and Judy Vermorel's book Sex Pistols, the Inside Story. Their first release was the album A Factory Quartet, a double-album shared with The Durutti Column
The Durutti Column
The Durutti Column are an English post-punk band formed in 1978 in Manchester, England. The band is an ongoing project of guitarist Vini Reilly who is often accompanied by drummer Bruce Mitchell. Other current members are Keir Stewart and Reilly's girlfriend Poppy Morgan...
, Kevin Hewick
Kevin Hewick
Kevin Hewick is an English singer-songwriter who was an early member of the Factory Records roster. In the present day he is known for his recording on Pink Box records, an independent label based in Leicester and his recent work with Italian collective Unfolk.-The Factory years:Newly added to the...
, and Blurt
Blurt
Blurt is a British musical group founded by the poet, saxophonist and puppeteer Ted Milton in 1979 in Stroud, Gloucestershire; with Milton's brother Jake Milton, formerly of psychedelic group Quintessence, on drums and Peter Creese on guitar...
, released in December 1980, and featuring six tracks by the band. Their debut single, "Art on 45", the last record produced for Factory by Martin Hannett
Martin Hannett
Martin Hannett , sometimes credited as Martin Zero, was a record producer and an original partner in Factory Records with Tony Wilson...
, was released in February 1982.
McGough left to join The Pale Fountains
The Pale Fountains
The Pale Fountains were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1980, and composed of Mick Head , Chris McCaffery , Thomas Whelan and former Dislocation Dance trumpeter Andy Diagram .-Career:...
, later becoming the manager of Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays are an English alternative rock band from Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1980, the band's original line-up was Shaun Ryder on lead vocals, his brother Paul Ryder on bass, lead guitarist Mark Day, keyboardist Paul Davis, and drummer Gary Whelan...
. The band's original lineup disbanded, Keane touring in support of China Crisis
China Crisis
China Crisis is an English pop/rock band. They were formed in 1979 in Kirkby, near Liverpool, Merseyside with a core of vocalist/keyboardist Gary Daly and guitarist Eddie Lundon...
under the name The Legend Agency, playing over backing tapes. He recorded tracks intended for released as The Legend Agency with Matt Johnson
Matt Johnson (singer)
Matt Johnson is a musician best known as the founder and only constant member of the group The The. Johnson is known for his often deeply introspective lyrics. Musically he ranges from slow acoustic hooks to techno-pop....
, but they were not released. Keane struggled with heroin addiction, and took a break from music, walking what he described as a "pilgrimage" on the Pilgrim's Way to Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
. He returned to record for Factory in 1983, on what would be released the following year as the occult-themed album The Project Phase 1 - The Temple Of The 13th Tribe, produced by Peter Hook
Peter Hook
Peter Hook is an English bass player, musician and author.He was a co-founder of the post-punk band Joy Division along with Bernard Sumner in the mid-1970s. Following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis, the band reformed as New Order, and Hook played bass with them throughout their career until...
and featuring Lita Hara of Stockholm Monsters
Stockholm Monsters
Stockholm Monsters were a Post-punk band from Manchester who recorded for Factory Records between 1981 and 1987.-History:The band formed in Manchester in 1980 with a line-up of Tony France , Karl France , Lita Hira , and Shan Hira...
and John Neesham (of Walkingseeds
Walkingseeds
Walkingseeds were an alternative rock band from Liverpool, England, formed after the Mel-o-Tones split up in 1986.-History:Frank Martin , Bob Parker , and John Neesam had previously worked together in the Mel-o-Tones, who released a mini-LP and an EP on Liverpool label Probe Plus...
). A second album, The Project - Phase 2 - We Love The Moon, was released in 1986, accompanied by a single, "We Love The Moon". The band then moved to Keane's own Gaia Communications label, continuing their occult-themed and more electronic-oriented music on several further albums, including In the Sea of E (1987), Songs For The Children Of Baphomet (2001), North-West Soul (2004), with Keane the only constant member. In 2010 McDonald re-emerged to self-release an album titled The Pope's Daughter, though Keane was not involved.
Other members at various times included bassist Ambrose Reynolds
Ambrose Reynolds
-Early years:Began making music as a chorister at Liverpool Cathedral at the age of 7. A few years later, teaming up with David Knopov in a street busking band called The O'Boogie Brothers. The O'Boogie Brothers expanded its membership to include an Ian Broudie on Guitar and Nathan McGough...
, who had previously played in Liverpool bands such as Big in Japan
Big in Japan
Big in Japan was a punk band that emerged from Liverpool, England in the late 1970s. They are better known for the later successes of their band members than for their own music...
, Hollycaust
Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Frankie Goes to Hollywood were a British dance-pop band popular in the mid-1980s. The group was fronted by Holly Johnson , with Paul Rutherford , Peter Gill , Mark O'Toole , and Brian Nash .The group's debut single "Relax" was banned by the BBC in 1984 while at number six in the charts and...
, Nightmares in Wax, and Walkie Talkies, and was also a member of Pink Industry
Pink Industry
Pink Industry were a post-punk band from Liverpool formed by Jayne Casey after her previous band Pink Military split up in 1981.-History:When Pink Military split up in 1981, singer Jayne Casey formed the more electronically oriented band Pink Industry along with Ambrose Reynolds Pink Industry were...
, Jeff Turner (saxophone, clarinet, guitar, violin), Karen Halewood (synthesizer, vocals), John Walsh (bass guitar), Phil Hurst (drums), and Kif (drums).
Albums
- The Project Phase 1 - The Temple Of The 13th Tribe (1984), FactoryFactory RecordsFactory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
- The Project - Phase 2 - We Love The Moon (1986), Factory
- Live 1983-1985 (1986), Recloose
- The Genetic Terrorists (1986), Gaia
- In the Sea of E (1987), Gaia
- Songs For The Children Of Baphomet (2001), Gaia
- The Project Phase 5 - Portuguese Radio Show - October 1988 (2003), Boutique/LTM
- North-West Soul (2004), Boutique/LTM
- The Pope's Daughter (2010), Gothic Moon
Compilations:
- Anthology 1978 - 2001 (2001), Gaia
Singles
- "Art on 45" (1982), Factory
- "We Love the Moon" (1986), Factory
- "Restrained in a Momemt" (1988), Gaia
Other
- A Factory Quartet (1980), Factory - double LP featuring a side each from four artists, included three tracks titled "Dirge" plus "Vaneigem Mix", "Death Factory", and "Rackets"