BIOGRAPHY
Shriekback are an English rock band, formed in 1981 in Kentish Town by Barry Andrews, formerly of XTC and League of Gentlemen (keyboards/synthesizers/vocals), and Dave Allen, formerly of the Gang of Four (bass), with Carl Marsh, formerly of Out On Blue Six (guitars/vocals) soon added to the line-up. They were joined by Martyn Barker on drums in 1983. Other members included: Linda Nevill, Emma Burnham, Brian Nevill, Pedro Ortiz, Clare Hirst, Lu Edmunds, Wendy and Sara Partridge (from Electric Guitars), Steve Halliwell, Eve Moon, Ivan Julian, Mike Cozzi, and Jessica Palin/Jose Fina Cupido.
History and member changes
Shriekback was originally formed in 1981 by Barry Andrews, and Dave Allen, expanding to a trio with the addition of Carl Marsh.[2] They enjoyed some success on the dance chart on their original Y Records label, and had a string of hits on the UK Indie Chart, while their debut album, Care (1983) was picked up by Warners in the United States.[2] They left Y for Arista Records for 1984′s Jam Science, also recruiting drummer Martyn Baker.[2] The album reached number 85 on the UK Albums Chart, and the single “Hand on my Heart” charted in the Top 60 in the UK.[2] Finding little success, they switched to Island Records for the 1985 album Oil & Gold; Marsh left during the recording of the album, to be replaced by Mike Cozzi.[2] After the follow-up, Big Night Music, Allen left to rejoin Gang of Four, and Shriekback remained a collaborative centred around Andrews. Allen would also go on to play in King Swamp and The Elastic Purejoy. Marsh was also in the band Happyhead.
After a further album in 1988, Go Bang!, the band split up. Andrews continued working on other projects before re-forming Shriekback in 1992, although after the single “The Bastard Sons of Enoch” and album Sacred City, there would be no further releases until 2000′s Naked Apes & Pond Life album.[2]
Both Allen and Marsh returned to the studio to contribute to the recording of Shriekback’s 2003 release Having a Moment. Since Having a Moment, Andrews has recorded three albums for Malicious Damage (Killing Joke’s original label) under the Shriekback moniker. Film director Michael Mann was a fan of Shriekback, and used several of their songs in his films Manhunter and Band of the Hand, and in his television series Miami Vice.
FURTHER
