The band was formed in 1985 by Darren Swindells (bass), Colin Gregory (guitar), John Wood (vocals), David Walmsley (keyboards/guitar), and Peter Day (drums).[1] Gregory and Walmsley had previously played together in The Page Boys.[2] Their first single, "Halcyon Days" was released in 1985. The B-side, "Like One Thousand Violins" was voted into that year's Festive 50 by listeners to John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show, the band having recorded a session for the show earlier that year.[3] 1986 saw a second Peel session, and the band breaking into the indie chart with "Please Don't Sandblast My House", which reached number 11.[4] In 1987, Day was replaced by Ian Addey, and the indie hits continued with "Ungrateful Bastard", "Locked Out of The Love-In", and "If I Were a Bullet".[4] The following year the band's debut album, Hey Man That's Beautiful was released, and Wood departed, to be replaced by ex-Hays Office singer Vince Keenan.[2] With the band troubled by financial problems and 'mind differences', they split in 1989.
Colin Gregory went on to form The Dylans. Keenan went on to join Splendid Fellows and later SPIGGOTT.[2] Walmsley died from cancer in 1992.[2] Following his departure, original vocalist John Wood formed The Chrysalids with Yves Altana and a retrospective was released in 2012 entitled Neither Love Nor Money.
While the band's success during their lifetime was limited, the internet and the interest in this era of indie pop saw interest in the band increase. Vinyl Japan issued a collection of the band's work in 2000, Like One Thousand Violins. A new compilation, Halcyon Days - Complete Recordings 1985-1987, covering the years with John Wood on vocals and featuring rare tracks, was released by Cherry Red Records on 26 May 2014.
^"Keeping It Peel : 1,000 Violins". Keeping It Peel. BBC. Retrieved 25 March 2008.
^ abcLazell, Barry (1997). Indie Hits 1980-1999. Cherry Red Books. ISBN0-9517206-9-4.
January 01, 1970
thousand, violins, were, english, 1960s, influenced, indie, group, from, sheffield, yorkshire, england, several, indie, chart, hits, late, 1980s, originsheffield, englandgenresindie, alternative, rockyears, active1985, 1989labelsdreamworld, immaculate, report,. One Thousand Violins were an English 1960s influenced indie pop group from Sheffield Yorkshire England who had several UK Indie Chart hits in the late 1980s One Thousand ViolinsOriginSheffield EnglandGenresIndie pop alternative rockYears active1985 1989LabelsDreamworld Immaculate Report Vinyl JapanPast membersColin GregoryDarren SwindellsJohn WoodDavid WalmsleyPeter DayIan AddeyVince Keenan Contents 1 History 2 Discography 2 1 Singles 2 2 Albums and EPs 3 ReferencesHistory editThe band was formed in 1985 by Darren Swindells bass Colin Gregory guitar John Wood vocals David Walmsley keyboards guitar and Peter Day drums 1 Gregory and Walmsley had previously played together in The Page Boys 2 Their first single Halcyon Days was released in 1985 The B side Like One Thousand Violins was voted into that year s Festive 50 by listeners to John Peel s BBC Radio 1 show the band having recorded a session for the show earlier that year 3 1986 saw a second Peel session and the band breaking into the indie chart with Please Don t Sandblast My House which reached number 11 4 In 1987 Day was replaced by Ian Addey and the indie hits continued with Ungrateful Bastard Locked Out of The Love In and If I Were a Bullet 4 The following year the band s debut album Hey Man That s Beautiful was released and Wood departed to be replaced by ex Hays Office singer Vince Keenan 2 With the band troubled by financial problems and mind differences they split in 1989 Colin Gregory went on to form The Dylans Keenan went on to join Splendid Fellows and later SPIGGOTT 2 Walmsley died from cancer in 1992 2 Following his departure original vocalist John Wood formed The Chrysalids with Yves Altana and a retrospective was released in 2012 entitled Neither Love Nor Money While the band s success during their lifetime was limited the internet and the interest in this era of indie pop saw interest in the band increase Vinyl Japan issued a collection of the band s work in 2000 Like One Thousand Violins A new compilation Halcyon Days Complete Recordings 1985 1987 covering the years with John Wood on vocals and featuring rare tracks was released by Cherry Red Records on 26 May 2014 Discography editChart placings shown are from the UK Indie Chart 4 Singles edit Halcyon Days 1985 Dreamworld DREAM 002 12 Please Don t Sandblast My House 1986 Dreamworld DREAM 008 008T 7 12 11 Ungrateful Bastard 1987 Constrictor Single Coll 001 7 27 Locked Out Of The Love In 1987 Dreamworld DREAM 014 014T 7 12 13 If I Were a Bullet Then For Sure I d Find a Way To Your Heart 1987 Report REPX1 REPX1T 7 12 17 All Aboard The Lovemobile 1988 Immaculate IMMAC 7 12 IMMAC 7 7 12 If Only Words Would Let Me Conquer You 1989 Immaculate IMMAC 9 12 IMMAC 9 7 12 Albums and EPs edit Please Don t Sandblast My House six track mini LP 1987 Constrictor CON 00008 Locked Out of the Love In 1987 Constrictor CON 00023 Hey Man That s Beautiful 1988 Immaculate IMMACLP1 Compilations Like One Thousand Violins CD 2000 Vinyl Japan ASKLP119 ASKCD119 Halcyon Days Complete Recordings 1985 1987 CD 2014 Cherry Red CDMRED624 John Peel session 25 09 85 10 2023 Precious Recordings of London PRE027 John Peel session 02 12 86 10 2023 Precious Recordings of London PRE028References edit Larkin Colin 1992 The Guinness Who s Who of Indie and New Wave Music Guinness Publishing p 203 ISBN 0 85112 579 4 a b c d Sutton Colin One Thousand Violins Biography allmusic com Macrovision Corporation Retrieved 25 March 2008 Keeping It Peel 1 000 Violins Keeping It Peel BBC Retrieved 25 March 2008 a b c Lazell Barry 1997 Indie Hits 1980 1999 Cherry Red Books ISBN 0 9517206 9 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title One Thousand Violins amp oldid 1193037198, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
