80's&90's Local Heroes
Local Heroes
Throughout the 1980s and early 90s the weird and the wonderful from across the country continued to record at the Drake Street studios. However inside the Borough several acts were making the leap from local heroes to pop stardom.
local heroes
local heroes
Lisa Stansfield began singing in local talent contests. She later joined friends Andy Morris and Ian Devaney in the band Blue Zone. Her first chart success came on Coldcut�s 1989 single �People Hold On�. Her first solo album �Affection�, and single �This is the right time�, were released in 1990. Her second single �All Around the World� made her an international star. She took a break in the mid 90s but then returned to acting in the film Swing, and to contributing to the film soundtracks of The Bodyguard and The Wedding Planner. She still records and tours.
A young Lisa Stansfield
Lisa Stansfield - True of False?
Lisa is related to Gracie Fields whose real name was Grace Stansfield.
False. Lisa and Gracie are not related, but Lisa does own a studio called �Gracielands�.
Happy Mondays� Shaun Ryder is posher than Lisa.
True. Well according to Shaun himself - "Lisa's family are the only family in the whole of showbiz to make mine sound posh.�
Lisa was a children�s TV presenter.
True. At age 16 she presented Granada Television�s children�s show Razzamataz.
The Chameleons from Middleton were formed in 1981 from three other bands - The Cliches, Years and Sen. Their first single, "In Shreds" made 42 on John Peel's Festive Fifty in 1982. Their debut album, "Script of the Bridge", was recorded in Rochdale and they released two more successful albums before disappearing for fifteen years. They reformed in 2000 and released two new albums, including the unplugged 'Strip'. They also proved they were still great live with five sold out gigs at 'The Witchwood' in Ashton.
The Chameleons Vinyl
The Chameleons CD
Another Middleton band, The Mock Turtles, (originally Judge Happiness) were formed in the mid1980�s by Martin Coogan, brother of Alan Partridge creator Steve.
Martin Coogan brother of Steve Coogan
They appeared on Top of the Pops with their 1991 hit �Can You Dig It�.
Can You Dig It
Despite releasing an acclaimed album �Turtle Soup� they were caught up in the decline of the Madchester scene and their second single didn�t make the charts. The band dissolved in 1993. However in 2003 �Can You Dig It?� featured in Vodafone adverts starring David Beckham. A re-mix by Fatboy Slim took it back in the charts - 12 years after the original! They reformed recently for a triumphant gig at Middleton Civic.
Turtle Soup
The Kalpihz (Kaleef) a hip-hop crew from Rochdale were part of a breakdance and graffitti scene. According to founder Mush Khan �You couldn't afford to get into clubs, or they wouldn't allow you in the clubs 'cause you were Black, or you were Asian. So you didn't need to go to clubs � you went under a streetlight, and you danced there all night.� They made their TV debut at the same time as Oasis on �The Word� in 1994. They had two hits "Walk Like a Champion" featuring boxer Prince Naseem and "Golden Brown" reworking a Stranglers track.
Kaleef or Kaliphz - Seven Deadly Sins
Autechre, were formed by Rob Brown and Sean Booth from Rochdale, in 1987. They have released numerous CDs of their unique brand of electronic music. Not as widely known as our other Local Heroes they are hugely influential and their experimental sound has a dedicated following.
Autechre - Electronica
Rochdale's other electronic music claim to fame is Bola. Darrell Fitton began to release music as Bola in the mid 90s and like Autechre has won critical recognition.
Bola - Other Electronica
The original Rochdale Local Heroes, later known as Victor Mature, formed in 1979 from members of two other bands, Physical Wrecks and Cry Tough. A double 'A' side released in 1980 (Blast the Pop /Tomorrow) got local and national airplay. In the early 80s they opened their own recording studio called Vic's Place where many local bands recorded. (See the Hewitt�s Half Century and Recording Studios sections).
LOcal heroes
Local Heroes
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