Graduate (band)
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Graduate | |
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Origin | Bath, Somerset, England |
Genres | |
Years active | 1978–1981 |
Spinoffs | Tears for Fears |
Past members |
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Graduate were an English new wave and mod revival musical group formed in 1978,[1] in Bath, England. They were only mildly successful, and broke up by 1981. They are today best known as being the initial recording vehicle for future Tears for Fears members Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, who found international fame in the 1980s and 1990s.
Band history
John Baker and
Orzabal and Smith had played in a youth club band called Duckz when they were 14. In 1979, Graduate signed a publishing deal with
The band undertook a gruelling tour of Germany in October/November 1980, having to drive hundreds of miles between gigs with no
Graduate also appeared on UK TV during 1980. They performed "Ever Met a Day" on the children's TV show
Graduate continued into 1981. Orzabal and Smith were replaced for a short while with Darren Hatch on bass (son of Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent) and Nigel Newton on guitar. Meanwhile, Orzabal and Smith played with the short-lived band Neon, which included Pete Byrne and Rob Fisher, later of Naked Eyes.
Graduate played a handful of local and London gigs and carried on the relationship with Pye/PRT. They recorded a number of demos with Ian Stanley—a future Tears for Fears member—in mid-1981. Baker and Buck became busy with European promotional work with the Korgis, and so Graduate fizzled out.
After Graduate
In 1981, Orzabal and Smith went on to form the new wave band Tears for Fears.[4]
Andy Marsden played drums on the original single recording of "Suffer the Children".
John Baker later joined the Korgis, a band featuring members of Stackridge.
Baker joined Orzabal again in 1993, singing backing vocals on the UK and US hit "Break It Down Again".
Marsden and Baker still to this day play in a covers band, the Meanies, alongside former Graduate manager Glenn Tommey and James Warren of the Korgis.
Personnel
- Roland Orzabal – vocals, lead guitar
- Curt Smith – bass guitar, vocals
- John Baker – rhythm guitar, vocals
- Steve Buck – keyboards
- Andy Marsden – drums
Albums
Title | Album details |
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Acting My Age |
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Ambitions |
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Graduate |
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References
- ^ "Graduate (Pre TFF) Acting My Age/Elvis Should Play Ska". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ "Graduate (Tears For Fears) - Elvis Should Play Ska". YouTube. 5 March 2010. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
- ^ "On looking inward to create your best work".
- ^ "memories fade dot com - Tears For Fears FAQ: 8. Chart Positions". Memoriesfade.com. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
External links
- Graduate discography at Discogs
- Graduate at AllMusic
- Graduate Discography