John Foster (British singer): Difference between revisions

{{notability|1=Biographies|date=March 2023}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = John Foster also Jon Jon and Jon Jon Foster

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1961|02|26|df=y}}

| birth_place = [[Basildon]], [[Essex]], England

| death_date =

| death_place =

| occupation = Singer

| instrument = Vocals

| associated_acts = [[Bronski Beat]], [[MetalMatt]], [[Steve Bronski]], [[Larry Steinbachek]]

[[File:Bronski Beat in 1985.jpg|thumb|[[Bronski Beat]], who John Foster was the singer following the departure of [[Jimmy Somerville]] (centre) in 1985]]

'''John Foster''' also known as Jon Jon Foster is an English-singer best known for his time as part of [[Bronski Beat]] with [[Larry Steinbachek]] and [[Steve Bronski]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Damian |date=2021-12-13 |title=Steve Bronski's carer claims Bronski Beat co-founder died in a flat fire |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/steve-bronskis-carer-claims-bronski-beat-co-founder-died-in-a-flat-fire-3117828 |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-01-13 |title=Marc Almond leads tributes as ex-Bronski Beat man Larry Steinbachek dies aged 56 |url=http://www.irishnews.com/magazine/2017/01/13/news/marc-almond-leads-tributes-as-ex-bronski-beat-man-larry-steinbachek-dies-aged-56-883384/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Irish News |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life==

Foster was born in [[Basildon]] in [[Essex]], England on the 26th February 1961. He spent most of his younger years at clubs and pubs around Essex and [[London]] where in 1978. He met [[Depeche Mode]] lead singer, [[Dave Gahan]] and [[Yazoo (band)|Yazoo]] lead singer, [[Alison Moyet]] at a club. He later met Larry Steinbachek at a gay bar and was invited to join Bronski Beat after Jimmy Somerville left.

==Career==

Following the departure of [[Jimmy Somerville]] in 1985, Foster joined the band and he co-wrote the songs, "[[Hit That Perfect Beat]]"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bronski Beat - Hit That Perfect Beat {{!}} SimplyEighties.com |url=https://www.simplyeighties.com/bronski-beat-hit-that-perfect-beat.php |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=www.simplyeighties.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2017-01-10 |title=Bronski Beat - Hit That Perfect Beat |url=https://www.tv80s.com/bronski-beat/hit-that-perfect-beat/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hodgson |first=by Barbara |last2=Updated |date=2019-05-21 |title=NOW 'Forgotten 80s' album will be out in May |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/now-forgotten-80s-album-out-16306690 |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=ChronicleLive |language=en}}</ref>and "[[C'mon! C'mon! (Bronski Beat song)|C'mon! C'mon!]]".<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Jøn |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/2035946-John-Jøn |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=Discogs |language=en}}</ref> The bands popularity began to partly dwindle following the release of Cmon! Cmon! and around that time, Foster decided to leave the band and pursued a single career with a new band called "Us". He was replaced by Jonathan Hellyer as the lead singer of Bronski Beat before he also left the band.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schnee |first=Steve |title=BRONSKI BEAT: An EXCLUSIVE Q&A with Steve Bronski! |url=https://www.ampeddistribution.com/2017/08/bronski-beat-an-exclusive-qa-with-steve-bronski |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=AMPED™ Music Distribution |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-07-01 |title=Bronski Beat – Nostalgia Central |url=https://nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-a-to-k/artists-b/bronski-beat/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=nostalgiacentral.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Foster returned briefly to the band from 1994 before leaving for good in 1995.<ref>{{cite web |title=Steve Bronski, founding member of Bronski Beat, dead at 61 |url=https://www.outinperth.com/steve-bronski-founding-member-of-bronski-beat-dead-at-61/ |website=OUTInPerth {{!}} LGBTQIA+ News and Culture |access-date=6 March 2023 |date=10 December 2021}}</ref> Jonathan Hellyer briefly returned to the band after Fosters departure but Bronski Beat disbanded in 1995. He has since worked on single material with his most recent songs being with independent musician,<ref>{{cite web |title=Bronski Beat's Larry Steinbachek dies |url=https://www.outinperth.com/bronski-beats-larry-steinbachek-dies/ |website=OUTInPerth {{!}} LGBTQIA+ News and Culture |access-date=6 March 2023 |date=13 January 2017}}</ref> MetalMatt and his songs which Foster has collaborated on include Future and Mexico.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mexico feat. Jon Jon Foster (Bronski Beat), by Metal Matt |url=https://metalmattgothic.bandcamp.com/track/mexico-feat-jon-jon-foster-bronski-beat |website=Metal Matt |access-date=6 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref> Foster also continues to record and work as a singer and songwriter.

==Personal life==

Foster is also openly [[gay]] and he was also close friends Larry Steinbachek and [[Steve Bronski]] before both died in both 2017 and 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jon Jon Foster @estuaryfestival |url=https://www.estuaryfestival.com/artist/detail/jon-jon-foster.html |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=www.estuaryfestival.com |language=en}}</ref>

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Foster, Jon Jon}}

[[Category:1961 births]]

[[Category:20th-century LGBT people]]

[[Category:20th-century English male singers]]

[[Category:21st-century LGBT people]]

[[Category:21st-century English male singers]]

[[Category:british synth-pop new wave musicians]]

[[Category:Bronski Beat members]]

[[Category:Gay singers]]

[[Category:English LGBT singers]]

[[Category:People from Basildon]]

[[Category:English new wave musicians]]

[[Category:English gay musicians]]

{{UK-music-bio-stub}}