The Darling Buds
The Darling Buds | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Newport, Wales |
Genres | Alternative rock, indie pop |
Years active | 1986–1993, 2010, 2013–present |
Labels | Native Records 1986–1993 Odd Box Records 2016– |
Members | Andrea Lewis Jarvis Matt Gray Paul "Chaz" Watkins Erik Stams Dave Corten |
Past members | Geraint Farr Chris McDonagh Richard Gray Jimmy Hughes Jon Lee Dennis McCarthy |
The Darling Buds are an
Career
Influenced by the catchy simple sound of the early
The Darling Buds formed in Caerleon near Newport, South Wales, in 1986 by 19-year-old Andrea Lewis, billed simply as "Andrea". Rounding out the original line-up was guitarist Geraint Farr, billed as "Harley", and a bassist known simply as Simon. The drumming was originally performed by a drum machine. The group's debut single, "If I Said", was self-released in February 1987 and was well received. The group re-released the single on an established label, Native Records, receiving radio play on John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show.[2] The line-up was then re-organized, with Andrea and Harley being joined by new bassist Chris McDonagh and drummer Richard Gray (billed as "Bloss").
Signing with Sony in 1988, several singles preceded the band's critically acclaimed 1989 debut LP,
Pressing forward with their new style, the group followed with their third and final album in 1992, entitled
Post break-up
Since disbanding, Andrea Lewis Jarvis (as she is now known) moved on to acting, touring with a Cardiff theatre company. She later moved into presenting, hosting The Slate for
In July 2010, the Darling Buds with only Andrea Lewis Jarvis from the original line-up, reformed for a one-off tribute concert in their native Newport in memory of John Sicolo, the owner of the music venue TJ's who died earlier in the year.
In October 2013 the band announced a further show, at the Borderline in London in April 2014, with Chris McDonagh and Matt Gray joining Lewis, to be proceeded by a warm up show at the Le Pub venue in Newport the day before.[9] The band announced the London show would be the last,[10] however, the significant interest in this show, led to the band agreeing to play the Indie Daze festival at the Kentish Town Forum in September 2014, and two headline shows at London's Lexington in April 2015.[11][12]
With the line-up officially expanded to a quintet of Andrea Lewis Jarvis (vocals), Chris McDonagh (bass), Matt Gray (guitar), Paul 'Chaz' Watkins (guitar, keyboards), and Erik Stams (drums), The Darling Buds released the Evergreen EP on Oddbox Records on 28 April 2017. It was their first new material in 25 years.
Chris McDonagh decided to leave the band in the summer of 2018. Dave Corten replaced him on bass, and the group issued a digital-only single, "New Year", on 15 December 2018.
The band have continued to play live around the country and are currently working toward recording new material. A box set of singles and rarities was released in autumn 2023 on Cherry Red Records.[citation needed]
Members
- Andrea Lewis Jarvis – vocals
- Matt Gray – guitar (1992–1993, 2010, 2013–present)
- Paul "Chaz" Watkins – guitar (1992–1993, 2010, 2013 to present)
- Erik Stams – drums (2010 to present)
- Dave Corten – bass guitar (2018–present)
- Former members
- Simon – bass guitar (1986)
- Geraint "Harley" Farr – guitar (1986–1993)
- Richard "Bloss" Gray – drums (1986–1990)
- Jimmy Hughes – drums (1990–1993)
- Jon Lee – drums (1992– two of the B-sides on "Sure Thing"; later of the band Feeder)
- Dennis McCarthy – drums (1993)
- Chris McDonagh – bass guitar (1986–2018)
Discography
Albums
- Pop Said... (1989) No. 23 (UK)[5] [reissued 2006 with extra tracks]
- Crawdaddy (1990)
- Erotica (1992)
Compilations
Singles
Year | Song | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK
[5] |
|||||||||||||||||
1987 | "If I Said" | — | — | Non-album singles | |||||||||||||
1988 | "It's All Up to You" | — | — | ||||||||||||||
"Shame on You" | — | — | Pop Said... | ||||||||||||||
"Burst" | 50 | — | |||||||||||||||
"Hit the Ground" | 27 | — | |||||||||||||||
1989 | "Let's Go Round There" | 49 | 27 | ||||||||||||||
"You've Got to Choose" | 45 | — | |||||||||||||||
1990 | "Tiny Machine" | 60 | — | Crawdaddy | |||||||||||||
"Crystal Clear" | 85 | 5 | |||||||||||||||
"It Makes No Difference" | — | 13 | |||||||||||||||
1992 | "Sure Thing" | 71 | — | Erotica | |||||||||||||
"Please Yourself" | — | 22 | |||||||||||||||
"Long Day in the Universe" | — | — | |||||||||||||||
2017 | Evergreen EP | — | — | Non-album singles | |||||||||||||
2018 | "New Year" | — | — | ||||||||||||||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. |
Flexi Disc
- "Spin" (1987 – So Naive fanzine – shared release with Bubblegum Splash!)
References
- ^ a b c d Doug Brod. "The Darling Buds". TrouserPress. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
- ^ a b c Harris, Craig. "The Darling Buds". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
- ^ "BBC – Wales – Music – Darling Buds". BBC.
- ^ a b c d Aston, Martin. Q September 2012. Where Are They Now? The Darling Buds, p. 33
- ^ ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Darling Buds History". tripod.com.
- ^ "The CAST". The Children's Academy of Stage Training. thecast.org. Section, "Principals: Andrea & Jamie". Retrieved 21 April 2017.
- ^ "Former pop star sets up theatre school". WalesOnline. walesonline.co.uk. 22 July 2004. Updated 31 March 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ "Not Forgotten: The Darling Buds, plus live dates this week". Backseat Mafia.
- ^ "The Darling Buds reunite for special one-off concert in London next April". Slicing Up Eyeballs. 25 October 2013.
- ^ "The Lexington". thelexington.co.uk.
- ^ "The Lexington". thelexington.co.uk.
- ^ "( The Darling Buds > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 September 2010.