| The Members | |
| Landscape: | yes |
| Background: | group_or_band |
| Origin: | Camberley, Surrey, England |
| Genre: | Punk rock |
| Years Active: | 1976–1983, 2007–present |
| Label: | Stiff, Virgin, Arista |
| Website: | theMembers.co.uk |
The Members are a British punk band that originated in Camberley, Surrey, England. In the UK, they are best known for their single "The Sound of the Suburbs", reaching No. 12 in the UK Singles Chart in 1979, and in Australia, "Radio" which reached No. 5 in 1982.
The Members were formed by lyricist Nicky Tesco (Nick Lightowlers) in 1976, through an invited audition at a recording studio at Tooley Street, London.[1] The original personnel, with Tesco (vocals), was Gary Baker (guitar), and Steve Morley (bass guitar), initially with Steve Maycock then Clive Parker (drums). Morley and Parker were later replaced by Chris Payne and Adrian Lillywhite.[2]
In 1976, the band performed for its first engagements at The Red Cow (London W6), The Windsor Castle (London W9) and The Nashville Rooms (London W14). In that year composer Jean Marie Carroll (aka JC Carroll) joined the band to complement Tesco's lyrics.[1] The Members had recorded a number of songs, but the first released recording was "Fear on the Streets", produced by Lillywhite's brother Steve Lillywhite.[2] This song was included on the first record released by the Beggars Banquet label, the punk compilation Streets (1977).[2] The song-writing collaboration between Tesco and Carroll moved The Members' sound towards an incorporation of reggae, shown in the first single released for Stiff Records, "Solitary Confinement", produced by Larry Wallis.[2] Following these releases, band personnel became Tesco (vocals), Carroll (vocals and guitar), Nigel Bennett (guitar), Payne (bass) and Lillywhite (drums).[2]
In 1978/79, the Members continued to play the London pub and club circuit, became a feature in the music press and were championed by John Peel. They signed to Virgin Records in 1978, for which label they recorded "The Sound of the Suburbs", again produced by Steve Lillywhite.[2] This became The Members' biggest chart success and their best-known song in the UK. The follow-up single, "Offshore Banking Business", a reggae tune written by Carroll,[2] based on his experiences working in offshore banking at the private bank Coutts,[3] did not achieve the same popularity. A version of "Offshore Banking Business" was recorded for the early 1980s film Urgh! A Music War, produced by Michael White, distributed by Filmways and Lorimar Productions.
The Members' first album, At the Chelsea Nightclub, was followed by a second for Virgin, 1980 – The Choice Is Yours.[2] Augmented by saxophonists Steve (Rudi) Thomson and Simon Lloyd (the latter of whom also provided horns and additional keyboards), the group recorded what would turn out to be their final album. This last album was first issued in the US as Uprhythm, Downbeat in 1982,[1] and it surfaced in the UK a year later, retitled Going West. The album featured the singles "Radio," which made no. 5 in Australia,[4] and Working Girl, the music video for which gave the band exposure in North America via MTV.
The band broke up in 1983, when Tesco left the band after the last tour of the US. JC Carroll formed the UK fashion house, The Dispensary, with his then wife Sophy Lynn and began working on film soundtracks, most notably with film producer Stephen Malit and director Julien Temple.[5] Lillywhite went on to join the band King in the mid-1980s in time for their second album. Lloyd soon joined the Australian band Icehouse, remaining with them for their international smash hits "Electric Blue" and "Crazy". In 1989, Tesco appeared in Leningrad Cowboys Go America, written and directed by Aki Kaurismäki, a film about a fictional Russian rock band touring the US.[6] This fictional band then toured as an actual band, and recorded the Tesco song "Thru the Wire". Kaurismäki directed a video for "Thru the Wire", featuring Tesco.[7] As well as working as a music journalist for the magazine Music Week, Tesco became a commentator on new releases for BBC 6 Music's "Roundtable".
In 2008, the original line up of the band reformed to play two concerts, then a line up of Carroll, Payne and Nick Cash resumed touring. In 2009, a new single "International Financial Crisis" (a re-write of "Offshore Banking Business") was released, recorded by Tesco, Carroll, Payne and Bennett, with artwork by the original Members' album sleeve designer, Malcolm Garrett. This line up played Glastonbury and Isle of Wight Festivals. The Members line-up of Carroll, Payne and Rat Scabies (drums) performed from 2010 to 2013, playing over 90 shows including three European tours and New Zealand and Australian tours. Nick Cash rejoined the band in 2014.
In March 2012, the Members released their fourth studio album, InGrrLand, featuring Carroll, Payne, Bennett, Cash and Rat Scabies. In December 2013, Nigel Bennett rejoined the Members. In 2014, the Members (comprising Carroll, Bennett and Cash), mounted a 23-date tour of the US; Carroll on bass guitar and lead vocals, Bennett on lead guitar, and Cash on drums. This was the band's first tour of the US for 32 years.[8]
In 2015, the band began work on their fifth studio album in studios in London and West Byfleet featuring a nucleus of Carroll, Cash, Payne and Bennett together with guest appearances from Guy Pratt and guitarist Steve Brookes. One Law, released in early 2016, was produced by Carroll, and received reviews in Louder Than War,[9] The Aberdeen Voice,[10] Record Collector and Vive Le Rock.
In 2021, the band released their seventh studio album Bedsitland[11] and JC Carroll's definitive story of the band, Still Annoying the Neighbours, was published.[12]
Since reforming the Members have performed all over the world; and apart from a break for the COVID pandemic, they continue to perform.[13]
On 26 February 2022, it was announced that Tesco had died, at the age of 67.[14] The BBC's Johnnie Walker and JC Carroll paid tribute to Tesco on the Sounds of the 70's BBC radio show.[15]
| Year | Title | UK | Label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | At the Chelsea Nightclub | 45 | Stiff/Virgin | |
| 1980 | 1980 – The Choice Is Yours | - | Virgin | |
| 1982 | Uprhythm, Downbeat | - | Virgin | |
| 1995 | Sound of the Suburbs (Best Of) | - | Virgin | |
| 2010 | Live in Berlin | - | Smash The System | |
| 2012 | Ingrrland | - | AngloCentric | |
| 2016 | One Law | - | AngloCentric Cadiz Music | |
| 2016 | At The Luton Hat Factory | - | AngloCentric | |
| 2018 | Greatest Hits (all the Singles) | - | AngloCentric Cadiz Music | |
| 2019 | Version | - | Cleopatra Records | |
| 2019 | InGrrLand (vinyl edition) | - | Cleopatra Records | |
| 2021 | Bedsitland (vinyl, CD, Digital) | - | AngloCentric records |
| Year | Title | UK | UK Indie | US Main | AUS[16] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | "Solitary Confinement" | - | - | - | - |
| 1979 | "The Sound of the Suburbs" | 12 | - | - | - |
| 1979 | "Offshore Banking Business" | 31 | - | - | - |
| 1979 | "Killing Time" | - | - | - | - |
| 1980 | "Romance" | - | - | - | - |
| 1980 | "Flying Again" | - | - | - | - |
| 1981 | "Working Girl" | 114 | 41 | 34 | - |
| 1982 | "Radio"[17] | - | - | - | 5 |
| 2009 | "International Financial Crisis" | - | - | - | - |
| 2011 | "New English Blues" | - | - | - | - |
| 2015 | "(I Love my)English Girls" | - | - | - | - |
| 2016 | "Emotional Triggers c/w Apathy in the UK" | - | - | - | - |
| 2016 | "Incident at Surbiton (3 Mixes)" | - | - | - | - |
| 2018 | "Smartphone Junkie c/w Non. Je ne Regrette Rein" | - | - | - | - |
| 2019 | "When U were mine c/w Ever Fallen in Love in Love" | - | - | - | - |
| 1976 | 1976 | 1977 | 1977 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| 1977 – 1978 | 1978 – 1981 | 1981 | 1981 – 1983 | |||||
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| 1983 | 1983 – 2007 | 2007 | 2008 | |||||
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| valign=top | Disbanded | valign=top |
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| 2009 | 2009 – 2010 | 2010 – 2013 | 2013 – December 2013 | |||||
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| December 2013 – 2014 | 2014 | 2014 | 2014 | |||||
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| 2014 – 2015 | 2016 | 2016 | 2016 | |||||
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| 2017 – 2020 | 2020 – 2022 | 2022 (199 club – 45 years reunion) | 2022 – present | |||||
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Colors =
id:voc value:red legend:Vocals id:wi value:gray(0.5) legend:Horns id:g value:green legend:Guitar id:key value:purple legend:Keyboards id:b value:blue legend:Bass id:dr value:orange legend:Drums id:al value:black legend:Studio_recordings id:bars value:gray(0.95)
Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3BackgroundColors = bars:barsScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1976ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1976
LineData= at:01/04/1979 color:black layer:back at:01/07/1980 at:01/07/1982 at:01/03/2012 at:13/01/2016 at:01/04/2019 at:01/03/2021
PlotData= width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4) bar:Nicky Tesco from:start till:01/09/1983 color:voc bar:Nicky Tesco from:01/07/2007 till:01/01/2008 color:voc bar:Nicky Tesco from:01/01/2009 till:01/07/2009 color:voc bar:Steve Rudi Thompson from:01/05/1981 till:01/09/1983 color:wi bar:Steve Rudi Thompson from:01/07/2013 till:01/12/2013 color:wi bar:Adam Maitland from:01/05/1981 till:01/09/1981 color:wi bar:Simon Lloyd from:01/09/1981 till:01/09/1983 color:wi bar:Simon Lloyd from:01/09/1981 till:01/09/1983 color:key width:3 bar:Gary Baker from:start till:01/07/1978 color:g bar:JC Carroll from:01/05/1977 till:01/09/1983 color:g bar:JC Carroll from:01/07/2007 till:end color:g bar:JC Carroll from:01/06/2014 till:01/08/2014 color:b bar:JC Carroll from:01/01/2008 till:01/01/2009 color:voc width:3 bar:JC Carroll from:01/07/2009 till:end color:voc width:3 bar:Nigel Bennett from:01/07/1978 till:01/09/1983 color:g bar:Nigel Bennett from:01/07/2007 till:01/01/2008 color:g bar:Nigel Bennett from:01/12/2013 till:01/08/2014 color:g bar:Nigel Bennett from:01/01/2016 till:01/05/2016 color:g bar:Nigel Bennett from:11/01/2022 till:12/05/2016 color:g bar:Paddy Carroll from:01/11/2014 till:01/01/2016 color:g bar:Steve Morley from:start till:01/09/1977 color:b bar:Chris Payne from:01/09/1977 till:01/09/1983 color:b bar:Chris Payne from:01/07/2007 till:01/03/2014 color:b bar:Chris Payne from:01/08/2014 till:01/09/2016 color:b bar:Chris Payne from:01/01/2017 till:end color:b bar:Calle Engelmarc from:01/03/2014 till:01/06/2014 color:b bar:Calle Engelmarc from:01/09/2016 till:01/01/2017 color:b bar:Calle Engelmarc from:01/01/2017 till:end color:g bar:Steve Maycock from:start till:01/07/1976 color:dr bar:Clive Parker from:01/07/1976 till:01/01/1977 color:dr bar:Adrian Lillywhite from:01/01/1977 till:01/05/1983 color:dr bar:Adrian Lillywhite from:01/07/2007 till:01/01/2008 color:dr bar:Chuck Sabo from:01/05/1983 till:01/09/1983 color:dr bar:Nick Cash from:01/01/2008 till:01/07/2010 color:dr bar:Nick Cash from:01/12/2013 till:01/05/2016 color:dr bar:Nick Cash from:01/09/2016 till:end color:dr bar:Rat Scabies from:01/07/2010 till:01/12/2013 color:dr bar:Dan Heatly from:01/05/2016 till:01/09/2016 color:dr
. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 197.