Broken English (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Broken English


Background = group_or_band
Origin = United Kingdom
Genre = Rock
Years_active =
Label = EMI
Current_members = Steve Elson: vocals/guitar Jamie Moses: guitar Alan Coates: guitar
Past_members =

Broken English was a UK band formed in 1987 by Steve Elson (singer and guitarist), who at the time performed in a The Rolling Stones tribute band. He wrote a song called "Comin' on Strong", which had a Stones sound to it. A friend heard the song and thought it was too good to be a one-off novelty song and encouraged Elson to put together a band and record more material. The band's début single caused a bit of a stir; however the ruse was blown when the band made a video featuring themselves performing dressed as Ghostbusters. The first single did reasonably well, however the two follow-up singles did not fare so well.

Rolling Stones references

To carry on the joke and Rolling Stones references, Broken English made several nods to the Stones; these included:

* The name of the band referenced the title of an album recorded by Marianne Faithfull.
* The band's record label was the same as the Stones had once used.

Band members

* Steve Elson - guitarist and singer - Now lead singer with The Counterfeit Stones
* Jamie Moses - guitarist - performs with Queen + Paul Rodgers, Brian May and Paul Young
* Alan Coates - guitarist - performs with the Hollies
* Paul Fenton - drums - used to perform with T.Rex
* Zak Starkey - drums - Now performs with Oasis
* Geoff Cooper - drums - used to perform with The Counterfeit Stones

The second single

According to the sleeve notes included with the album "The Rough and the Smooth", it was suggested that Bruno Brookes's brother wrote a track for the band, which was included on the b-Side of "Love on the Side". When word got around this had happened, and as Bruno Brooks was a DJ at Radio 1 at the time, the record disappeared from the playlist. ["Rough with the Smooth" sleeve notes 2007]

Discography

ingles

Albums

Broken English recorded one album which was not released until 2007, nearly 20 years after it was first recorded. The sleeve notes of the album give a detailed history of the band.

* "The Rough and the Smooth" (2007)Track Listing
1. "Show A Little Mercy"
2. "Straight Lace Girls"
3. "Don't Change"
4. "Emotional Suicide"
5. "You Take Me Away"
6. "Comin' on Strong"
7. "Casanova"
8. "Ball 'n' Chain"
9. "Love On The Side"
10. "Woman Of Stone"
11. "Do You Really Want Me Back"

Bonus Tracks
12. "Comin' On Strong (2)"
13. "Fire Me Up"
14. "Rough Cut Diamonds"
15. "Running Out"

Televison appearances

Broken English were one of the opening acts on the ITV programme "The Roxy", which was set up as opposition to BBC Television's "Top of the Pops".

ee also

*One-hit wonders in the UK

References

External links

* [http://www.jamiemoses.com/ Jamie Moses website]
* [http://www.thecounterfeitstones.net/ The Counterfiet Stones website]