Blue Orchids

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Blue Orchids


Img_capt =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Manchester / United Kingdom
Genre = Post-punk
Years_active = 1979 - 2007
Label = Rough Trade
Cherry Red
LTM
Blind Eye Records

Blue Orchids are a British Post-punk band formed in Manchester, England in 1979, when Martin Bramah decided to quit the The Fall having recorded that band's debut album "Live At The Witch Trials". Bramah teamed up with keyboardist Una Baines, also an ex-Fall member, guitarist Rick Goldstraw, bassist Steve Toyne and drummer Ian Rogers (AKA Joe Kin).cite book |last=Strong |first=Martin C. |title=The Great Alternative & Indie Discography |year= 1999 |publisher=Canongate |isbn=0-86241-913-1 ] Punk poet John Cooper Clark christened them Blue Orchids.

They signed to Rough Trade Records, and in November 1980 they released their debut single, a double A side, "The Flood / Disney Boys". By this time Steve Toyne had left the band and Rick Goldstraw had taken over the bass playing duties. Later in February 1981 they released their second single "Work".

'Work' was much liked by the late John Peel who played it regularly after it's release. The band's music came to the attention of Echo and the Bunnymen, who subsequently invited Blue Orchids to be the support act for Echo and the Bunnymen's 1981 UK tour. Alastair "Baz" Murphy was recruited to play keyboards on the tour due to an illness suffered by Una Baines.

Also after the release of 'Work' the Blue Orchids recorded the first of their Peel Sessions for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 programme.

Phillip Toby Toman, an ex-member of The Durutti Column joined on drums when Ian Rogers left the group after the Echo and the Bunnymen tour (he later went on to play for Primal Scream under the name Toby Tomanov). This new line-up recorded a debut album called "The Greatest Hit (Money Mountain)", which went on to sell 10,000 copies.

The group toured with Nico, former member of The Velvet Underground, serving as both backing group and support act. Rick Goldstraw decided to continue touring with Nico, so a new bassist called Mark Hellyer was recruited as a replacement.

The group's next record was the "Agents Of Change" EP in 1982. After parting company with Rough Trade at the end of the year the group split up, with Baines joining The Fates.

Bramah and Baines briefly returned in 1985 with the single "Sleepy Town" and then split up again. After this Martin Bramah and Una Baines ceased working together. Bramah then formed a new group with ex-Fall drummer Karl Burns called Thirst. They only released one record, the "Riding the Times" EP in 1987.

In 1989 Bramah briefly returned to The Fall and appeared on the "Extricate" album. The reunion with Mark E. Smith was never going to last, and Bramah was sacked from the group whilst on a tour of Australia in 1990.

In 1991 Bramah returned with a new incarnation of Blue Orchids which featured ex-Smiths guitarist Craig Gannon on guitar, Martin Hennan on bass, and Dick Harrison on drums. Their first release was a single called "Diamond Age", followed later in 1991 by a compilation album called "A View From The City". In 1992 they released the "Secret City" EP and A second album was recorded in 1993, but would remain unreleased for ten years. Bramah decided to split the group again in 1995.

In 2002 a compilation album called "A Darker Bloom" was released on the Cherry Red label. This release had sleeve notes written by Bramah's former colleague in The Fall, Marc Riley.

2003 saw the group release/reissue three albums on the LTM label. The shelved album from 1993 was finally released under the title of "The Sleeper". Released almost simultaneously was a compilation album called "From Severe To Serene", which featured the group's two John Peel sessions, live tracks and the contents of the "Riding the Times" EP. At the end of the year the group's debut album "The Greatest Hit (Money Mountain)" was finally given a long overdue CD release.

In 2004 the LTM label released a brand new Blue Orchids album called "Mystic Bud". This release contained a surprising cover version of "Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies.

Founder member Rick Goldstraw returned for the mini album "Slum-Cavern-Jest!" in 2005. This release featured a cover version of the Fred Neil song "Green Rocky Road".

In 2007 a previously unreleased live recording from 1981 was made available as the download only album, "Blue Orchids Bomb Manchester".

As of 2008, Martin Bramah will be pursuing a solo career, the debut album "The Battle Of Twisted Heel" was released in January.

As of 2008, Phillip Toby Toman who played drums from 1981-82, was seen playing drums for The Inhalers and more recently, Panic Attack in and around venues in Weymouth, Dorset.

Personnel

*Martin Bramah - vocals, guitar (1979-2007)
*Una Baines - keyboards, vocals (1979-85)
*Rick Goldstraw - guitar & bass guitar (1979-82, 2004-2007)
*Steve Toyne - bass (1979-80)
*Ian Rogers A.K.A. Joe Kin - drums,(1979-81)
*Phillip Toby Toman - drums (1981-82)
*Mark Hellyer - bass (1982)
*Nick Marshall - drums (1985)
*Craig Gannon - guitar (1990-91)
*Martin Hennin - bass (1990-92)
*Richard Harrison - drums (1990-92)
*Mick Routledge - keyboards (1991-92)
*Adrian White - drums (1993-95)
*Stuart Kennedy - bass (1993-95, 2004)
*Alastair "Baz" Murphy - organ, keyboards (1981-95, 2004)
*Charlotte Bill - flute (2004)
*Bud Umu - drums (2004)
*Steph - drums (2005)

Discography

Chart placings shown are from the UK Indie Chart.cite book |last=Lazell |first=Barry |title=Indie Hits 1980-1999 |year= 1997 |publisher=Cherry Red Books |isbn=0-9517206-9-4 ]

Albums

* "The Greatest Hit (Money Mountain)" (1982) (#5)
* "The Sleeper" (2003)
* "Mystic Bud" (2004)
* "Slum-Cavern-Jest!" (2005)

Compilation Albums

* "Cross Current - Rough Trade's Greatest Hits" (198?)
* "A View From The City" (1992)
* "A Darker Bloom" (2002)
* "From Severe To Serene" (2003)

Live Album

* "Blue Orchids Bomb Manchester" (2007)

ingles / EPs

* The Flood / Disney Boys (1980) (#36)
* Work / The House That Faded Out (1981) (#21)
* Agents Of Change EP (1982) (#12)
* Sleepy Town / Thirst (1985) (#22)
* Riding The Times EP (by Thirst) (1987)
* Diamond Age / Moth (1991)
* Secret City EP (1992)

References

External links

* [http://www.blueorchids.net/ Official Site]