Big Flame (band)

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Big Flame


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Origin = Manchester, England
Genre = Indie rock
Years_active = 1983–1986
Label = Ron Johnson, Laughing Gun
Associated_acts = Great Leap Forward, Meatmouth
URL = [http://www.bigflame.biz/ www.bigflame.biz]
Past_members = Alan Brown
Greg Keeffe
Dil Green

Big Flame (often rendered bIG fLAME) were a post punk/Indie rock three piece band, based in Manchester, England and active from 1983 to 1986. The members were Alan Brown (bass, vocals), Greg Keeffe (guitar) and Dil Green (drums). After a debut single ("Sink") on their own "Laughing Gun" label, they joined the Ron Johnson roster for a series of mid-eighties singles as well as an appearance on the NME's C86 compilation.

On the reverse of the "Two Kan Guru" compilation, it was jokingly stated that Green and Brown played in the original line up of Wham! with George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley; incredibly, this was accepted as fact by many people.

In addition to releasing 5 singles and a compilation EP, Big Flame also recorded four sessions for the John Peel Show. Big Flame were a major influence on the Manic Street Preachers. In a 1991 interview, Richie Edwards stated "The 80s, for us, was the biggest non-event ever, like C86. All we had was Big Flame. Big Flame was the most perfect band. But we couldn't play their records 'cos they were too avant garde".Gabriel, Clive (1991) "Art is just short for Arthur", Lime Lizard, October 1991, Lime Lizard Ltd., ISSN 0961-8104]

After the band split, Brown formed Great Leap Forward, while Keeffe joined Meatmouth (with Mark Whittam and Nicholas Blincoe) who released "Meatmouth is murder" on Factory Records, Fac196.

After a break from music, Alan Brown teamed up with Daren Garratt (of Pram) and Vince Hunt (of A Witness) in the band Marshall Smith, releasing an album 'Colours' in 2006.

In 2007 Alan Brown joined Sarandon as bass player.

Greg Keeffe is now Head of Design at the Manchester School of Architecture, UK.

Dil Green is now an architect based in London.

Discography

*Sink/Illness/Sometimes - 7" EP, Laughing Gun Records (own label), 1984
*Rigour - 7" EP, Ron Johnson Records, 1985
*Tough - 7" EP, Ron Johnson Records, 1985
*Two Kan Guru (compilation) - 10" EP, Ron Johnson Records, 1985
*Why Popstars Can't Dance - 7" EP, Ron Johnson Records, 1986
*Cubist Pop Manifesto - 7" EP, Ron Johnson Records, 1986
*Cubist Pop Manifesto - 12" EP, Constrictor Records, 1987
*Rigour - CD compilation of all the above, Drag City Records, 1996

References

External links

* [http://www.timewasting.net/ronj/index.html Fan site with good information on Ron Johnson Records]
* [http://www.myspace.com/bigflamemcr bIG fLAME's own myspace acct]
* [http://www.bigflame.biz bIG fLAME official website]