The Band of Holy Joy

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Band of Holy Joy


Img_capt =
Img_size =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = New Cross, London, UK
Genre = Indie, Folk
Years_active = 1984 - 1993, 2002 - 2003, 2007 - present
Label = Pleasantly Surprised
Flim Flam
Rough Trade
Equador
Associated_acts = Superdrug, Society of Imaginary Friends, Morton Valence.
Also Known As = Holy Joy
URL =
Current_members = Johny Brown
Alfie Thomas
Chris Brierley

Past_members = Franny Armstrong
Andy Astle
John Atrocity
Adrian Bailey
Emrys Baird
Karel van Bergen
Marek Budzynsky
Mark Cavener
David Coulter
Wendy Dunleavy
Gus Ferguson
Caroline Gaskin
Rob Hacker
Steve Hands
Jub Jenkins
Hilary Jeffery
Caroline Jewkes
Big John
Alex Keen
Oscar Khan
Louise Kleboe
Robert Lee
Bill Lewington
George Lovell
John Moore
Paul O'Donnell
Howard Rickard
Peter Rollinson
Paul Sampson
Janie Shorter
Tom Smith
Anne Solomon
Neil Starr
Mike Thomas
Brett Turnbull
Adele
Chess
Emmet
Fitz
Howard
Leo
Mairie
Malou
Martine
Max
Maxine
Terry
Notable_instruments = Fiddle, accordion, harmonium, piano, trombone

The Band of Holy Joy are an English band formed in New Cross, London, and initially active between 1984 and 1993, releasing several albums. In 1992, they abbreviated their name to Holy Joy. They reformed in 2002,back under the name of Band of Holy Joy, releasing a new album called "Love never fails",They concentrated on other musical projects during 2003 to 2006. They began performing live again in 2007 and released a best of on Cherry Red records.

History

The band was formed in 1984 by geordie Johny Brown, along with friends including Brett Turnbull. After two self-issued cassettes, they signed to South London indie label Flim Flam for a string of singles and two 1987 albums, "More Tales From The City" and the compilation "When Stars Come Out To Play".cite book |last=Strong |first=Martin C. |title=The Great Alternative & Indie Discography |year= 1999 |publisher=Canongate |isbn=0-86241-913-1 ] After a 1988 album on the Cause For Concern label, they signed to Rough Trade Records, increasing their exposure including an appearance on BBC 2's "Snub TV". The move to Rough Trade prompted Flim Flam to threaten to sue for breach of contract, but after six months of legal wrangling, this was settled out of court, Brown commenting "We'd given those people three years of our lives and all they did was bugger us about".cite journal | last = George | first = Iestyn | title = Emotional Tangles | journal = Zine | issue = 10 | pages = 38–40 | publisher = Zine | date = 1989 ] Their first album for Rough Trade, "Manic, Magic, Majestic" was released in 1989, with "Positively Spooked" following in 1990, supported by a tour of the U.S.S.R..cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:g9foxqq5ldje~T1 |title=The Band of Holy Joy Biography |accessdaymonth=20 January |accessyear=2008 |author=Jason Ankeny |year= |month= |work=allmusic.com |publisher=AMG |quote= ] The band re-emerged in 1992 as Holy Joy, with the album "Tracksuit Vendetta". They split up in 1993, with Brown working as a freelance journalist, and subsequently forming the band Superdrug in 1995. The Band of Holy Joy reformed in 2002 with Johny Brown, Alfie Thomas and Chris Brierley, releasing an album, "Love Never Fails".After a number of live dates the band became inactive between 2003 and 2006, pursuing other musical projects. In may 2007 the band began playing live again. October 2007 saw the release of 'Leaves that fall in spring', a 'best of' released on the Cherry Red label.

In 2008, after playing nine warm-up dates in and around London during April, May and June, The Band of Holy Joy set off to the United States for the first time in their 25-year history and embarked on a successful tour of New York. 'Punklore', a six-track cd was released and only available at the New York gigs.

Musical style

The band had influences from folk music and European cabaret, with Jacques Brel and Bertold Brecht identified as influences. They have been compared to The Pogues, Dexys Midnight Runners, and The Waterboys. They were described by "Trouser Press" as "emotional and articulate, using tasteful understatement and rustic simplicity to sell songs with unpredictably offbeat lyrical concerns".cite web |url=http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=band_of_holy_joy |title=BAND OF HOLY JOY |accessdaymonth=20 January |accessyear=2008 |author=Ira Robbins |year= |month= |work= |publisher=TrouserPress.com |quote= ]

Discography

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

Albums

*"More Favourite Fairy Tales" (1984) Pleasantly Surprised (cassette)
*"Into The City Of Tales" (1985) (cassette)
*"The Big Ship Sails" (1986) Flim Flam (10" mini-LP)
*"More Tales From The City" (1987) Flim Flam #8
*"When Stars Come Out To Play" (1987) Flim Flam
*"The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" (1988) Cause For Concern
*"Manic, Magic, Majestic" (1989) Rough Trade #7
*"Positively Spooked" (1990) Rough Trade
*"Tracksuit Vendetta" (1992) Equador
*"Love Never Fails" (2002) Rough Trade
*"Leaves That Fall In Spring - Seminal Moments" (2007) Cherry Red
*"Punklore" (2008) 6 track cd available only at US gigs

ingles/EPs

*"Had a Mother Who Was Proud" (1985) Flim Flam (12" EP)
*"Who Snatched My Baby" (1986) Flim Flam #25
*"Rosemary Smith" (1987) Flim Flam #17
*"Tactless" (1988) Rough Trade
*"Evening World Holiday Show" (1989) Rough Trade
*"Real Beauty Passed Through" (1990) Rough Trade (12" EP)
*"Claudia Dreams" (1992) Equador (12")
*"It's Lovebite City" (1992) Rough Trade

References

External links

* [http://www.bandofholyjoy.co.uk/ Official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/bandofholyjoy Official MySpace]
* [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Band+Of+Holy+Joy The Band of Holy Joy at discogs.com]