The Parachute Men

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Parachute Men


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Background = group_or_band
Origin = Leeds, England
Genre = indie pop, indie rock
Years_active = 1985-early 1990s
Label = Fire
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Past_members = Fiona Gregg
Stephen H. Gregg
Andrew Howes
Mark Boyce
Matthew Parkin
Paul Walker
Colleen Browne
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The Parachute Men were an indie pop/indie rock band from Leeds, England, formed in 1985. They released two albums and several singles before splitting up in the early 1990s.

History

The Parachute Men formed in 1985, with a line-up of Fiona Gregg (vocals), Stephen H. Gregg (guitar), Andrew Howes (bass), and Mark Boyce (drums).cite book |last=Strong |first=Martin C. |title=The Great Alternative & Indie Discography |year= 1999 |publisher=Canongate |isbn=0-86241-913-1 ] After two years of gigging, the band were signed by large London indie label Fire Records in 1987.cite book |last=Larkin |first=Colin |title=The Guinness Who's Who of Indie and New Wave Music |year= 1992 |publisher=Guinness Publishing |isbn=0-85112-579-4 ] Their first release was a four-track EP with "Sometimes In Vain" as the lead track, in May 1988. This was followed in August of the same year by debut album "The Innocents", which made the NME top 50 albums of that year. [cite web |url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/1988.html |title=NME Albums 1988 |accessdaymonth=08 February |accessyear=2008 |author= |year= |month= |work= |publisher= |quote= ] Howes and Boyce departed soon after, with the Greggs continuing as an acoustic duo until they recruited Matthew Parkin (bass) and Paul Walker (drums). Three further singles were taken from the album, "If I Could Wear Your Jacket" (which author Mike Gayle has stated is one of his all-time favourite records), [cite web |url=http://www.mikegayle.co.uk/dinner_2_qa.html |title=Dinner For Two Q&A |accessdaymonth=08 February |accessyear=2008 |author= |year= |month= |work=mikegayle.co.uk |publisher= |quote=though it’s probably not my all time favourite record it is definitely in my (non-ranked) top ten. The first time I heard it was in a club that my friends and I used to attend on a weekly basis. The moment I heard it I was smitten and asked the DJ what the record was called. Armed with the information I bought it the day it came out and now must have played it a million times ] "Leeds Station", and "Bed and Breakfast". "Leeds Station" also featured on the NME's "Carry On Disarming" video.

1990 saw the release of the second album, "Earth, Dogs, and Eggshells", preceded by the single "Every Other Thursday" (a reference to signing on to the dole). The album was released over a year after it was recorded, losing much of the momentum the band had built up. The band line-up changed again, with Canadian Colleen Browne replacing Parkin, but the band split in the early 1990s with no further releases.

Mark Boyce later turned up in the band The Durbervilles. [cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/bradford/music/unsigned/durbervilles_2.shtml |title= Straight from the Batley Delta! (Cont) |accessdaymonth=08 February |accessyear=2008 |author= |year=2003 |month= |work=bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC |quote= ] Colleen Browne later joined Pale Saints and The Warm Jets. Stephen Gregg gained a PhD in English literature at the University of Leeds and is now a senior lecturer at Bath Spa University, specialising in eighteenth century literature.

Discography

Albums

*"The Innocents" (1988) Fire
*"Earth, Dogs, and Eggshells" (1990) Fire

ingles

*"Sometimes In Vain" (1988) Fire (12" EP)
*"If I Could Wear Your Jacket" (1988) Fire
*"Leeds Station" (1989) Fire
*"Bed and Breakfast" (1989) Fire
*"Every Other Thursday" (1990) Fire

References

External links

* [http://twee.net/bands/p/parachutemen.html The Parachute Men at TweeNet]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x2Fv6EGFXA "Leeds Station" on YouTube]