Tony James

Tony James (born 12 April 1958) is a British musician, best known as a bassist of Generation X and Sigue Sigue Sputnik.

After graduating with a First Class Honours Degree in mathematics and computing, James worked as a computer programmer. He was originally a member of the punk band London SS, along with Brian James, (later of The Damned), and Mick Jones plus Terry Chimes (both future members of The Clash).

Later James joined the early punk band Chelsea. The band included Billy Idol (then William Broad) on the guitar, John Towe on drums and Gene October on vocals. Soon they left October to form Generation X (named after a 1960s paperback novel, by Jane Deverson, not to be confused with the 1990s book by Douglas Coupland), a British punk band of the late 1970s.

Tony James, after penning "Russian Roulette" for Stiv Bators and Lords of the New Church, and producing a Sex Gang Children album, formed glam punk band Sigue Sigue Sputnik with fashion designer cum singer Martin Degville in the 1980s as his follow-up to Generation X. His "space bass" became the "sput style" trademark. At this time he was in a relationship with prominent journalist Janet Street Porter. Prior to that relationship, he was living with Magenta Devine, at the time an independently wealthy heroin addict and publicity agent, who since became a television personality thanks to Janet Street Porter.

In 1990 he became a member of The Sisters of Mercy, and played bass on their "Vision Thing" album, and the band's following live tours. James left the Sisters the following year.

He still tours today, and has reformed Sigue Sigue Sputnik, crediting the internet for letting him see fans were still interested, and has teamed up with Mick Jones of The Clash to form Carbon/Silicon, now playing guitar.

External links

* [http://www.carbonsiliconinc.com Carbon/Silicon official site]
* [http://www.sputnikworld.com Sigue Sigue Sputnik official site]