B-Movie are a new wave band from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England, active in the first half of the 1980s. They were featured on the original Some Bizzare Album and released three classic singles Remembrance Day, Marilyn Dreams and Nowhere Girl. The latter became an international hit in clubs and gave the band a worldwide fan base.
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[hide] *1 Background
Background[edit][]
Initially on the small indie label Dead Good Records based in Lincoln where they released a 7" EP and a 12" EP, they were eventually signed to the Some Bizzare management roster and had a track "Moles" featured on the original Some Bizzare Album.
In 1981, the band signed to Phonogram imprint Deram and had their biggest UK commercial success when their single "Remembrance Day", which reached No. 61 on theUK Singles Chart.[1] The follow-up single, "Marilyn Dreams", failed to chart.
In 1982, they released "Nowhere Girl", which made the Top 10 in many European countries and reached No. 68 in the United Kingdom,[1] but there was no follow-up and no sign of an album. The popular webcomic Nowhere Girl was named after this single.
A revolving door of members started at this point, firstly with drummer Graham Boffey leaving and being replaced by Andy Johnson, whilst Martin Winter (aka Smedley) joined on bass. Next keyboard player Rick Holliday left in 1983 to form Six Sed Red with Soft Cell associate Cindy Ecstasy and their biggest success was having their song "Dream Baby" covered by Bananarama on their eponymous 1984 LP. Initially Paul Statham switched from guitar to keyboards and was briefly replaced by Stuart McLean (Charming Snakes) for a tour of Israel. B-Movie then re-surfaced in 1984 (now with Al Cash on drums) with the single "A Letter From Afar" produced by John "Jellybean" Benitezbut this failed to chart. Cash then left leaving B-Movie as a three piece of Hovington, Statham & Winter augmented by session players.
Towards the end of 1985, they finally released an album with Sire Records called Forever Running containing re-recorded versions of the two hits, but both it and the single "Switch On Switch Off" were flops despite a tour to promote them.
The band broke up soon after. Frontman Steve Hovington formed a band called One in the late 1980s with Seven Webster and drummer Bob Thompson, releasing an album and two singles on Chrysalis. He later formed a further band called Laughing Gas who released one 7" single.
[1][2]B Movie at Hope and Anchor June 2013
After his departure, drummer Graham Boffey joined Slaughterhouse 5 releasing two singles "Pathetic Girlfriend" and "Things She Did", and an album, Wide Open on IRS. After this venture, Boffey and Davy Lawrence formed Enormous.
Guitarist Paul Statham collaborated with ex-Bauhaus singer Peter Murphy, as part of Murphy's solo backing band 'The Hundred Men', probably making him the most successful member in the aftermath of B-Movie's demise. He co-wrote and performed on Murphy's solo albums Love Hysteria,[2] (1988) and Deep (1990). He co-wrote Dido's first single "Here with Me", which became an international hit single, and also the title track of her 2001 album No Angel, which has sold almost 20 million copies. Statham has also co-written several songs, including "Return of the King" on the Lostboy! AKA Jim Kerr album.
After a long hiatus, they reformed and played one off shows in October 2004(original line up) & March 2006(Hovington & Statham) at The Metro nightclub in London.
These were followed by more one-off shows from the original line up in Mansfield, Nottingham, London and Germany.
In 2012, they digitally released a new track Echoes, their first new release in 22 years.
This was followed in 2013 by the Distant Skies EP and a new album - The Age of Illusion, both available digitally and on CD.
The band played a short tour in June 2013 - visiting Portsmouth, Cambridge, London & Nottingham.
In 2014 the new album is due to be released on vinyl and the band play London on 15 March and Birmingham on 03rd May.
Discography[edit][]
- Nowhere Girl EP (1980, Dead Good Records)
- Some Bizzare Album (1981, Some Bizarre Records)
- Forever Running (1985, Sire Records)
- The Dead Good Tapes (1988, Wax Records)
- Volume 1 Remembrance Days (compilation album) (1995, Dead Good Records)
- Volume 2 Radio Days (compilation album) (1995, Dead Good Records)
- Nightmares In Wax (1995) ( NB - This is a bootleg !)
- Remembrance Days - The Dead Good Years (compilation album) (1997, Cherry Red)
- The BBC Sessions 1981-84 (2001, Cherry Red)
- The Platinum Collection (compilation) (2006, Warner Platinum Records)
- The Age Of Illusion (2013, no emb blanc records)