Shriekback are a rock band formed in 1981 in Kentish Town by Barry Andrews, formerly of XTC and League of Gentlemen (keyboards/synthesizers/vocals) and Dave Allen, formerly of the Gang of Four (bass), with Carl Marsh, formerly of Out On Blue Six (guitars/vocals) soon added to the line-up. They were joined by Martyn Barker on drums in 1983. Other members included: Linda Nevill, Emma Burnham, Brian Nevill, Pedro Ortiz, Claire Hirst, Lu Edmunds, Wendy & Sara Partridge, Steve Halliwell, Even Moon, Ivan Julian, Mike Cozzi, and Jessica Palin/Jose Fina Cupido.^[1]

History and member changes

Shriekback was originally formed in 1981 by Barry Andrews, and Dave Allen, expanding to a trio with the addition of Carl Marsh.^[2] They enjoyed some success on the dance chart on their original Y Records label, and had a string of hits on the UK Indie Chart, and their debut album, Care (1983) was picked up by Warner's in the United States.^[2] They left Y for the big time on Arista Records for 1984's Jam Science, also recruiting drummer Martyn Baker.^[2] The album reached number 85 on the UK Album Chart, and the single, "Hand on my Heart" charted in the top 60 in the UK.^[2] Finding little success, they switched to Island Records for the 1985 album Oil & Gold; Marsh left during the recording of the album, to be replaced by Mike Cozzi.^[2] After the follow-up, Big Night Music, Allen left to rejoin Gang of Four, and Shriekback remained a collaborative centred around Andrews. Dave Allen would also go on to play in King Swamp and The Elastic Purejoy. Carl Marsh was in the band Happyhead.

After a further album in 1988, Go Bang!, the band split up. Andrews continued working on other projects before re-forming Shriekback in 1992, although after the single "The Bastard Sons of Enoch" and album Sacred City, there would be no further releases until 2000's Naked Apes & Pond Life album.^[2]

Both Allen and Marsh returned to the studio to contribute to the recording of Shriekback's 2003 release, Having a Moment.

Since 'Having a Moment' Barry Andrews has recorded two albums for Malicious Damage (Killing Joke's original label) under the Shriekback moniker. Barry Andrews is now driving force and has collaborated with several artists who have previously played with the band. 'Cormorant' and 'Glory Bumps' have been claimed to be a return to form for the entity that is Shriekback.

Director Michael Mann was a fan of Shriekback and used several of their songs in his films Manhunter and Band of the Hand.

Discography

Studio Albums

• Tench (EP) (1982) Y (UK Indie #9)^[3]
• Care (1983) Y (UK Indie #7)
• Jam Science (1984) Arista (UK #85)
• Oil & Gold (1985) Arista
• Big Night Music (1986) Island
• Go Bang! (1988) Island
• The Dancing Years (1990) Island
• Sacred City (1992) World Domination/Capitol
• Naked Apes and Pond Life (2000) Mauve/Mushroom
• Having a Moment (2003)
• Cormorant (2005)
• Glory Bumps (2007)

Compilations

• The Infinite (The Best of Shriekback) (1984) Kaz
• Evolution - Best of Shriekback vol. 2 (1988) Kaz
• The Best of Shriekback (1990) Island
• Natural History - The Very Best of Shriekback (1994) Essential
• Priests and Kannibals: The Best of Shriekback (1994) Arista
• Aberrations 81-84 (2001) Weatherbox

Singles

References

External links

• The Shriekback Pages
• Band leader, Barry Andrews' site
• Bassist, Dave Allen's blog
• Allmusic: Shriekback
• Trouser Press: Shriekback
• Shriekback's Billboard hits
• Shriekback - Cormorant - Presented by Malicious Damage Records
• Information about the Shriekback tracks used in Michael Mann's "Manhunter"