Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter Years active 1965–present Genres Hard rock, Folk rock | Instruments Guitar, vocals Associated acts The Heroes, Bardot | |
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Birth name Christopher Michael Bradford Music groups The Heroes (1979 – 1981), Bardot (1977 – 1978) Similar Kit Hain, Bias Boshell, Pip Williams, Andy Scott, Terry Sylvester | ||
Chris Bradford (born Christopher Michael Bradford in Liverpool) is a British musician and songwriter. He is best known for being the lead vocalist and songwriter in the British rock band The Heroes, and member of the singer songwriting trio, Bardot.
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Early years
Bradford and Mark Hankins formed the band Palomino in the early 1970s, playing the pub rock scene and university gigs supporting such acts as Osibisa and Vinegar Joe (with Elkie Brooks and Robert Palmer). The band also supported Neil Sedaka at the Albert Hall in 1972. A first airing of Bradford's early songs. Hankins' next band, country rock outfit Randy, recorded Chris's song Crazy Love on their debut album Lady Luck.
Bardot 1977–1978
Bradford hooked up with Laurie Andrew (aka Laurie Forsey) and Ray McRiner to form Bardot in 1977. Each member a strong singer/songwriter, their sound, heavy on melody and complex harmonies was sometimes compared to Crosby, Stills & Nash.
The band were signed to RCA Records in 1977, and released three singles between 1977 and 1978, the debut Witchfire hitting number 14 in the Dutch charts. During 1977 Bardot supported Bonnie Tyler and her band in concert, and on 2 August performed Eagle Road and Rockin in Rhythm on The Elaine Simmons TV Show in Scotland. RCA released their album Rockin in Rhythm in 1978 – a collection of polished folk rock songs.
1978 also saw Bardot working at Ringo Starr's Startling Studios providing all the backing vocals for Graham Bonnet's album No Bad Habits. The album was produced by Pip Williams who collaborated extensively with Bardot and with Bradford on his later projects.
The Heroes 1979–1981
Formed in 1979, with Bradford and Mark Hankins on guitar and vocals, The Heroes line-up was completed by Pete Lennon (lead guitar), Dave Powell (drums) and ex-Randy band-member Brian (Wally) Wallis on bass guitar. Their musical style combined pop / rock ballads and boogie.
Although primarily a recording group, they performed a tour of Germany playing the Olympianhalle in Munich, the notorious Top Ten Club in Hamburg and a show in Berlin. In this show, the truck carrying the group's instruments didn't stop and continued into Poland forcing the group to use the equipment belonging to the band they were touring with, Dr. Feelgood.
The Heroes signed with Polydor Records in 1979, and recorded an album of ten songs, Border Raiders also produced by Pip Williams in 1980, plus a single Some Kind of Women b/w 10% Will Do.
Sweet connection
Bradford has worked for many years with Andy Scott, guitarist and writer of Sweet who went on to have a successful solo career after Glam Rock. Some of Andy's solo successes came from his collaborations with Chris: they co-wrote Krugerrands - a top ten hit in Australia and South Africa, Invisible, Let Her Dance and many others. Bradford also worked with Sweet's lead singer Brian Connolly on his solo work.
During 1983, Bradford, Scott and producer Mike Vernon wrote a collection of songs together, intended for release by other artists. Some of the music written that summer was used in the Italian film Il Lupo di Mare.
Covers
Chris has over the years written songs for many diverse artists such as Kit Hain, Kiki Dee, Dr. Feelgood, Lene Lovich and progressive rock giant, Greg Lake.
Studio work
Bradford has provided backing vocals for many artists including Brian Connolly, Greg Lake, Dr. Feelgood, Graham Bonnet, Terry Sylvester of The Hollies, blues guitarist Ray Minhinnet, The Monroes, Breathe and Andy Scott.
Albums
Singles
With other artists
Songs
Sympathy's No Good
Africa
Julie