Origin United Kingdom Associated acts Jeff BeckBandit | Years active 1981–19832006–2015 | |
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Past members Jim DiamondTony HymasSimon Phillips Members | ||
Ph.D. were a British group best known for their UK Top 10 hit "I Won't Let You Down" in April 1982, although the song had been a hit the previous year throughout Europe. The band took its name from the initial letters of its three founding members' surnames; Phillips, Hymas and Diamond. The name was written so as to be a visual pun on the letters denoting a degree of the same name.
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Band history
Singer Jim Diamond formed the group with former Jeff Beck Group members Tony Hymas and Simon Phillips in the early 1980s. Their self-titled début album, originally released in 1981, spawned a hit with their ballad "I Won't Let You Down" which peaked at number three in the UK Singles Chart in 1982, and number five in Australia. Following the single's success the album was re-issued and finally entered the UK Albums Chart.
Their video for "Little Suzi's on the Up" was notable for being the fifth video shown on MTV's first broadcasting day, being 1 August 1981 in parts of the U.S. They released their second album Is It Safe? in 1983. The first single, "I Didn't Know," failed to make the UK Top 40, but did well in Europe.
A short time later Diamond contracted hepatitis. Prevented by his illness from touring, the group disbanded. Diamond returned some time later as a solo artist and scored a UK No. 1 single in November 1984 with "I Should Have Known Better". Diamond and Hymas reformed the group as a duo in 2006.
Hard rock band Tesla's cover version of "Little Suzi's On The Up", (as "Little Suzi") was an American radio hit in 1986.
Hymas appeared on Diamond's self-titled 1988 album.
Diamond confirmed that the two studio albums could be added to iTunes. Reissues of the first two albums were released by Voiceprint Records. The label also released Three on 2 February 2009.
Jim Diamond died on 8 October 2015, effectively dissolving the band.
Band members
Songs
I Won't Let You DownPhD · 1981
Little Suzi's on the UpPhD · 1981
I Didn't KnowIs It Safe? · 1983