Also known as The Chameleons UK Genre Post-punk | Years active 1981–1987, 2000–2003 | |
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Associated acts YearsThe ClichesThe PoliticiansMagazineThe Sun and the MoonThe ReegsInvincibleBirdBushartBlack Swan LaneRed-Sided Garter SnakesChameleonsVox Past members Reg SmithiesDave FieldingMark BurgessBrian SchofieldJohn LeverMartin JacksonAlistair LewthwaiteAndy CleggKwasi Asante Albums Script of the Bridge, What Does Anything Mean? B, Strange Times, Why Call It Anything, This Never Ending Now Profiles | ||
The chameleons up the down escalator
The Chameleons (known as The Chameleons UK in North America) were an English post-punk band formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester in 1981. The band originally consisted of singer and bassist Mark Burgess, guitarist Reg Smithies, guitarist Dave Fielding and drummer John Lever (replacing original drummer Brian Schofield). They released six studio albums and one EP before disbanding in 2003.
Contents
- The chameleons up the down escalator
- The chameleons swamp thing
- Early career
- Post breakup
- Reformation
- Main lineup
- Other members
- ChameleonsVox
- Discography
- References
Burgess alone continues to play Chameleons songs live under the name ChameleonsVox.
The chameleons swamp thing
Early career
The Chameleons were formed in Middleton, England in 1981 by Burgess, Smithies, Fielding and Schofield. Burgess previously played with the band the Cliches; Smithies and Fielding with the band Years. Schofield was soon replaced by Lever (from the Politicians).
After performing several radio sessions for BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, the Chameleons were signed to Epic Records and in 1982 released their debut single, "In Shreds".
Their contract with Epic soon ended, and the band signed to Statik Records and released their debut studio album in 1983, Script of the Bridge. Their second and final album for Statik, What Does Anything Mean? Basically, was released in 1985. Following this, the Chameleons signed to Geffen Records, releasing their third studio album, Strange Times. Following the sudden death of the band's manager Tony Fletcher, the Chameleons disbanded.
Post-breakup
In 1990, the Chameleons posthumously released an EP, Tony Fletcher Walked on Water.... La La La La La-La La-La-La, with the title paying tribute to their former manager.
Burgess and Lever formed the Sun and the Moon, who released an eponymous studio album on Geffen in 1988. Smithies and Fielding formed the Reegs, who released two albums, Return of the Sea Monkeys (1991) and Rock the Magic Rock (1993). Lever later joined Bushart, who released the album Yesterday Is History (2008). Burgess released his debut solo album in 1993, touring America the following year, and also worked with Invincible, Bird and Black Swan Lane.
Reformation
The Chameleons reconvened in January 2000 to prepare for a May tour of England, which was followed by further, international tours. 2000 also saw the release of the album Strip, featuring older material reworked in an acoustic format. After a final studio album, 2001's Why Call It Anything, another unplugged album, This Never Ending Now, and a reunion tour which took them across Europe and the United States, the band dissolved once again in early 2003.
In 2009, Burgess and Lever reformed to play Chameleons back catalogue material, under the name ChameleonsVox. They issued an EP, M+D=1(8), in November 2013.
In 2014, Lever and Fielding reunited to record an album as Red-Sided Garter Snakes. The group's album, Endless Sea, also featuring contributions from vocalist James Mudriczki (of Puressence) and Andy Clegg, was released in July 2015.
Lever died on 13 March 2017 at the age of 55.
Main lineup
Other members
The core quartet were augmented by keyboardists Alistair Lewthwaite and Andy Clegg for live shows in the 1980s, and by percussionist-vocalist Kwasi Asante during their reunion period. Former Magazine drummer Martin Jackson also briefly replaced Lever during 1982–83 while the latter was on sabbatical).