Red Flag (band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Red Flag | ||
|---|---|---|
| Background information | ||
| Origin | San Diego, California | |
| Genre(s) | synthpop | |
| Years active | 1984 - 2003 | |
| Label(s) | Enigma Records I.R.S. Records Plan B Records |
|
| Members | ||
| Chris Reynolds | ||
| Former members | ||
| Mark Reynolds (deceased) | ||
Red Flag was a synthpop duo founded in 1984 in San Diego by brothers Chris Reynolds and Mark Reynolds (vocals), born natives of Liverpool, England.
Contents |
[edit] History
The first song the brothers ever recorded, "Distant Memories", was selected for a compilation album by local radio station 91X. Years later, at a club performance in Pacific Beach, they were offered a recording contract with Synthicide Records, subsidiary of Enigma Records.
Their first album, Naïve Art, was released in 1989 by Enigma. Released at the time of seminal synth pop group Depeche Mode's greatest success, it drew comparisons as being stylistically similar to that group's recordings,[1] featuring extensive use of synthesizers and dance beats, and vocals that were generally deep and gloomy in mood. Several singles from the album charted highly on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts, such as "Russian Radio" (#11) and "If I Ever" (#12). Red Flag went on to appear on American Bandstand, and the video for "Russian Radio" was played by MTV's 120 Minutes. Notable producers who worked on Naïve Art include Paul Robb of synthpop band Information Society and Joseph Watt of remix service Razormaid.
In 1991, Enigma Records closed, and the duo signed on with I.R.S. Records, but only released one single in 1992 before being released by the label in 1993. The brothers then founded an independent record label, Plan B Records, from which they have released all their subsequent recordings.
Mark Reynolds committed suicide on April 7, 2003.[2]
[edit] Music
Red Flag toured frequently, playing at first as opening act to New Wave and synthpop artists such as Devo, Thomas Dolby, Book of Love and Real Life.
The 1996 album The Lighthouse stood out as being stylistically unlike any of the band's prior or subsequent recordings, with highly ambient, tranquil melodies.[3]
By 2000, the brothers were co-headlining local concerts with Anything Box,[4] as well as performing with European darkwave and futurepop bands like Dance or Die, Melotron, Mesh, T.O.Y., and De/Vision. Some of these latter bands influenced their music to take on a darker, more industrial sound at that time.
Their 2002 remix album, Who are the Skulls?, featured fellow synthpop artists such as Cosmicity, Provision, and Rob Rowe of Cause & Effect.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Cooper, William. Naïve Art review. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2006-02-26.
- ^ Forsberg, Niklas (April 25, 2003). Red Flag vocalist passed away on April 7. Release Music Magazine. Retrieved on 2006-02-26.
- ^ Cooper, William. The Lighthouse review. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2006-04-11.
- ^ SHOWS! SHOWS! SHOWS!. Anythingbox.com. Retrieved on 2006-04-11.
[edit] References
- Red Flag (2002). Red Flag Biography. www.redflag.org at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 2006-02-26.
- Stevens, Alan (2003). For the Record: Red Flag. San Diego CityBeat. Retrieved on 2006-02-26.
[edit] External links
- Past official site at the Wayback Machine
- Red Flag Homepage at the Wayback Machine
- Lyrics at The First Spanish Depeche Mode Page
- Reviews at Synthpop.NET
