The Bolshoi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Bolshoi | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Background information | ||
| Origin | England  |
|
| Genre(s) | Post-punk Alternative rock New Wave Gothic rock |
|
| Years active | 1983 – 1988 | |
| Label(s) | Beggars Banquet | |
| Website | TheBolshoi.co.uk | |
| Members | ||
| Trevor Tanner Jan Kalicki Paul Clark Nick Chown |
||
The Bolshoi was a London-based music group prominent mostly in the mid-late 1980s. They managed to stand out in the sea of post-punk UK acts vying for notability at the time.
Contents |
[edit] History
The band formed in 1984 in Leeds. The original lineup consisted of singer/guitarist Trevor Tanner, drummer Jan Kalicki, and bassist Nick Chown; Tanner and Kalicki had previously played together in the short-lived punk band Moskow. Early gigs supported the likes of The Cult, The March Violets, and Lords of the New Church. In 1985, the band released their debut single, Sob Story, followed by the mini-album, Giants. Word of mouth was such that the Bolshoi were able to sell out many of their early headlining performances.
The band migrated to London in 1985, and their lineup expanded to include Paul Clark on keyboards. In 1986, they released their first full-length album, Friends, and expanded their touring schedule to U.S., South America, and Poland. It was followed in 1987 by the album Lindy's Party, on which the sound was more pop-oriented.
Stylistically, The Bolshoi was difficult to categorize. It has been described as a proto-goth band, similar in their live act to fellow Beggars Banquet signees, Bauhaus. Tanner was recognized for his dark, pensive lyrics that belied a social responsibility and awareness.
After the release of Lindy's Party, the band recorded a fourth album, but problems with their record label management impeded its release, and they disbanded as the 1980s drew to a close. The unreleased fourth album, apparently titled "Country Life", is reportedly still in the vaults at Beggars Banquet.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
- Giants (1985)
- Friends (1986)
- Lindy's Party (1987)
- Country Life (c.1988, unreleased)
[edit] Compilations
- Bigger Giants (1990)
- A Way - Best of The Bolshoi (1999)
