The Godfathers
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- This article is about the band. For the article about the movie, see The Godfather
The Godfathers is a rock band from London, England.
The Godfathers were formed by Peter and Chris Coyne from the ashes of The Sid Presley Experience in 1985. After acclaimed independent single releases produced by Vic Maile and collected on debut album Hit By Hit they signed to Epic Records in 1987. Touring extensively the UK, Europe and the USA, The Godfathers earned a reputation for their no-holds barred live shows and electrifying brand of primal rock 'n' roll. Their guitar-driven alternative rock sound stood out in the electronica-driven music scene of the UK at the time, while laying the foundations for the Brit Pop rock resurgence of the nineties. Particularly epic storming rocker Birth, School, Work, Death made the top 40 US Billboard charts in the late eighties after heavy College Radio play but, despite their output stands the test of time much better than other music from this era, they were only marginally recognised in the UK. Their raw lyrics and garage punk sounds probably did not endear them to the middle of the road DJs that dominated Radio 1, then the main youth pop station in the UK. After the split of the original line-up the band briefly resurfaced in the 90s and toured Europe and Australia. Peter Coyne and Kris Dollimore have contributed to an outfit called The Germans with Rat Scabies, formerly of The Damned in 2003. Mike Gibson has also been busy releasing his first solo album in 2004 with the City Farmers. Lead guitarist Kris Dollimore is active on the British blues scene in London and the South East purveying his unique 'Medway Delta' blues. George Mazur has been working as a session drummer overseas. Rumours of a return to the stage for their traditional Saint Valentine's Day Massacre concert in London have kept their cult following waiting for decades.
Contents |
[edit] Line-up
- Peter Coyne - vocals
- Chris Coyne - bass, vocals
- Kris Dollimore - guitar, vocals
- Mike Gibson - guitar, vocals
- George Mazur - drums, percussion, vocals
[edit] Discography
- 1986 Hit by Hit - Corporate Image
- 1988 Birth, School, Work, Death - Epic
- 1989 More Songs About Love and Hate - Epic — The UK album cover shows Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. All tracks written by The Godfathers.
- 1991 Unreal World - Epic
- 1992 Dope, Rock 'n' Roll, and Fucking in the Streets (Live) - Corporate Image
- 1993 Orange
- 1995 Afterlife
- 1996 Birth, School, Work, Death: The Best of the Godfathers - Sony / Legacy
[edit] Singles
Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |
US Modern Rock | US Mainstream Rock | |||
1985 | "Capo Di Tuti Capi EP" | Hit By Hit | ||
1986 | "This Damn Nation" | Hit By Hit | ||
1986 | "Sun Arise" | Hit By Hit | ||
1987 | "Love Is Dead" | Birth, School, Work, Death | ||
1988 | "Birth, School, Work, Death" | #38 | Birth, School, Work, Death | |
1988 | "Cause I Said So" | Birth, School, Work, Death | ||
1989 | "She Gives Me Love" | #8 | More Songs About Love and Hate | |
1990 | "I'm Lost and Then I'm Found " | More Songs About Love and Hate | ||
1991 | "Unreal World" | #6 | Unreal World | |
1993 | "Strange About Today" | Orange | ||
1995 | "That Special Feeling" | Afterlife |