When in Rome (band)

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When in Rome
Origin Manchester
Genre(s) Dance New Wave
Years active 1988
Label(s) Virgin, 10
Members
Clive Farrington
Andrew Mann
Michael Floreale

When in Rome was a dance/New Wave trio from England consisting of Clive Farrington (vocals), Andrew Mann (vocals), and Michael Floreale (keyboard). They had a U.S. Top 20 hit with "The Promise" in 1988.

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[edit] Band history

Initially Farrington and Floreale were in the locally active, Manchester-based group Beau Leisure with part-time fashion designer Corinne Drewery. In 1984, Corinne left to form the sophisti-pop outfit Swing Out Sister with Andrew Connell and Martin Jackson. Farrington and Floreale recruited Mann staying together and adopting the name "When in Rome".

Signed by Virgin UK subsidiary 10 Records, producers Ben Rogan (who had worked with Sade) and Richard James Burgess (Five Star, Living in a Box, Colonel Abrams, Spandau Ballet) took special interest in the trio's "The Promise," issued first as a 12" dance disk. When the song became popular hitting the top of Billboard's Dance Club Play chart, Virgin ordered an album. "The Promise," remixed, was the first single from their self-titled debut album. It was an instant success barely missing the Top Ten in the United States peaking at #11. Months later the trio reached Billboard's pop chart's lower reaches for the last time with "Heaven Knows" (#95, 1990). "The Promise" was also featured in the popular 2004 film Napoleon Dynamite. The band Anberlin did a cover version of "The Promise" on the special edition of their 2007 album Cities.

In 2006 When In Rome's founding member Michael Floreale was approached by a major force in the music business to reform When In Rome. Floreale had moved to Dallas, Texas in 1992 and was an award winning composer for TV and film. He recruited percussionist Rob Juarez, former touring member of General Public and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (featuring Paul Humphrey) and keyboardist Dave Schulz, former touring member of Goo Goo Doll's and The English Beat heralding the return of When In Rome. The band toured successfully in 2006 and 2007 and shared the stage with Devo, Bow Wow Wow, A Flock Of Seagulls, The Psychedelic Furs, Animotion, Dramarama, and General Public. In spring 2008 When In Rome performed live for the first time in the Philippines along with Real Life (David Sterry) and A Flock of Seagulls as part of the Lost 80's Tour in Manila.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

  • When in Rome (1988) US: #84

[edit] Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album
US Hot 100 US Hot Dance Club Play US Hot Dance Singles Sales
1988 "The Promise" #11 #1 #19 When in Rome
1989 "Heaven Knows" #95 #14 #10 When in Rome
1989 "Everything" - - - When in Rome
1989 "Sight of Your Tears" - #40 - When in Rome

[edit] See also

[edit] External links