| Big Bang | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | Big Beat Synthpop Alternative dance Electronica |
| Years active | 1988–1991 |
| Labels | Swanyard Records |
| Associated acts | You You You |
| Members | |
| Laurence Malice Iain Williams |
|
| Past members | |
| Vocalists Teresa Revill (1989-1990) Jasmine Ventura (1989-1990) |
|
Big Bang were a British electronic synthpop duo that came to prominence in the late 1980s. The band consisted of Laurence Malice (founder of Trade nightclub) and Iain Williams (writer). Based in London, the duo were signed to Swanyard Records and spearheaded the music genre known as Big Beat.
Contents |
Big Bang were formed during the latter part of 1988.
Laurence and Iain had previously been in a band together called You You You along with the vocalist Karen O'Connor and backing vocalist Alice Shaw. You You You gave their first concert at a secret location in Charing Cross Road in early January, 1987. So secret was the venue, members of the band have since forgotten what it was called. The show was arranged as an unannounced warm-up gig before their debut at the Camden Palace on 13 January.[1] The band billed their first series of concerts as ‘Stage 1’ of their ‘World Domination’ Tour and enlisted the help of illustrator Mark Wardel to design their publicity.[2] Their appearance at Camden Palace attracted over 1,000 people on what the Met Office recorded as probably being England's coldest night of the 20th Century. [3] [4] [5]
You You You built up a strong following performing concerts on the club scene including three nights at the Hippodrome, London (23 January, 9 February and 6 April) [6] [7] [8], a show at Le Palace in Paris, which the performance artist Leigh Bowery hosted, and performances at The Fridge in Brixton where they appeared on stage on a huge white staircase with a troupe of synchronised dancers (filmed for Japanese TV) [9], at Anarchy Club at London Astoria, at The Zap Club in Brighton (as part of the event ‘Return of the Django goes to Brighton’ on 18 April) [10] [11], at Paradise Lost in Watford and at The Limelight to name but a few. [12] [13] The band received an invitation to appear at The Party (a benefit concert held at Wembley Arena on 1st April for the first ever World AIDS Day). [14] On the bill were some of the best known names in the music industry including Elton John, George Michael, Bob Geldof, Meat Loaf, Ben E. King and Kim Wilde. The show was televised to over 100 million viewers worldwide. Due to the volume of acts who performed at the event, You You You were allotted an appearance at the After-Party show held at a theatre in London’s West End. The band appeared on stage alongside several pop stars including George Michael, members from the cast of TV’s Coronation Street and EastEnders and performers from several West End musicals including 42nd Street (musical) and Nunsense. [15] On 12 July, You You You made a guest appearance on the Channel 4 TV show Network 7. Their pop video for 'Head over Heels' was premiered on the show and Karen was interviewed by presenter Magenta Devine inside a specially built caravan. On 17 December, You You You gave a special Christmas Show at the Hippodrome, London (their 4th appearance at the venue that year). It would become the bands last ever live performance.
In February 1988, You You You signed a deal with Orinoco to record a single for Major Productions under the guidance of Orinoco studios owner Tom Astor. The Lager Brothers (Ken Thomas and Zeke Manyika (from the band Orange Juice) produced two tracks with the band. [16] In July, the project came to a halt after Karen quit the band to concentrate on her acting career. Soon after, Laurence and Iain created Big Bang as a duo using session vocalists for recordings and live performances. The single You You You recorded was never released.
Big Bang signed to Swanyard Records at the start of 1989. The label was founded by Margarita Hamilton owner of Walton Castle and Big Bang were the first artists to be signed to it. They released their first record on Swanyard Records (SYRTR 1)[17] in June 1989, an Arabic inspired version of the Abba classic "Voulez-Vous" b-side ‘Cold Nights In Cairo'. It reached #101 in the BBC national chart. The single was produced by Big Bang and Steev Toth. Both 7” and 12” versions (plus an 'Imagine Mix' 12" extended version) were released. The band used session vocalists on all their recordings. Lead vocals on "Voulez-Vous" were shared by Jasmine Ventura and Teresa Revill, backing vocals were shared by Iain and Laurence. Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor played guitar on the track. A 12" white label had previously been released a few months earlier. Mixed by Democratic 3, it reached #1 in certain club charts throughout the UK and #27 in a Record Mirror chart.
It was Iain Williams who coined the musical term Big Beat to describe the bands sound and explained the concept during an interview with the French journalist Alex Gerry for an article in the London magazine Metropolitan (issue 132, page 9, 6 June 1989) under the heading, 'BIG BANG IN CLUBLAND. Could BIG BEAT be the 1989 answer to ACID HOUSE?'. Big Bang's sound consisted of various experimental musical elements including heavy hard rock drum beats and synthesizer-generated loops as well as an added suggestion of European influences that at times had a trance-like quality. Their agent 10 x Better released a press release detailing their musical influences that included Dalida, Warda Al-Jazairia, Abba, Tamla Motown and 70s Euro disco. Big Bang always stated 'Cold Nights In Cairo' gave a better impression of the Big Beat sound they were aiming for than their recording of 'Voulez-Vous' did. Club DJs picked up on this and both tracks became club floor-fillers. The concept of the Big Beat sound was later picked up on and adapted by many club DJs and went on to become widely used by many successful musicians throughout the 1990s.
During 1989, Big Bang performed several concerts to publicise the release of 'Voulez-Vous' with their lavish Arabic Circus Tour that consisted of various circus acts including acrobats, one-wheel bicycle riders, fire-eaters, jugglers, flying trapeze artists and a belly-dancing troupe. Big Bang were joined on stage by the vocalists Teresa Revill and Jasmine Ventura. Shows were performed at the Hippodrome, London in Leicester Square where Steve Strange hosted the night and it was said Grace Jones threatened to jump on stage to upstage the band (Capital newspaper, page 15, December 15, 1989)[18], and at the Paramount City in Soho (formerly the Windmill Theatre), at the Hammersmith Palais in Hammersmith, and at Heaven nightclub with DJ's Mark Moore (creator of the band S'Express) and Colin Faver who (on his Myspace page) cites Big Bang as being one of his many musical influences. [19] [20] The Arabic Circus Tour also performed at a special Ball held in a massive disused West London warehouse hosted by the performance artist Leigh Bowery with experimental musician/vocalist Danielle Dax and American punk singer and former Andy Warhol protégé Jayne County appearing as supporting artists on the bill.
Throughout 1990 Big Bang concentrated on writing and recording new material with the intention of releasing an album. In October Laurence opened Trade nightclub at Turnmills in London. Trade was the first all-night after-hours nightclub in Britain and became legendary. On 16 November 1990, Big Bang accompanied by vocalist Jasmine Ventura were flown over to Ireland to represent the United Kingdom in the 13th International Song Festival where they performed their self-penned song "Give Me One More Chance". [21] It was the first time the song had been heard in public. The festival, held in Cavan, lasted for two days and was compered by the Irish commentators George Hamilton (commentator) and Larry Gogan. The Romanian singer Ricky Dandel gave a guest performance during the festival [22]. The final was held on 17 November. Big Bang came #2 in the competition and #1 for performance. During their stay in Ireland Big Bang gave several radio, TV and newspaper interviews.
Although Big Bang never officially disbanded, in 1991 Laurence and Iain decided to concentrate on their careers away from the band. The new material they recorded for their intended album titled 'Theory' was never released.
Interest in the band has recently increased. In 2010, digitally remastered bootleg CDs of 'Voulez-Vous' & 'Cold Nights in Cairo' by Big Bang began to appear in America selling for as much as £45. In Tokyo, Japan, in November, 2010, the respected DJ's Dr. Rob & Matt Best of RightRightRight included 'Cold Nights in Cairo' in their Dr. Rob - Lonely Acid 2010 mix #36. In December 2010 The Groove Room included a mix of 'Voulez-Vous' by Big Bang in their Party Mix 1.
1: 'BIG BANG IN CLUBLAND. Could BIG BEAT be the 1989 answer to ACID HOUSE?' Metropolitan magazine, issue 132, page 9, 6 June 1989.
2: Record Mirror, 4 March 1989, page 40, 'Voulez-Vous' (12" white label) by Big Band, #27 in chart.
3: Time Out, 20 September 1989, page 5 & 93, Big Bang Arabic Circus Tour.
4: London's Evening Standard, 20 September 1989, Big Bang appear at Heaven with their Arabic Circus Tour.
5: You You You press release, 1987. You You You at The Fridge in Brixton appeared on stage on a huge white staircase with a troupe of synchronised dancers (filmed for Japanese TV).
6: Big Bang press release, 1989, issued by the agency 10 x Better. The press release accompanied promotional copies of their single 'Voulez-Vous'. It lists Big Bang's musical influences and explains their Big Beat concept.
7: 'There but for the Grace' article in Capital newspaper, page 15, Friday December 19, 1989. Steve Strange launchs Dreamage at the Hippodrome, London. Big Bang top the bill with their Arabic Circus Tour. Rumours circulated that Grace Jones threatened to jump on stage to upstage Big Bang.
8: RightRightRight #36: Dr Rob - Lonely Acid mix. 2010 Japanese mix including 'Cold Nights in Cairo' by Big Bang. http://samurai.fm/rightrightright/rightrightright-36-dr-rob-lonely-acid-and-then-the-drugs-took-hold
9: December 2010, The Groove Room include 'Voulez-Vous' by Big Bang in their Party Mix 1. http://thegrooveroom.blogspot.com/2010/12/party-mix-1.html