The Chrysanthemums[1] were an English pop group active between 1987 and 1998. The project began as a collaboration between multi-instrumentalist Terry Burrows (known in the band as "Yukio Yung") and Alan Jenkins, the leader of The Deep Freeze Mice. The first releases were performed in the studio by Burrows and Jenkins alone. Other personnel were gradually added, including Vladimir Zajkowiecz on bass, Robyn Gibson on drums and Jonathan Lemon on keyboards, enabling them to complete several tours of mainland Europe, where there was most interest in their work.
The music was a blend of psychedelic pop, punk and elements of progressive rock. Lyrics were often surreal in nature, and delivered by Burrows in classic laconic English tones reminiscent of Ray Davies or Syd Barrett.
The original band became inactive in the mid-1990s. Burrows and Zajkowiecz later reconnected - along with Andy Ward, drummer with Camel, Marillion and The Bevis Frond - to record an album and single as Chrys&themums, creating a sound largely indistinguishable from the band's earlier releases.
Burrows continues to record as Yukio Yung (and under numerous other aliases).[2] He also went on to become a prolific and successful author. Jenkins formed The Creams and opened a recording studio in Leicester, England. His most recent project was guitar instrumental band, The Thurston Lava Tube.
A number of the band's tracks also featured R. Stevie Moore, cult one-man-band and pioneer of lo-fi home recording. Moore and Burrows continue to record together as The Yung & Moore Show.