Then Jerico

Then Jerico
Background information
Origin	London, England[citation needed]
Genres	Alternative rock, pop rock, new wave[1]
Years active	1983–present
Labels	London Records
Website	www.thenjerico.com
Members	Mark Shaw PJ Phillips John Miller Ryan Phillips Paul Davis Magnus Box Steve Woodman Foli Ybovi
Past members	Jasper Stainthorpe Nick Beggs Paul Harvey Simon Ellis Guy Pratt Steve Wren Scott Taylor Cliff Lawrence Mark Sanderson Ben Angwin Alex Mungo Rob Downes Chris Youdell Keith Airey

Then Jerico are an English rock band who became popular in the late 1980s.

Career

The band was formed by Mark Shaw at the age of 21, recruiting bassist Jasper Stainthorpe, drummer Steve Wren, and Scott Taylor, guitarist for Belouis Some.^[2]

The band played at The Limelight Club in NYC in 1983 and signed to London Records in 1984. The single "The Big Sweep" was recorded for London but they objected to the lyrical subject matter (an anti-Robert Maxwell/Rupert Murdoch statement). It was initially released by the track's producer Martin Rushent on his own Immaculate label in 1985 and then, subsequently, as a limited edition by London Records along with the new song, "Fault", both of which attracted attention in the clubs.^[2]

A handful of subsequent singles and a growing live following continued to raise Then Jerico's profile and the band's first real chart success came in early 1987 with the song "Muscle Deep".^[2] "The Motive"^[3] followed that single into the Top 40,^[2] peaking at No. 18. They enjoyed success with two albums, First (The Sound of Music) (1987) co-produced by Mark Shaw and Owen Davies, which reached number 35 in the UK Albums Chart,^[4] followed by The Big Area in 1989 that went gold and reached number 4 in the UK Albums Chart.^[4] Producer Rick Nowels took care of about more than half of the tracks on that album which also lead to the appearance of Belinda Carlisle on side vocals on the single "What Does It Take".^[5]

"Big Area" was the greatest success the group would have, peaking at number 13 in the UK Singles Chart.^[4]

After the original Then Jerico line-up split up in early 1990,^[6] Mark Shaw left the band for a solo career. He released his only studio album, Almost for EMI in 1991.^[7][8] It was produced by guitarist Andy Taylor and included two singles "Love So Bright" and "Under Your Spell".^[8] Mark Shaw continued to play gigs with Then Jerico, as well as occasional shows with Tony Hadley (frontman of Spandau Ballet) and with the SAS Band, a loose collection of 1980s stars that included Roger Taylor of Queen, Paul Young, and former Marillion vocalist, Fish.^[2]

In 1998, Shaw re-activated Then Jerico, writing the materials for Orgasmaphobia, a self-financed album^[7][9] released on Eagle Rock. The album was co-produced by Mark Shaw and Andy Taylor with collaborations from Taylor, Simple Minds' keyboard player Mick MacNeil and author Iain Banks.^[9] In 2000, a live album Alive & Exposed was released by Yeaah! Records credited to 'Then Jerico... Mark Shaw Etc.'.^[10] It was a recording made in the summer of 1992 of a concert at The Grand Theatre, Clapham in London.^[10][11] It contained a new song "Step into The Light".^[11]

Shaw embarked on a new Then Jerico tour in 2012 with an original line-up of the band, made up of Mark Shaw, guitarists Rob Downes and Scott Taylor, bass player Jasper Stainthorpe and drummer Steve Wren.^[12] A Reprise Tour was launched for 2013^[13] to promote the release of the 'Reprise' compilation album^[13] on Warner / Rhino Music with a number of appearances including at Henley's Rewind the 80s Music^[14][15] and at the Let's Rock Bristol festivals.^[16]

Original band members

• Mark Shaw – (born Mark Robert Tiplady, 10 June 1961, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England) – singer – (1983–present)^{[citation needed]}
• Cliff Lawrence – guitarist (1983)
• Scott Taylor – (born 31 December 1961) – guitarist – (1984–1989 / 2012–present)^{[citation needed]}
• Keith Airey (replaced Scott Taylor on guitar for the The Big Area tour – 1989)
• Rob Downes – guitarist (born 7 December 1961) – (1987–1989 / 2012 – present)^{[citation needed]}
• Ben Angwin – keyboardist – (1984–1985)
• Alex Mungo – keyboardist – (1985–1988)
• Chris Youdell – keyboardist – (1988–1989)
• Jasper Stainthorpe – (born 18 February) – bassist – (1983–1989 / 2012–present)^{[citation needed]}
• Steve Wren – (born 26 October 1962) – drummer – (1983–1989 / 2012–present)^{[citation needed]}
• Mark Sanderson – (born 1961) – keyboardist (1983)

Their live shows featured the talents of backing vocalist Bari Goddard (who also worked with Cliff Richard, Madonna and Jimmy Somerville among others) and Steve Lee (Joan Armatrading); some of these performances are available on the double CD release Radio Jerico which showcase some Radio 1 sessions and the full Hammersmith Odeon show of 1989.^{[citation needed]}

Current band members

• Mark Shaw – Vocals
• Jasper Stainthorpe – Bass
• Scott Taylor – Guitar
• Rob Downes – Guitar
• Steve Wren – Drums

Discography

Albums

• First (The Sound of Music) (1987)
• The Big Area (1989)
• Almost... (Mark Shaw, solo) (1991)
• Electric (1994)
• Radio Jerico [2 CD] (1997) (re-issued as download only via thenjerico.com, 2012)
• Orgasmaphobia (1998)
• The Best Of... (1999)
• Alive & Exposed (2000)^[17]
• First (The Sound of Music) (25th Anniversary Expanded Edition 2012)
• Jewels in Time: Rarities & Unreleased Tracks (Then Jerico Music 2012)
• Big Area (Re-issue Warner/Rhino 2012)
• Acoustic Live (CD/DVD) (2012)
• Reprise (compilation) (Warner/Rhino May 2013)
• Acoustic: Live London 2012 (CD only) (Then Jerico Music June 2013)

Singles

• "The Big Sweep" (1985)
• "Fault" (1985)
• "Muscle Deep" (1986)
• "Let Her Fall" (1986)^[18] – UK No. 65
• "Prairie Rose" (1987)
• "The Motive (Living Without You)" (1987) – No. 18
• "Muscle Deep" (1987) – No. 48
• "Big Area" (1988) – No. 13
• "What Does It Take" (1989) (featuring Belinda Carlisle) – No. 33
• "Sugar Box" (1989)^[19] – No. 22
• "Love So Bright" (Mark Shaw solo – 1990)
• "Under Your Spell" (Mark Shaw solo – 1991)
• "The Motive" (1996) (Eurohouse Remix – Bol Beat Records)
• "The Motive" (1997) (ItaloDance Remix – Contraseña Records)^[4]

References

External links

• Then Jerico official website