Then Jerico

Then Jerico biography

Then Jerico are a British rock band who became popular in the late 1980s.

Career

Mark Shaw formed the band at the age of 21, recruiting bassist Jasper Stainthorpe and drummer Steve Wren and poaching guitarist Scott Taylor from Belouis Some.

The band played 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.

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". a melodramatic slice of rock and soul, followed that single into the Top 40. 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, followed by The Big Area in 1989 that went gold and reached number 4 in the UK Albums Chart. The single "Big Area" was produced by top producer Gary Langan (who was also a member of Art of Noise), and preceded the album The Big Area selling 35,000 pre-release copies. It was a huge radio and club hit throughout Europe. The album itself featured several producers including Mark Shaw.

"Big Area" was the greatest success the group would have, peaking at number 13 in the UK Singles Chart. It was featured in the 1989 science fiction film, Slipstream (starring Mark Hamill), and was used by Irish national broadcaster RTE as the theme music for its televised golf programming throughout the 1990s. The singles "Big Area" and "Sugar Box" were the best known songs taken from the album.

Mark Shaw left the band in 1990 and signed to EMI who released the solo album Almost in 1991. It was co-produced by Mark Shaw and Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor spawning two singles "Love So Bright" and "Under Your Spell".

Mark Shaw re-activated, wrote and co-produced the Then Jerico Orgasmaphobia album released on Eagle Rock in 1998.

Mark Shaw has since continued to play gigs with Then Jerico, as well as occasional shows with Spandau Ballet frontman, Tony Hadley, and the SAS Band, a loose collection of 1980s stars that includes Roger Taylor of Queen, Paul Young, and former Marillion vocalist, Fish.

According to the official Then Jerico website, Mark Shaw has announced a new Then Jerico album to be released in 2012.

Original band members

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

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