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Chameleons, The

Real Name:
Mark Burgess, Reg Smithies, Dave Fielding, John Lever
Profile:
The band formed in 1981 in Middleton, six miles north of Manchester. Before this, Mark had been in the Clichés while Reg and Dave were in Years. Dave was in a school band called Sen. The three started without a drummer and got the attention of the legendary Radio 1 DJ John Peel. Their first single, "In Shreds" on CBS, made number 42 on John Peel's Festive Fifty in 1982. They originally signed with CBS, but they disagreed with how they should sound. CBS dropped them after the one single, despite encouraging sales. They soon signed with Statik. However, Statik was distributed by Virgin, so they couldn't qualify for the independent charts and were thus overlooked by the music press.
The debut album, "Script of the Bridge", was recorded in Rochdale during a six-week period. The band was really pissed when they found out about the reduced version which was released by MCA in the US. They then became unhappy with Statik and tried to get away from them, but were bound by contractual obligations. After their second album, "What Does Anything Mean? Basically", they signed with Geffen. While signed to Geffen, the band released what was to be their last album together for fifteen years, "Strange Times" as the band literally fell apart, acrimoniously, with grief after Tony's death.
The dawning of a new millenium saw an ending to the 'hostilities' as the band buried hatchets, kissed and made friends once more, culminating in a reforming of the group, and a new 'unplugged' album entitled 'Strip'. A triumphant, sold out, 5 day residency at their old stomping ground 'The Witchwood' in Ashton confirmed their old reputation for being one of the tightest live outfits ever.

The band are currently working on individual projects - check out the news, releases and live sections for details.
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Members:
Variations:
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Discography

Releases:
In Shreds (5 versions)   Epic ... 1982
A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days (3 versions)   Statik Records ... 1983
As High As You Can Go (2 versions)   Statik Records 1983
Script Of The Bridge (Album, Comp) (14 versions)   Statik Records ... 1983
Up The Down Escalator (Maxi, Single) (4 versions)   Statik Records ... 1983
Live At The Camden Palace (VHS, PAL, NTSC)   Jettisoundz 1985
One Flesh (7", Promo)   Polydor 1985
Singing Rule Britannia (While The Walls Close In) (3 versions)   Statik Records ... 1985
What Does Anything Mean? Basically (Album) (7 versions)   Statik Records ... 1985
Strange Times (Album, EP) (11 versions)   Geffen Records 1986
Swamp Thing (Single) (3 versions)   Geffen Records 1986
Tears (Single) (5 versions)   Geffen Records 1986
The Fan And The Bellows (12", Promo)   Hybrid Records 1986
The Fan And The Bellows (Album) (5 versions)   Dead Dead Good ... 1986
John Peel Sessions (Album, Comp) (3 versions)   Strange Fruit ... 1990
Tony Fletcher Walked On Water.... La La La La La - La La - La - La (EP) (2 versions)   Glass Pyramid 1990
Tripping Dogs (Album) (2 versions)   Glass Pyramid 1990
Here Today... Gone Tomorrow (CD)   Imaginary Records 1992
Here Today... Gone Tomorrow / Live In Toronto (Album) (2 versions)   Imaginary Records 1992
Live In Toronto (2 versions)   Imaginary Records 1992
Radio 1 Evening Show Sessions (Comp, Album) (2 versions)   Dutch East India Trading ... 1992
Aufführung In Berlin (CD, Album)   Imaginary Records 1993
Dali's Picture (CD, Album)   Imaginary Records 1993
Dali's Picture / Live In Berlin (2xCD)   Imaginary Records 1993
Free Trade Hall Rehearsal (CD)   Imaginary Records 1993
Northern Songs (CD, Comp)   Bone Idol 1994
Live Shreds (Album) (2 versions)   Cleopatra 1996
Recorded Live At The Gallery Club Manchester, 18th December 1982 (Album) (3 versions)   Visionary Communications ... 1996
Return Of The Roughnecks - The Best Of The Chameleons / Tony Fletcher Walked On Water (2xCD, Comp)   Dead Dead Good 1997
Return of the Roughnecks - The Best of The Chameleons (CD)   Dead Dead Good 1997
Live At The Witchwood (CD, Ltd, W/Lbl, Album)   Not On Label 2000
Strip (Album) (2 versions)   Paradiso (UK) 2000
Resurrection Live (VHS, NTSC + VHS, PAL)   Paradiso (UK) 2001
Why Call It Anything (Album) (3 versions)   Artful Records ... 2001
Live At The Academy (2xCD, Album)   Paradiso (UK) 2002
Live At The Gallery Club & The Hacienda, Manchester (DVD, Reg)   Cherry Red 2002
This Never Ending Now (CD, Album)   Paradiso (UK) 2002
Live @ KEXP Radio Seattle Session + Interview (CDr, Promo)   Not On Label 2003
Live From London (DVD)   Demon Vision 2004
Singing Rule Britannia - The Chameleons Live (DVD)   Cherry Red 2004
Ascension (2xDVD, NTSC)   Scourge Productions, The 2006
Arsenal (VHS)   Visionary Communications  
Big In Manchester / Here Today (12", Promo)   Strange Fruit  
Production:
Statik Cømpilatiøn 1 (LP, Comp) Prisoners Of The Sun Statik Records 1985
Appears On:
Statik Cømpilatiøn 1 (LP, Comp) Up The Down Escalator Statik Records 1985
United Music For Compilations (CD) The Fan And The Bellows Fun Factory! Records 1993
For A Fistful Of Deutschmarks (CD, Album, Ltd) Less Than Human Red Sun Records 1998
Will You (7") The Fan And The Bellows Revelation Records (US) 2000
CD Side 2 (CD, Smplr) Indian D-Side 2001
Tracks Appear On:
Your Secret's Safe With Us (Comp) (6 versions) Here Today Statik Records ... 1982
Debüt LP / Zeitschrift Ausgabe 2 (LP, Smplr) Thursday Child Debüt 1983
Statik Cømpilatiøn 1 (LP, Comp) Nostalgia, Prisoners O... Statik Records 1985
Manchester, So Much To Answer For (Comp) (4 versions) Second Skin (Films) Wotre Music ... 1990
John Peel Sampler (CD, Smplr, Promo, Car) Perfumed Garden Dutch East India Trading 1991
Winters Of Discontent - The Peel Sessions 77-83 (Comp) (2 versions) The Fan And The Bellows Strange Fruit 1991
Hardest Hits Volume Three (CD) Swamp Thing SPG Music Productions Ltd. 1993
Radio FFN Nightline 2 (CD, Comp) Tears SPV Records, SPV GmbH 1993
Richard Blade's Flashback Favorites Volume 6 (CD, Comp) In Shreds Sony Music Special Products, Oglio Records 1994
Goth Box (4xCD) In Shreds Cleopatra 1996
Goth Box (2 versions) In Shreds Cleopatra ... 1996
Guitars & Machines Vol. 2 (3 versions) Second Skin Blanco Y Negro (2) 1996
Maxi Pop III (3 versions) Swamp Thing Contraseña Records 1996
Spirit Of The 80's (CD) Don't Fall Facedown 1996
Goth's Undead (3xCD, Comp) Paper Tigers (Live) Cleopatra 1997
Neurostyle Vol. VIII (CD, Comp) Second Skin Neuro Style 1997
Post Punk Diary 1980 - 1982 (CD) High As You Can Go (Li... Cherry Red 1997
The Best Of Indie Pop (2xCD, Comp, Ltd) Up The Down Escalator Max Music (Spain), Wanted Music (2) 1998
Pearls Of Passion (2xCD) Second Skin Zoomshot Media Entertainment 1999
Postpunk Chronicles: Left Of The Dial (CD) In Shreds Rhino Entertainment Company 1999
17-Track Guide To The Month's Best Music (CD) Anyone Alive? Uncut Magazine 2001
CD Side 2 (CD, Smplr) Indian D-Side 2001
Techno Pop - Vol. 4 (2xCD, Comp) Tears (Original) Contraseña Records 2001
Goth - The Ultimate Collection (2xDVD) In Shreds Music Video Distributors, Cleopatra 2002
NeatNeatNeat (CD, Comp) Indiana Uncut Magazine 2002
Hardest Hits - Modern Rock Of The 80's (3xCD, Album, Comp + CD, Smplr, Mos) Swamp Thing SPG Music Productions Ltd. 2003
The Dark Side (DVD-V, Comp, PAL) Don't Fall Universal Marketing Group 2003
Left Of The Dial: Dispatches From The 80s Underground (4xCD, RM + Box, Comp) Swamp Thing Rhino Entertainment Company 2004
LateNightTales (CD, Mixed, Comp) Up The Down Escalator Azuli Records 2005
A Life Less Lived - The Gothic Box (3xCD + DVD) Don't Fall Rhino Entertainment Company 2006
Campus Voice Encounter (LP, Comp, Promo) Music Thirsty Ear, Thirsty Ear  
TT 35 (CD) Indian Text Und Ton Magazin  
Unofficial Releases:
Hey Mr. Undecided (CD, Album)   Not On Label  
New Wave Mix Vol. 4 (CDr, Mixed, Ltd) Home Is Where The Hear... Not On Label (New Wave Mix Series)  
New Wave Mix Vol. 5 (CDr, Ltd, Mixed) In Shreds Not On Label (New Wave Mix Series)  
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YouTube Videos

The Chameleons - Intrigue in Tangiers (live)
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Reviews & Discussion

Review by Escapist Nov 20, 2005 (edited over 4 years ago)
Bringing a new spectrum of music from the onslaught of bands of the post-punk era, the Chameleons brought a mature, dreamlike sound to light. Frontman Mark Burgess & company created thrilling ethereal music from elements of old-school psychedelia and avant-garde 70's music. Shrill and melodic guitarwork from Reg Smithies and Dave Fielding complimented Burgess' trancey basslines and voice with John Lever's thundering drums. Four solid albums and several compilations of great stuff keep the Chameleons going strong from one century to the next. So glad they got back together!

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