Birdland (band)
Encyclopedia
Birdland were an English
rock
band
, active between 1989 and 1993.
, England
by the brothers
Robert (vocals) and Lizzy Lee Vincent (guitar), who had previously released records
and toured in glam rock
band, Zodiac Motel [1984-1988]. The other band members were Simon Rogers (bass), and Neil Hughes (drums).
Birdland's debut single
"Hollow Heart", was released on Lazy Records. It reached #1 in the UK Indie Chart
. The band generated a lot of attention in the British
music press
. The band released four further singles; "Paradise", "Sleep with Me", "Everybody Needs Somebody", "Rock n Roll Nigger", all of which were #1 UK independent singles. "Sleep With Me" also reached the Top 40 in the UK Singles Chart
(with the video
being shown on Top of the Pops
). It was two years after the first single, that the band finally released their eponymously titled debut album
in 1991.
After the album's release, problems with management and inner band disagreement forced the band to split up. They reunited in 2010.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, active between 1989 and 1993.
History
Birdland were formed in 1988 in BirminghamBirmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
by the brothers
Sibling
Siblings are people who share at least one parent. A male sibling is called a brother; and a female sibling is called a sister. In most societies throughout the world, siblings usually grow up together and spend a good deal of their childhood socializing with one another...
Robert (vocals) and Lizzy Lee Vincent (guitar), who had previously released records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
and toured in glam rock
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
band, Zodiac Motel [1984-1988]. The other band members were Simon Rogers (bass), and Neil Hughes (drums).
Birdland's debut single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Hollow Heart", was released on Lazy Records. It reached #1 in the UK Indie Chart
UK Indie Chart
The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
. The band generated a lot of attention in the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
music press
Music journalism
Music journalism is criticism and reportage about music. It began in the eighteenth century as comment on what is now thought of as 'classical music'. This aspect of music journalism, today often referred to as music criticism , comprises the study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation of...
. The band released four further singles; "Paradise", "Sleep with Me", "Everybody Needs Somebody", "Rock n Roll Nigger", all of which were #1 UK independent singles. "Sleep With Me" also reached the Top 40 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
(with the video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
being shown on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
). It was two years after the first single, that the band finally released their eponymously titled debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
in 1991.
After the album's release, problems with management and inner band disagreement forced the band to split up. They reunited in 2010.
Singles
- 1989: "Hollow Heart" - UK Indie ChartUK Indie ChartThe UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
#1 - 1989: "Paradise" - UK Indie #1
- 1989: "Live"
- 1990: "Sleep With Me" - UK Indie #1
- 1990: "Rock N Roll NiggerRock N Roll Nigger"Rock N Roll Nigger" is a rock song written by Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye, and released on the Patti Smith Group's 1978 album Easter. The song has since been covered by several artists, and was included on the soundtrack of the 1994 film Natural Born Killers.- Liner notes :The following is quoted...
" - UK Indie #1 - 1991: "Everybody Needs Somebody" - UK Indie #1