Dead Famous People
Encyclopedia
Dead Famous People were a New Zealand
indie pop
band formed in Auckland
, active from the latter half of the 1980s.
on Flying Nun Records
, giving them some success in their homeland, they relocated to London, where they signed for Billy Bragg
's Utility Records label, with Gill Moon replacing Tearle. Utility issued the band's Arriving Late in Torn and Filthy Jeans mini-LP
in 1989, and it became the label's biggest-selling release. They received regular airplay from John Peel
and recorded a session for his BBC Radio 1
show in 1989. The band split up in mid-1990. Savage joined Saint Etienne
on their cover version
of The Field Mice
's "Let's Kiss and Make Up", and subsequently recorded as a solo artist, as did Leyland. Savage also provided backing vocals on The Chills
' "Heavenly Pop Hit".
The band contributed a version of "True Love Leaves No Traces" to the 1991 Leonard Cohen
tribute album I'm Your Fan
.
Savage continued with the Dead Famous People name, with various collaborators, and another album, Secret Girls Business, was issued in 2002, featuring six previously-unreleased tracks.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
indie pop
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
band formed in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, active from the latter half of the 1980s.
History
The band formed in 1986 and comprised Donna Savage (vocals), Elizabeth (Biddy) Leyland (keyboards and vocals), Wendy Kjestrup (guitar and vocals), Jenny Renals (bass guitar) and Robyn Tearle (drums). After a couple of releases in New Zealand, including an EPExtended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
on Flying Nun Records
Flying Nun Records
Flying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s...
, giving them some success in their homeland, they relocated to London, where they signed for Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg
Stephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
's Utility Records label, with Gill Moon replacing Tearle. Utility issued the band's Arriving Late in Torn and Filthy Jeans mini-LP
Mini-LP
A Mini-LP or Mini-album is a short album, usually retailing at a lower price than an album that would be considered "full-length".-History:...
in 1989, and it became the label's biggest-selling release. They received regular airplay from John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
and recorded a session for his BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
show in 1989. The band split up in mid-1990. Savage joined Saint Etienne
Saint Etienne (band)
Saint Etienne are an English Pop group comprising Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs. They are named after the French football team AS Saint-Étienne.-History:Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs were childhood friends and former music journalists...
on their cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of The Field Mice
The Field Mice
The Field Mice were an indie pop band on the indie label Sarah Records. Initially a duo from South London suburb of Mitcham comprising Robert Wratten and Michael Hiscock, their first EP, Emma's House, was released in November 1988, and reached number 20 in the UK Independent Chart...
's "Let's Kiss and Make Up", and subsequently recorded as a solo artist, as did Leyland. Savage also provided backing vocals on The Chills
The Chills
The Chills are a guitar and keyboard-based rock band from Dunedin, New Zealand. In the 1980s and 1990s, they were one of the proponents of the Dunedin Sound.- History :...
' "Heavenly Pop Hit".
The band contributed a version of "True Love Leaves No Traces" to the 1991 Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
tribute album I'm Your Fan
I'm Your Fan
I'm Your Fan: The Songs of Leonard Cohen is a tribute album to Leonard Cohen, released in 1991, produced by the French music magazine Les Inrockuptibles. The album features Cohen's songs interpreted by some of the most respected rock acts of the time...
.
Savage continued with the Dead Famous People name, with various collaborators, and another album, Secret Girls Business, was issued in 2002, featuring six previously-unreleased tracks.
Singles, EPs
- "Drive Away" (1987), Craft - split Flexi-disc with Screeming Custard
- Lost Persons Area (1987), Flying Nun - 12-inch vinyl EP
Albums
- Arriving Late in Torn and Filthy Jeans (1989), Utility
- All Hail The Daffodil (1994), La-Di-Da - 'best of' compilation
- Secret Girls Business (2002), Global Routes
Compilation appearances
- In Love With These TimesIn Love with These TimesIn Love With These Times is a compilation of previously released songs by artists on New Zealand based Flying Nun Records. It was released by Flying Nun in 1990 and re-released in a 2CD package with the 1991 compilation Pink Flying Saucers Over the Southern Alps...
(1989), Flying Nun: "Barlow's House" - Borobudur (1990), La-Di-Da: "All Hail The Daffodil"
- I'm Your FanI'm Your FanI'm Your Fan: The Songs of Leonard Cohen is a tribute album to Leonard Cohen, released in 1991, produced by the French music magazine Les Inrockuptibles. The album features Cohen's songs interpreted by some of the most respected rock acts of the time...
(1991), AtlanticAtlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
: "True Love leaves No Traces" - La Di Da..so far (1991), La-Di-Da: "With Wings We'll Soar The Heavens"
- La Di Bloody Da (1994), La-Di-Da: "Desperate Orange Love Plunge"
- 25 Years Box (2006), Flying Nun: "Barlow's House"