Fiat Lux (band)
Encyclopedia
Fiat Lux was an English
synthpop
band formed in Wakefield
, Yorkshire
, England
, in 1982, by Steve Wright (vocals) and David P Crickmore (guitars, bass, keyboards). Ian Nelson
(sax, keyboards), younger brother of Be-Bop Deluxe guitarist and lead vocalist Bill Nelson
, joined shortly afterwards, complementing the classic line-up of the band, who remained until the mid 1980s, when Crickmore departed.
, the former guitarist of Be-Bop Deluxe. Wright gave Nelson a demo tape he and Crickmore had recorded. Impressed with their music, Nelson produced and arranged one of the demo's tracks, "Feels Like Winter Again," b/w "This Illness" and released it on his label Cocteau Records. In April 1982, Bill Nelson's brother Ian Nelson was added to Fiat Lux's lineup. They named themselves Fiat Lux, which is the Latin translation for the Biblical quotation "Let There Be Light." "Feels Like Winter Again" was the first of Fiat Lux's radio successes. This led to them signing a record deal with major label Polydor. At this point Hugh Jones
was brought in as their record producer, In 1984, the haunting ballad "Secrets" drew comparisons to Depeche Mode
's moody synth-pop; it became Fiat Lux's most well-known song. Fiat Lux's utilization of cello in "Secrets" broadened synth-pop's stylistic range. The track was played regularly on Annie Nightingale's Radio 1 Sunday night request show. However, Fiat Lux's debut album
was never released. The group's output was limited to several singles for Polydor and a series of TV appearances including Old Grey Whistle Test
. There was also a long format video release "Commercial Breakdown", which included live versions of the shelved Polydor album tracks.,
Crickmore departed after the chart failure of their fifth Polydor single release, and the band continued recording some songs with a colourful array of top session musicians, before disbanding in 1985.
Wright joined Camera Obscura
, replacing Nigel James, and formed Hoi Poloi, another short-lived pop group. He then abandoned the pop world to become a TV director. Crickmore dedicated to more experimental projects through the remaining 1980s, culminating in an album on London Indie Yellow Moon records "Lettuce Spay" under the name This
. In the 1990s he rediscovered his love of folk and roots music and became a founder member of The Durbervilles ,. From 2005 The Durbevilles became radio presenters with a weekly folk and roots show on BBC Radio Leeds
, Ian Nelson continued to work with his brother Bill, joining the line-up of Be-Bop Deluxe, in the early 1990s; he died in his sleep on 23 April 2006.
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...
synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
band formed in Wakefield
Wakefield
Wakefield is the main settlement and administrative centre of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is and had a population of 76,886 in 2001....
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, 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...
, in 1982, by Steve Wright (vocals) and David P Crickmore (guitars, bass, keyboards). Ian Nelson
Ian Nelson (musician)
Ian Walter Nelson was an English New Wave musician, and younger brother of Be-Bop Deluxe singer and guitarist Bill Nelson, whom he accompanied in different musical projects...
(sax, keyboards), younger brother of Be-Bop Deluxe guitarist and lead vocalist Bill Nelson
Bill Nelson (musician)
Bill Nelson is an English guitarist, songwriter, producer, painter and experimental musician...
, joined shortly afterwards, complementing the classic line-up of the band, who remained until the mid 1980s, when Crickmore departed.
History
Wright and Crickmore attended Bretton Hall College, Wakefield, where they studied drama, meeting after the first joined the latter's New Wave band, Juveniles (whose two songs were released in a various artists compilation called Household Shocks). After graduating, Wright joined a theatre company called the Yorkshire Actors where he met musician Bill NelsonBill Nelson (musician)
Bill Nelson is an English guitarist, songwriter, producer, painter and experimental musician...
, the former guitarist of Be-Bop Deluxe. Wright gave Nelson a demo tape he and Crickmore had recorded. Impressed with their music, Nelson produced and arranged one of the demo's tracks, "Feels Like Winter Again," b/w "This Illness" and released it on his label Cocteau Records. In April 1982, Bill Nelson's brother Ian Nelson was added to Fiat Lux's lineup. They named themselves Fiat Lux, which is the Latin translation for the Biblical quotation "Let There Be Light." "Feels Like Winter Again" was the first of Fiat Lux's radio successes. This led to them signing a record deal with major label Polydor. At this point Hugh Jones
Hugh Jones
Hugh Jones is a British record producer with many important post-punk albums to his credit.-Career:Jones made a name early in the 1980s with a jangly sound that aged better than many of his contemporaries' production styles, however he started out as lead singer in the band Mistral in the early...
was brought in as their record producer, In 1984, the haunting ballad "Secrets" drew comparisons to Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
's moody synth-pop; it became Fiat Lux's most well-known song. Fiat Lux's utilization of cello in "Secrets" broadened synth-pop's stylistic range. The track was played regularly on Annie Nightingale's Radio 1 Sunday night request show. However, Fiat Lux's 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...
was never released. The group's output was limited to several singles for Polydor and a series of TV appearances including Old Grey Whistle Test
Old Grey Whistle Test
The Old Grey Whistle Test was an influential BBC2 television music show that ran from 1971 to 1987. It took over the BBC2 late night slot from "Disco Two", which had been running since January 1970, while continuing to feature non-chart music. It was devised by BBC producer Rowan Ayers...
. There was also a long format video release "Commercial Breakdown", which included live versions of the shelved Polydor album tracks.,
Crickmore departed after the chart failure of their fifth Polydor single release, and the band continued recording some songs with a colourful array of top session musicians, before disbanding in 1985.
Wright joined Camera Obscura
Camera Obscura (electronic duo)
Camera Obscura were a synth pop band formed in 1982 in York, England, by Peter Oldroyd and Nigel James. They signed to Small Wonder Records in 1983 and reached no. 32 in the UK Indie Chart with the single "Destitution". They split up in 1986 but re-formed for a tour of Germany in 2005 after signing...
, replacing Nigel James, and formed Hoi Poloi, another short-lived pop group. He then abandoned the pop world to become a TV director. Crickmore dedicated to more experimental projects through the remaining 1980s, culminating in an album on London Indie Yellow Moon records "Lettuce Spay" under the name This
This
This, in the English language, is the singular proximal demonstrative. It may also refer to:-People:* Hervé This, French biochemist whose scientific approach to cuisine is well known in France-Places:...
. In the 1990s he rediscovered his love of folk and roots music and became a founder member of The Durbervilles ,. From 2005 The Durbevilles became radio presenters with a weekly folk and roots show on BBC Radio Leeds
BBC Radio Leeds
BBC Radio Leeds is the BBC Local Radio service for the English metropolitan county of West Yorkshire.- Frequencies :It broadcasts from its studios at St...
, Ian Nelson continued to work with his brother Bill, joining the line-up of Be-Bop Deluxe, in the early 1990s; he died in his sleep on 23 April 2006.
Discography
- "Feels Like Winter Again" (November 1982)
- "Photography" (August 1983)
- "Secrets" (January 1984) - UKUK Singles ChartThe 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 ...
#65 - "Blue Emotion" (March 1984) - UK #59
- "House Of Thorns"
- "Solitary Lovers"
- Hired History mini-LPMini-LPA 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:...
- Fac Ut Vivas unofficial/unreleased fan bootlegBootleg recordingA bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. The process of making and distributing such recordings is known as bootlegging...
/compilation albumCompilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
(c. 1986)
External links
- Fiat Lux Web dedicated to the band
- Fiat Lux discography
- MySpace: Steve Chapman Smith Steve Smith's MySpace site
- MySpace: The Troubadors MySpace of the current band of Steve Smith