The Cherry Boys
Encyclopedia
The Cherry Boys was a band from Liverpool
, England
.
The Cherry Boys formed in 1980 in Liverpool. They are most notable for the single Kardomah Cafe, which missed the top 50 in the UK, but was a top 10 hit in Spain. The band consisted of John Byrne (aka John Cherry) on vocals & guitar, James Hughes on vocals & keyboards, Keith Gunson on vocals & bass, and Howie Minns on drums. Icicle Works
drummer Chris Sharrock was part of the band early on and appeared on their first single “Man to Man.” Following the band's split in 1984, Hughes and Minns went on to form Exhibit B (most famous for their “It’s Hypothetical” single, and album Playing Dead, which was re-released in Japan in 2007). Hughes is now the main writer/musician in James Clarke Five, whose album Fly My Pretties Fly! was released in 2008.
The Cherry boys achieved a significant local following. This was exemplified in them winning the Radio Merseyside award for Best Local Band in 1982. In the same year they also stripped the board in achieving best band (and individual musician awards) in the local popular magazine, The End. As a live band they were unmatched at the time, each member being highly respected. Attendances at their concerts were nearly always sell out.
John Byrne, the band's chief songwriter, joined The La's following the group's demise and played lead guitar on their international hit "There She Goes". Byrne is now an acclaimed classical guitarist. Chris Sharrock (the original Cherry Boys drummer) joined The La's at the same time. He subsequently went on to play with Icicle Works, Lightening Seeds, The Robbie Williams Band and Oasis.
'Kardomah Cafe' featured on the compilation CD Liverpool Cult Classics Unearthed - Volume Two
, which was released by the Viper Label in 2001.
The Cherry Boys' manager, Graham Jones, became a successful author with his first book Last Shop Standing, which was published in 2009. The book deals with the demise of the independent record store, and features a chapter dedicated to his experiences managing both The Cherry Boys and Exhibit B.
“Only Fools Die” b/w “Come That Day” 7″, Cherryoza (1982)
“Kardomah Café” b/w “Airs and Graces” 7″/12″, Crash (1983)
“Shoot The Big Shot” b/w “Falling” 7″, Crash (1983)
“Shoot The Big Shot” b/w “Falling” & “Don't Leave Me That Way” 12″, Crash (1983)
“Kardomah Café” b/w “Airs and Graces” & “Plead Sanity” 12″, Satril, (1984)
2. Music-isms blogspot
3. Shelflife Records)
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, 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...
.
The Cherry Boys formed in 1980 in Liverpool. They are most notable for the single Kardomah Cafe, which missed the top 50 in the UK, but was a top 10 hit in Spain. The band consisted of John Byrne (aka John Cherry) on vocals & guitar, James Hughes on vocals & keyboards, Keith Gunson on vocals & bass, and Howie Minns on drums. Icicle Works
Icicle Works
The Icicle Works were an English alternative rock band of the 1980s. Named after the 1960 short story "The Day the Icicle Works Closed" by science fiction author Frederik Pohl, The Icicle Works joined Liverpool's early 1980s 'neo-psychedelia' wave, which also propelled Echo & the Bunnymen and The...
drummer Chris Sharrock was part of the band early on and appeared on their first single “Man to Man.” Following the band's split in 1984, Hughes and Minns went on to form Exhibit B (most famous for their “It’s Hypothetical” single, and album Playing Dead, which was re-released in Japan in 2007). Hughes is now the main writer/musician in James Clarke Five, whose album Fly My Pretties Fly! was released in 2008.
The Cherry boys achieved a significant local following. This was exemplified in them winning the Radio Merseyside award for Best Local Band in 1982. In the same year they also stripped the board in achieving best band (and individual musician awards) in the local popular magazine, The End. As a live band they were unmatched at the time, each member being highly respected. Attendances at their concerts were nearly always sell out.
John Byrne, the band's chief songwriter, joined The La's following the group's demise and played lead guitar on their international hit "There She Goes". Byrne is now an acclaimed classical guitarist. Chris Sharrock (the original Cherry Boys drummer) joined The La's at the same time. He subsequently went on to play with Icicle Works, Lightening Seeds, The Robbie Williams Band and Oasis.
'Kardomah Cafe' featured on the compilation CD Liverpool Cult Classics Unearthed - Volume Two
Liverpool Cult Classics Unearthed - Volume Two
Liverpool Cult Classics Unearthed - Volume Two is the second in a series of three volumes from the Viper Label of rare and unreleased songs by famous and not so famous Liverpool bands...
, which was released by the Viper Label in 2001.
The Cherry Boys' manager, Graham Jones, became a successful author with his first book Last Shop Standing, which was published in 2009. The book deals with the demise of the independent record store, and features a chapter dedicated to his experiences managing both The Cherry Boys and Exhibit B.
Discography
“Man To Man” b/w “So Much Confusion” 7″, Open Eye (1981)“Only Fools Die” b/w “Come That Day” 7″, Cherryoza (1982)
“Kardomah Café” b/w “Airs and Graces” 7″/12″, Crash (1983)
“Shoot The Big Shot” b/w “Falling” 7″, Crash (1983)
“Shoot The Big Shot” b/w “Falling” & “Don't Leave Me That Way” 12″, Crash (1983)
“Kardomah Café” b/w “Airs and Graces” & “Plead Sanity” 12″, Satril, (1984)
External links
1. Extracts from Graham Jones' 'Last Shop Standing': The Independent2. Music-isms blogspot
3. Shelflife Records)