THE CHAMELEONS - The Return Of The Roughnecks (Live at The Ritz Manchester) - 2CD [JUL 26]

2CD 

Almost 35 years on, The Chameleons return to once again, to one of Manchester’s most iconic venues, playing the original set they played that evening... with original artwork created especially for this release, by Chameleons guitarist Reg Smithies... 

Chameleons (Vox) are the latest incarnation of Manchester’s post-punk icons ‘The Chameleons’, featuring 2 original members, vocalist & Bass player ~ Mark Burgess & guitarist Reg Smithies 

The Chameleons biog . . . . . 
The atmospheric post-vocalist/bassist Mark Burgess began with the Cliches, guitarists Reg Smithies and Dave Fielding arrived from the Years, and drummer John Lever (who quickly replaced founding member Brian Schofield) originated with the Politicians. After establishing themselves with a series of high-profile BBC sessions, the Chameleons signed to Epic and debuted with the EP Nostalgia, a tense, moody set produced by Steve Lillywhite which featured the single 'In Shreds.'.... The quartet was soon released from its contract with Epic, but then signed to Statik and returned in 1983 with the band's first full-length effort, Script of the Bridge. What Does Anything Mean? Basically followed in 1985, and with it came a new reliance on stylish production; following its release, the Chameleons signed to Geffen and emerged the following year with Strange Times. The dark, complex record proved to be the Chameleons' finale, however, when they split following the sudden death of manager Tony Fletcher; while Burgess and Lever continued on in the Sun & the Moon, Smithies and Fielding later reunited in the Reegs. In 1993, Burgess surfaced with his proper solo album Zima Junction. He and his band the Sons of God toured America the following year. . . . . .

The Chameleons have had influences on many artists including The Flaming Lips, The Killers, Interpol, The Editors, Slowdive, The National, The Verve, Moby and Oasis... 
Strange Times especially seems to be an influence on main songwriter Noel Gallagher, who posted on his Instagram account on March 22, 2018, he cited The Chameleons as an early influence on his songwriting, quoting.. 
'I’d forgotten how much Strange Times meant to me. It came out in ‘86. I was 19!! I've been listening to it every day since and I have to say it's blown my mind..again! It must have influenced my early years as a song writer because I can hear ME in it everywhere!!'  

Tracklist:

1.        Silence Sea and Sky
2.        Pleasure and Pain
3.        Here Today
4.        Intrigue in Tangiers
5.        Singing Rule Britannia (While The Walls Close In)
6.        Return of the Roughnecks
7.        Perfume Garden
8.        Less Than Human
9.        Nostagia
10.        Second Skin
11.        One Flesh
12.        Home Is Where the Heart Is
13.        P.S. Goodbye
14.        In Shreds
15.        A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days
16.        Looking Inwardly
17.        Don't Fall