Tony James
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This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (May 2014)
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| Tony James | |
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Tony James when a member of Sigue Sigue Sputnik, in San Francisco, 1986
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Anthony Eric James |
| Born | 12 April 1953 Shepherds Bush, London, England |
| Genres | Punk rock, glam punk, post-punk, new wave, rock, garage rock, alternative rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, record producer |
| Instruments | Bass guitar, guitar |
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Associated acts | London SS, Chelsea, Generation X, Gen X, Sigue Sigue Sputnik, The Sisters of Mercy, Carbon Silicon |
| Website | www sputnikworld |
Anthony Eric "Tony" James (born 12 April 1953 in Shepherds Bush, London) is an English pop musician, best known as the bassist for Generation X and Sigue Sigue Sputnik.
Contents
Early life[edit]
Tony James was born in Shepherd's Bush in West London on 12 April 1953, and spent his childhood years in Twickenham. After formal education at Hampton Grammar School he attended Brunel University, from which he graduated with first-class honours in mathematics and computer science. Before becoming a professional pop musician he was briefly employed as a computer programmer.[1]
Career[edit]
James was originally a member of the early punk group London SS, along with Brian James (later of The Damned) and Mick Jones and Terry Chimes (both future members of The Clash).[2]
Later, James joined the band Chelsea. The group included Billy Idol (then William Broad) on guitar, John Towe on drums and Gene October on vocals. Soon they left October to form another punk band, Generation X (named after a 1960s paperback novel by Jane Deverson, not to be confused with the 1990s book by Douglas Coupland). Idol switched from guitar to vocal duties, and Bob "Derwood" Andrews joined as lead guitarist after leaving the Fulham band Paradox. Generation X played their first concert on 14 December 1976 at The Roxy (becoming the first band to play at the venue).
Towe was later replaced on drums by Mark Laff (ex-Subway Sect), to complete the 'official' line-up, before the band signed to Chrysalis Records and released their first single, "Your Generation" in September 1977.[3] They played this song on Marc Bolan's afternoon variety show Marc that same month. This line-up of the band would remain through their first two albums, the self-titled Generation X (1978) and Valley of the Dolls (1979).[3]
There were differences in the group's musical direction that they struggled to resolve. These internal disagreements came to a head in late 1979, during the recording of what was to have been the third Generation X album. This was released decades later as part of the Anthology boxed set under the title Sweet Revenge. In 1980, Andrews and Laff left the band (subsequently forming the post-punk band, Empire), to be replaced in Generation X by The Clash and Cowboys International's former drummer Terry Chimes, and former Chelsea guitarist James Stevenson.[3]
Generation X made a last stand, re-recording some of the Sweet Revenge material, as well as several new songs. With this final release, Kiss Me Deadly (1981), the band abbreviated its name to Gen X.[3] The album featured several different guitarists, including Rich Kids' Steve New, future Siouxsie and the Banshees guitarist John McGeoch and ex-Sex Pistol Steve Jones. Kiss Me Deadly failed to secure any placing on the UK album chart despite featuring the song "Dancing with Myself". The group disbanded, and Idol left for New York as a solo artist.
Tony James, after penning "Russian Roulette" for Stiv Bators and The Lords of the New Church, and producing a Sex Gang Children album, formed glam punk band Sigue Sigue Sputnik with fashion designer-cum-singer Martin Degville.[4][5]
James became a member of The Sisters of Mercy in 1990, and played bass on their Vision Thing album; he also played on the band's subsequent live tours, but left the Sisters the following year.
On 20 September 1993, during Billy Idol's No Religion Tour, James joined Generation X for a one-time reunion performance at the Astoria Theatre in London.
In 2002, he reunited with Mick Jones to form Carbon/Silicon. He continues to work with Jones, now co-writing songs and playing guitar for the band.[6] In 2010, he helped Patch William produce a tour video for their single release.
Personal life[edit]
During his time in Sigue Sigue Sputnik, James dated Janet Street-Porter. Prior to that relationship, he was living with Magenta Devine.
Discography[edit]
Generation X[edit]
- 1978 – Generation X (Chrysalis Records)
- 1979 – Valley of the Dolls (Chrysalis Records)
- 1998 – Sweet Revenge (Empty Records) (originally recorded in 1979)
- 2004 – K.M.D. – Sweet Revenge Xtra (Revel Yell Music) (featuring bonus tracks)
- Generation X Compilations
- 1985 – The Best of Generation X (Chrysalis Records)
- 1990 – The Idol Generation (Castle Communications) (Australia only.)
- 1991 – Perfect Hits 1975–81 (Chrysalis Records)
- 1999 – Live at the Paris Theatre '78 & '81 (EMI Records) (edited and reissued in 2002 as One Hundred Punks – BBC Live in Concert)
- 2002 – Radio 1 Sessions (Strange Fruit Records)
- 2003 – Anthology (EMI Records)
- 2003 – Live at Sheffield (Empty Records)
- 2005 – Live (EMI Records)
London Cowboys[edit]
- 1982 – Animal Pleasure (Underdog Records)
The Lydons and the O'Donnells[edit]
- 1986 – Family Album (MBC Records)
Sigue Sigue Sputnik[edit]
- 1986 – Flaunt It (Parlophone Records)
- 1988 – Dress for Excess (Parlophone Records)
- 1996 – Sputnik: The Next Generation (EMI Records) (as "Sputnik: The Next Generation")
- 2000 – Sci-Fi Sex Stars (Sputnikworld Records) (as "Sci-Fi Sex Stars")
- 2001 – Piratespace (Sputnikworld Records)
- 2002 – Blak Elvis vs. The Kings of Electronic Rock and Roll (Sputnikworld Records)
- 2003 – Ultra Real (Sputnikworld Records)
- Sigue Sigue Sputnik Compilations
- 1990 – The First Generation (Jungle Records)
- 1997 – The First Generation – Second Edition (Jungle Records)
- 1998 – The Ultimate 12" Collection (Sputnikworld Records)
- 1999 – Flaunt It + Dress for Excess – French single CD edition of both albums (minus "Success" and "Dancerama").
- 2001 – 21st Century Boys: The Best of Sigue Sigue Sputnik (EMI Records)
- 2003 – The First Generation – Vid Edition (Jungle Records)
- 2008 – 1984 Flaunt It: Demos and More (Cleopatra Records)
The Sisters of Mercy[edit]
- 1990 – Vision Thing (MBC Records)
Fin de Siécle[edit]
- 2003 – This Is What I Like...... (Sputnikworld Records)
Carbon/Silicon[edit]
- 2007 – The Magic Suitcase EP (Carbon/Silicon Records)
- 2007 – The Last Post (Carbon/Silicon Records)
- 2008 – Carbon Casino (Carbon/Silicon Records)
- Carbon/Silicon Digital Releases
- 2010 – A.T.O.M. (Carbon/Silicon Records)
- 2010 – Western Front (Carbon/Silicon Records)
- 2010 – The Crackup Suite Parts 1 and 2 (Carbon/Silicon Records)
- 2010 – The Carbon Bubble (Carbon/Silicon Records)
- 2013 – Big Surprise (Carbon/Silicon Records)
References[edit]
- ^ Interview with Tony James, Gary Crowley's Punk & New Wave Show,' Soho Radio, 21 October 2015.
- ^ "We're not Nazis, says London SS, punk band barred from Upper Street venue". Islington Tribune.
- ^ a b c d Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. p. 472. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
- ^ Thompson, Dave (2000) Alternative Rock, Miller Freeman, ISBN 0-87930-607-6, p. 615-617
- ^ Handelman, David (1986) "Sigue Sigue Sputnik: 'Fantasy band?'", Gettysburg Times, 8 August 1986, p. 26, retrieved 2010-09-25
- ^ Herrera, Dave (19 March 2008). "Q&A with Carbon/Silicon's Tony James – Denver Music – Backbeat". Blogs.westword.com. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
