Modern English

Bio

Modern English is a rock band best remembered for their iconic 1982 song "I Melt With You", a top 10 hit has appeared in various commercials and movies over the years with a popular music video that became an MTV staple. Exploring post-punk themes of loss, reflection, and devotion, the group faced changing waves of success over the 80s and early 90s, putting four albums into the Billboard 200 chart. They disbanded a while in 1991, but they later resurfaced in 1995 with some new members. They most recently released their seventh studio album in 2010, touring sporadically over the past recent decades. Formed in Colchester, Essex, England, in 1979 by Robbie Grey (vocals), Gary McDowell (guitar, vocals), and Michael Conroy (bass, vocals), Modern English was originally known as "The Lepers". The group expanded to "Modern English" when Richard Brown (drums) and Stephen Walker (keyboards) were subsequently added to the line-up of the indie rock band (later Ted Mason, Matthew Shippley). A debut single, "Drowning Man" was released in 1980 on the Limp Records label. The band's full-length debut, called 'Mesh & Lace' and released by 4AD Records a year later, drew heavily on the gloomy gothic rock sound already patented by bands such as Bauhaus and Joy Division. The follow-up album, titled 'After The Snow' and recorded by the same line-up, introduced warmer sounds and strong guitar harmonies (most notably on the hit "I Melt With You") in contrast to the tinny bleakness of the debut, although keeping the same post-punk dramatic focus. The August 1982 release was well received in the U.S., selling 500,000 units, and the band relocated to New York, New York to consolidate a popularity encouraged by college radio. Their subsequent album Ricochet Days had a crisper production with hits such as "Ricochet Days" and "Hands Across the Sea". By the time of Stop Start, released in the US by Sire Records in 1986, Walker and Brown had left, and Aaron Davidson (keyboards, guitar) (later of March Violets) had joined. The band had tried too hard for commercial success, pushed by their label and subsequent producers. Grey returned to England to form a new outfit, but reconvened Modern English in 1990 with Davidson and Conroy. They released Pillow Lips on the TVT label, selling 300,000 units. Robbie Grey and band member Ted Mason co-wrote and produced a second release for TVT, recording with live strings and multiple harmonies. It received very little enthusiasm from TVT and has been seen as the least successful Modern English album. Locked into contractual obligations with TVT, Grey subsequently put the band on hold in 1991 to study and travel, and Mason handled the legal issues of getting out of the TVT deal. In 1995, Modern English with Matthew Shipley (keyboards), Ted Mason (guitar, vocals, production) recorded Everything's Mad for the Imago label. Robbie Grey continues to tour extensively on the US club circuit with Matthew and new guitarist Steven Walker writing new songs and playing them to packed audiences across the US, and in 2001 signed a new recording contract with A.P.G. Music. The new lineup recorded a new album with legendary producer Hugh Jones who originally produced "I Melt With You." 2007 saw the repackaged–remastered re-release of Everything's Mad for the Mi5 Recordings label distributed by Caroline/EMI. A Modern English rarities album with unreleased material was expected in early 2008, but it became stalled. The group put out their latest studio effort in 2010 with 'Soundtrack'. Said work reunited them with Hugh Jones, the producer of 'After the Snow'. As of 2013, Modern English has sold close to four million records worldwide, and they were present at the BMI awards in the Dorchester Hotel in London where Robbie Grey, Mick Conroy and guitarist Steven Walker were presented with a lifetime achievement award for 3 million radio plays of "I Melt With You." . User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Similar artists

The Psychedelic Furs, Naked Eyes, The Church, The Chameleons, The Sound

Genres

new wave, post-punk, 80s, alternative, 4ad, uk, alternative rock, british, pop rock, england, english,

Likes

687 0

Infos

On Tour: No

country: GB

city: Colchester

Begin Date: 1979

Last Update: 2020-10-17

Artist next concerts

Modern English and Bootblacks at The Ardmore Music Hall (September 7, 2022)

Ardmore, PA, US - The Ardmore Music Hall

7/Sep

2022

Modern English at Respectable Street (March 12, 2022)

West Palm Beach, FL, US - Respectable Street

12/Mar

2022

Modern English at The Social (March 13, 2022)

Orlando, FL, US - The Social

13/Mar

2022

Modern English at The Earl (March 16, 2022)

East Atlanta, GA, US - The Earl

16/Mar

2022

Modern English at Numbers (March 19, 2022)

Houston, TX, US - Numbers

19/Mar

2022

Modern English at 3ten ACL Live (March 20, 2022)

Austin, TX, US - 3ten ACL Live

20/Mar

2022

Modern English at Gas Monkey Live (March 22, 2022)

Dallas, TX, US - Gas Monkey Live

22/Mar

2022

Modern English at The Vanguard (March 23, 2022)

Tulsa, OK, US - The Vanguard

23/Mar

2022

Modern English at Club Congress (March 26, 2022)

Tucson, AZ, US - Club Congress

26/Mar

2022

Modern English at The Rebel Lounge (March 27, 2022)

Phoenix, AZ, US - The Rebel Lounge

27/Mar

2022

Modern English at Doug Fir Lounge (June 8, 2022)

Portland, OR, US - Doug Fir Lounge

8/Jun

2022

Modern English at The Triple Door (June 9, 2022)

Seattle, WA, US - The Triple Door

9/Jun

2022

Modern English at Rickshaw Theatre (June 10, 2022)

Vancouver, BC, Canada - Rickshaw Theatre

10/Jun

2022

Modern English at Granada Theater (June 11, 2022)

The Dalles, OR, US - Granada Theater

11/Jun

2022

Modern English at The Chapel (June 14, 2022)

San Francisco, CA, US - The Chapel

14/Jun

2022

Modern English at The Concert Lounge (June 17, 2022)

Riverside, CA, US - The Concert Lounge

17/Jun

2022

Modern English at The Casbah (June 18, 2022)

San Diego, CA, US - The Casbah

18/Jun

2022

Modern English at The Echo (June 19, 2022)

Los Angeles (LA), CA, US - The Echo

19/Jun

2022

Modern English at Soiled Dove (June 22, 2022)

Denver, CO, US - Soiled Dove

22/Jun

2022

Modern English at Record Bar (June 24, 2022)

Kansas City, MO, US - Record Bar

24/Jun

2022

Modern English at Raue Center For The Arts (June 26, 2022)

Crystal Lake, IL, US - Raue Center For The Arts

26/Jun

2022

Modern English with Ganser at Turf Club (June 28, 2022)

St. Paul, MN, US - Turf Club

28/Jun

2022

Modern English at Fine Line Music Cafe (June 28, 2022)

Minneapolis, MN, US - Fine Line Music Cafe

28/Jun

2022

Modern English at Acorn Theater (June 30, 2022)

Three Oaks, MI, US - Acorn Theater

30/Jun

2022

Modern English at SPACE (July 2, 2022)

Evanston, IL, US - SPACE

2/Jul

2022

Modern English at Mohegan Sun Arena (September 9, 2022)

Uncasville, CT, US - Mohegan Sun Arena

9/Sep

2022

Modern English at Daryl's House (September 10, 2022)

Pawling, NY, US - Daryl's House

10/Sep

2022

Modern English at Sony Hall (September 13, 2022)

New York (NYC), NY, US - Sony Hall

13/Sep

2022

Modern English at Birchmere (September 14, 2022)

Alexandria, VA, US - Birchmere

14/Sep

2022

The Big E 2022

West Springfield, MA, US - Unknown venue

16/Sep

2022

Modern English at Crafthouse Stage & Grill (September 20, 2022)

Pittsburgh, PA, US - Crafthouse Stage & Grill

20/Sep

2022

Modern English with Ganser at The Magic Bag (September 22, 2022)

Ferndale, MI, US - The Magic Bag

22/Sep

2022

Modern English at Magic Bag (September 22, 2022)

Detroit, MI, US - Magic Bag

22/Sep

2022

Videography

Modern English - I Melt With You (Official Video)

Artist discography

Enter The Shadows Radio

24 hours radio and chat:
darkwave * goth * ethereal * dreampop * synth * minimal * cold * EBM * perky * shoegaze * etc * plus daily special radio shows!

production

Parthner links

My Guild - E-Sports Cinema Gótico Blog Pequenos Classicos Pedidos Arcadia Web TV

Contact us

contactentertheshadows.com.br
Location: São Paulo, Brazil
Donate : PayPal

Artist next concerts

7/Sep

12/Mar

13/Mar

16/Mar

19/Mar

20/Mar

22/Mar

23/Mar

26/Mar

27/Mar

8/Jun

9/Jun

10/Jun

11/Jun

14/Jun

17/Jun

18/Jun

19/Jun

22/Jun

24/Jun

26/Jun

28/Jun

28/Jun

30/Jun

2/Jul

9/Sep

10/Sep

13/Sep

14/Sep

16/Sep

20/Sep

22/Sep

22/Sep

Videography

Artist discography

Enter The Shadows Radio

Parthner links

Newsletter

Contact us

Chat (online 0)