The Members
Appeared at the Isle of Wight Festival in 2010
Formed in Surrey, England, in the summer of 1977, the Members cut their teeth on the 1977 London Punk Circuit. The band -- composed of Nicky Tesco (vocals), Jean-Marie Caroll (guitar), Nigel Bennett (guitar), Adrian Lillywhite (drums), and Chris Payne (bass) -- was among the first to successfully blend reggae rhythms with punk's attitude and aggression.
In 1978 they recorded their first Record "Solitary confinement" for Stiff records it was Described by Tony Parsons in the NME as the Best record Stiff ever put out. They then left England to take up a residency at the SO36 club in Berlin before returning to England to sign to Virgin Records.
1979 Their first Virgin single, "Sound of the Suburbs" made it into the British Top 10 selling 250,000 copies in 3 months (it has since sold 1,000,000 copies), Sound of the Suburbs has been the title of numerous compilation albums a TV show and is a phrase forever associated with the Members and Post-Punk, it has become a staple in many covers band sets and has entered the "hymn book" of Classis English Rock. The subsequent single "Offshore Banking Business" also Charted in the UK top 20. Their Debut LP, At the Chelsea Nightclub, Was listed as one of the top 20 punk Lp's by record collector After one more album for Virgin in 1980, 1980 the Choice Is Yours, they moved to Martin Rushents Electro/80's Label Genetic to record to the classic Uprhythmn, Downbeat (released in 1983 in the U.K. as Going West). "Working Girl" from the album was a huge hit in the USA.
During the 80's the Members toured endlessly across north America experiencing the elation of huge shows in New York and Los Angeles. They hung out with with The Ramones and Blondie around the Kidney Shaped pool at the Hollywood motel where Sam Cooke was Shot,They Partied with Iggy Pop in New York, Tom Petty in the Mid West, talked cars and girls with Bruce Springsteen in Asbury Park, were entertained by Mobsters in New York, Played on A Riverboat in New Orleans. They travelled 35,000 miles across 50 states of the usa in a Ford econoline living on jack Daniels $20 a day, microwave burrittos and show salads.
During the course of their career They have been locked in a Dutch prison cells, fined by highway patrols, refused entry to canada, threatened by gangsters, intimidated by armed guards, cussed by rednecks, refused service at truck stops, Spat at, showered with coins and bottles. chased by jealous boyfriend stalked by transvestites.
In the Nineties the Band Was not active but Jean-marie Carroll the Bands composer and guitarist recorded with Sex Pistol Glen Matlock and New York Dolls Johnny thunders he was also briefly in a Band with Dee Dee Ramone and The Dammned's Rat Scabies. During this time Carroll also began to work on Film playing and composing soundtracks for Marlon Brando and Johnny Depp amongst others. He has since made many films the latest being Juliens temples Oil City Confidential.
The Members reformed in 2008 and played some shows in London in 2009 they recorded a New Version of their 80's Uk Hit Offshore banking business called International Financial crisis. In 2009 the Band the unit of Jean-marie Carroll,Nigel Bennett, Chris Payne and New Drummer Nick Cash began touring the UK and Europe. They are recording a new Albu and continue to tour and play for new Audiences around the world.
Video - The Sound of the Suburbs - Live in Madrid
The Members are: Jean-marie Carroll,Nigel Bennett, Chris Payne and Nick Cash
Official Band Website: www.themembers.co.uk
The Members 2010