Chameleons : Classic or Dud

ONE BY ONE WE DISAPPEAR DAy after DAy and year after year nobody hears becaseu nobody cares

PUT A DAGGER IN MY HEART IF THEY WEREN't THE MOST AMAZING THING IN 1985

TURN OUT THE LIGHTS

GOD IF MANCHESTER WASN'T THE BEST THING TO HAPPEN TO MUSIC EVER

And I know Ned will call me to task. Too bad.

I told you, Im a Chameleons junkie.

so long

the storm comes or is it just another shower

is it any wonder?

Primal scream and the TV screen close your eyes

Or I lose my mind completely
please leave, just go now

Not too many hours from this hour so long...
the storm comes or is it just another shower

I am having a Chameleons day today. "Script of the Bridge" is such a beautiful album. Perfect indoors winter music.

And it has "Second Skin" and "Pleasure and Pain", two of my favourite songs.

I always forget at first that June = winter where you are.

It works well for summer too, fwiw.

I need to get some more Chams, really, I'm totally loving them so much.

Good, good...

Get the Peel Sessions and Radio One sessions for great alternative versions.

Somehow I knew Ned would be in the corner nodding approvingly =)

YOU GUYS I FOUND SCRIPT OF THE BRIDGE ON VINYL IT'S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING I'VE EVER BOUGHT

The full twelve song version, I hope.

Yes indeed! (WREK has the eight-song promo copy and I think it must have been played to death because the sound quality is terrible)

the only downside of this version is it doesn't have the spelling errors and subtitled "Up The Down Escalator"

80s vinyl is joy and love.

btw the Bimble freakout upthread is OTM

Conveniently enough, dig this:

With the full consent of the band a 25th Anniversary release of the Chameleons' album 'Script of The Bridge' is being scheduled for release, probably during December of this year, a little early but just in time for Christmas. A deluxe edition will be available comprising the album itself and an additional disc of extras, alongside a standard one -disc release with less extras for those who might not want to splash out the extra few quid for the full package. Both formats feature an updated sleeve by Reg along with re-vamped inserts and the label is currently exploring various options for re-mastering the original tapes. The Deluxe edition will only be available through mail order via a web site that the label is establishing for the purpose. I'll announce the URL as soon as I have it. The standard one-disc version will be distributed through traditional channels

Mark also says his autobiography is about ready to be published.

Well, if there's one album that desperately needs remastering, Script is it. This'll be the 4th copy I'll buy, having bought the 8 track LP, then the 12 track, then the CD (and sold the LPs, maybe you bought my old one?).

Man, I still didn't pull this album out yet. It's very easy to do, though, at least I know where it is unlike a lot of my collection right now (you wouldn't believe all the CD's on my floor).

Congrats on folks with the LP. I'm afraid I graduated to CD long ago, to my own detriment.

Will Mark publish his autobiography in the same year as Mark E. Smith?

In his autumn before the winter...

Haha, just reading way back up the thread Curt1s sez:

"Soul in Isolation" is really fucking entertaining if you imagine Birdy is singing "I'm a lime in here, I'm a liiiiiime, turn on the light."

I know I have said this before, but I keep doing this with "Swamp Thing", by singing "Picking up the pieces/Half alive in a nine 'til five/bacon eyes."

And the minute my brain registers "bacon eyes" I crack up giggling. IT IS TERRIBLE OF ME.

we were just talking about this at work today! our distributor has the strange times CD for $6.99 so all the music department employees own it now but script of the bridge is out of print so my colleague offered to burn it for me. them and the comsat angels are department favorites.

Yeah I'm having a real Chams/Comsats/For Against/Bell Hollow/Cure trip of late. Love those 80s moody bass riffs and sheerysqually guitars.

that's because you're in some kind of magical winterland.

Its pretty sweet right now with the grey and the misty rain and miserable wet cold!

sigh. sitting here in texas in june that sounds like a dream.

"Bacon Eyes", "I'm a Lime" Hahaaha, you guys are too much! And here I was feeling bad that I posted "Diamonds & Pearls" as the lyric upthread when it's "Denims & Curls" isn't it?

I've never heard of Bell Hollow before.

BIMBLE I WILL EMAIL U ABT THEM.

ned, someone, for fuxx sake, do something about this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chameleons

seriously, it's horrid.

"The Chameleons' unique sound is quite often compared to U2's The Edge."

what the hell kind of sentence is that?

"The Chameleons released their first full-length studio LP, the critically-acclaimed Script of the Bridge, on the Statik label in 1983. The album features a blend of rhythmic electric guitar textures, all of which provide a moody and intense backdrop for Mark Burgess' haunting vocals. After their third release, Strange Times, in 1987 they abruptly disbanded following the sudden death of band manager Tony Fletcher."

something missing? basically.

the history part is so short and sad. let's go, obsessives! i am no expert, so i can't do it. just a mere fan of 24 or 25 year's standing.

I challenge the person doing the new entry to use the words "way better than shit like U2".

Whoa, I missed this. Um, will look into it.

Anyway -- I recommend the A Long Way From Home album by Black Swan Lane to all Chams fans. It's a new project that Mark is involved in, as one of the two lead vocalists. More of a Sound style album than the Chams, and not quite as aggro as either, but it sounds quite lovely anyway:

http://www.myspace.com/blackswanlane

Manchester UK / Atlanta, Georgia, United States

whoa

finally got into these guys with "strange times", recently! sure had been missing out. . .

Yes you had!

Misfortune 500 just surprised the shit out of me at my radio station's concert by playing "Paper Tigers" AND "Don't Fall"! (And I surprised the singer by singing along)

HALF ALIVE IN A NINE TO FIVE VACANT EYES

blaring Chameleons from my stereo now. I really believe everyone should blare Chamelons from their stereo.

Swamp Thing in my ears.

I'm going to play this album over and over until I get tired of it.

STOP STARING AT THE GROUND

Not too many hours from this hour

Primal scream and the TV screen

"we were younger then and the days were long and slow
but were wiser then, I couldn't say I wouldn't know"

I wasn't worried at all
I had someone to run to

I'm going to play this album over and over until I get tired of it.

impossible

True.

I must thank Curtis for that mention of Misfortune 500 -- I'd had that around as a promo mailing and had ignored it because the sticker was all 'if you like Interpol and the Editors...' leading me to go OTHER REFERENCE POINTS DAMMIT. But seeing as they obviously know their Chameleons I am suddenly intrigued.

did the Script Of THe Bridge reissue ever come out?

yes, it's basically out now.

THIS IS NOT MY HOME

drifting ghosts of glass

RANDOM QUOTED LYRIC OUT OF CONTEXT

Strange Times on repeat again.

This is the same thing I did the other night.

Strange Times on repeat again.

I'd like to see this giant fall

struck by lightning
die with the bullet in my head
right in the brain
right in the brain
right in the brain

I'm alive
Turn on the lights

the storm has come or is it another shower?

are you drunk?

Anyway, John Lever's new band:

http://www.myspace.com/bushartmusic

...which is rather Chamslike. But the vocalist is the weak spot, to put it mildly.

"THIS RECORDING WAS MEANT TO BE PLAYED LOUD"

on every Chameleons & ex-Chameleons album ever

The vocals don't ruin the songs at least. Guy sort of sounds like he's trying to be Jaz Coleman lol

classic
music that is not afraid to bury you in meaning and feeling. no holding back in restrained cool fashion for these guys. it's all on the sleeves.

that is very true

Hmm. Well, alright. See I heard this um..."Dear Dead Days" song tonight that was the early version of Soul In Isolation and then I really flipped my goddamn lid. And then I realized it was on something called "Here Today...Gone Tomorrow" which I didn't know about except I found a picture of an LP called that that I remember owning from the familiarity of the sleeve to me. It had a rectangular picture of the band with a lot of green leaves around it. So I'm kindof confused because I think the (dbl) CD has a different sleeve (and tracklisting!) than the LP. I really don't know what I'm doing here. Maybe someone can help me. I don't understand why I recognized the LP sleeve but not this song "Dear Dead Days"? And yes I realize the dbl CD contained a live gig for the second CD and all that.

Won't someone help my bewildered ass? I'm rooting around in tender memories here and I'm not sure of anything. Thanx.

Bimble struggles to remember sometimes, but all the same, tonight he remembered exactly what the face of one of his early grade school teachers looked like. I must have been 9 years old and suddenly earlier this evening I remembered this one teacher's face incredibly clearly. And her mascara. It was really wild. I mean, for all I know that woman could be dead now. How many years ago was 1980 again?

Autographed copy of Mark's autobiography, View From A Hill, just arrived in the mail. The finger-pointing begins on page 2.

A good friend of mine had his baby shower today, because he's expecting a baby girl. When I walked in to this party, he was playing Strange Times. I was utterly hypnotized. I couldn't move. I only wanted to hear it again and again and again. I couldn't socialize with the people there, nothing. I was paralyzed. I could only stand there in the kitchen with my wine glass and sing along. I didn't care at all about anyone. What was wrong with these people that they didn't care that Strange Times was playing?

Anyone remember "I'll Remember"?

DON'T LET THESE DAYS OF DOUBT TURN HIM INSIDE OUT

Tony Fletcher Walked On Water EP.

This one goes out out to the man I lost. Where is he now? The one I lost. Where did he go? I know I drank too much, I know. I ruined it all. It's all my fault. But where is he now? Where did he go? He used to post to ILX, but no more. How I miss him. Jesus. Wouldn't he only rep for this EP? Chameleons were one of his fave bands. And he's gone now. I'll never forget him. Goodbye, Mitch. Goodbye. God. I'd give anything to hear from you, but you are gone. Forever gone. Goodbye.

God I'm so sorry, Mitch. God I'm so sorry.

You have to hang on to your childhood.

FUCK!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoOuVL5nn5M

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:7FGMmZES7J8cRM:http://static.rateyourmusic.com/album_images/16227.jpg

Look, I was only in high school with this album. I'm about to cry.

I don't give a fucking living fuck if it isn't Chameleons I don't care. I'm going to go back to my high school days and no one can stop me.

With the sun in your eyes...

out the back door silently he creeps
a sense of excitement you've no hope of finding
with the chains that bind your feet

but why this weakness no one knows
the vacant faceless voices on the phone
bring words that offer no
consolation when you're all alone

Beaten on the brow of history
a union forged in slavery
in all that's hope and decency
a hope for you and a hope for me
every woman child and man
to those who'll chain you if they can
the babe you're bouncing on your knee
needs your help now can't you see?

bimble, this one's pretty good too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hINpXuwE1nE

Fuck I just can't function damnit.

"Is It Any Wonder" playing loud now my neighbors are going to kill me.

Thanks, Stephen.

It hurts me in my heart, this music, it hurts me.

I can't do it.

I'm playing Mad Jack now my neighbors are going to kill me. I can't do this.

Please tell the one I love that I love this goddamn album. Please tell him.

STRANGE TIMES.

NO PRESSURE NO PAIN

Come up here, set us free

dagger in our hearts

THIS IS NOT MY HOME

Nobody hears cause nobody cares.
I wanna look 20 but I can't deliver.
The time has come for us to scatter
Caution To The Wind

Caution To The Wind
Caution To The Wind
Caution To the Wind

Just drifting ghosts of glass

I Love "In Shreds"

I'm surprised to be the 1st person here to mention "In Shreds".. It's possible Interpol may have stolen their sound from this song.

Fucking In Shreds you guys are going to slay me.

I've already cried real tears about this goddamn Strange Times CD.

They told me to turn it down, the motherfuckers. My landlord and everything.

I don't care.
Damnit, I just don't care. Chameleons.

I can't turn it down in my brain.

IN SHREDS IS SLAYING MY SOUL

I've already cried real tears about this goddamn Strange Times CD.

Crying for sympathy, crocodiles cry...

Stops them feeling small that's all
Look, I'm not going to quote all the lyrics, anyone who knows anything knows that I'm dying here. I'm fucking dying if this isn't the best music in the world.

SAYS THE SPIDER TO THE FLY
NICE TRY

Every day you're crucified
If you can't look them in the eye
nice try
vices embraced in times of crisis
THAT'S ALL

It must have been like this before
but my memory's hazy

This one goes out out to the man I lost. Where is he now? The one I lost. Where did he go? I know I drank too much, I know. I ruined it all. It's all my fault. But where is he now? Where did he go? He used to post to ILX, but no more. How I miss him. Jesus. Wouldn't he only rep for this EP? Chameleons were one of his fave bands. And he's gone now. I'll never forget him. Goodbye, Mitch. Goodbye. God. I'd give anything to hear from you, but you are gone. Forever gone. Goodbye.

Thought this was about Ian Riese-Moraine at first.

Hahaha. I know. What happened to Ian anyway? That guy had some really cool taste in music for being so young! I asked another ILXor what happened to him and it was like I think someone here scared him or something. I'm not sure. I think someone here scared him and he left ILX.

I've already cried real tears about this goddamn Strange Times CD.

Crying for sympathy, crocodiles cry...

-- stephen, Sunday, August 10, 2008 11:28 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Link

Sorry I just now got this. You dropped a Cure lyric in there. Nice one, dude.

hahaha ;)

Hearts Fail - interesting Chameleons influenced band from SAN ANTONIO, Texas

Hearts Fail
http://www.myspace.com/heartsfail

Influences the Chameleons UK, the Cure, the Sound, the Smiths, the Comsat Angels, Joy Division, Echo & the Bunnymen, Bauhaus, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Killing Joke, the Church, the Mission, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, the Psychedelic Furs, New Order, Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead, A Perfect Circle, NIN, Placebo, Muse, David Bowie, Interpol, Mana, la Ley, Depeche Mode, V.A.S.T., Tori Amos, Bjork

I have even more appreciation for "Soul In Isolation" after reading Jack London's "The Star Rover", the book the lyrics of the the song are based on.

In side project news, a Reegs reissue is forthcoming:

http://www.myspace.com/thereegsdefinitivecdset

Nice!!!

I know this gets tossed around a lot, but they really were the best at what they did weren't they? It's not often that a band writes songs this good and captures them on record so perfectly. They had prettier guitars than the Smiths, more vivid daydreams & nightmares than the Cure, lightyears more energy than U2...

I know I love 'em.

I've been listening to them a lot lately. Rediscovering What Does Anything Mean... especially. Still not as perfect as Script..., but pretty damn close. It also struck me that Editors try to sound like them a lot. I'm probably the last person who's realised that.

They had (...) more vivid daydreams & nightmares than the Cure

Man I love me some Chameleons but I'll challenge this. I've not heard a Chameleons song as daydream-y as "Let's Go to Bed," "The Lovecats," "Catch," "Friday I'm in Love" or as altogether bleak and torturous as "One Hundred Years," "Siamese Twins," "The Top," "The Kiss" et al.

That is to say, yes, the Chameleons are of course great, but Cure embody those two extremes -- daydreams and nightmares -- a lot better than Burgess & Co. ever did (not that they were necessarily trying for that, of course).

Chameleons vs Cure poll would be a bloodbath of regrets ;)

I mean, I'd probably have to side with The Cure, but for unfair reasons (I first heard The Cure when I was 7, I first heard The Chameleons when I was 20, the former are integrally ingrained in my psyche and the latter are a great fucken band I discovered through ILM)

Hmm. I got into them both at round about the same time -- ie gloomy adolescence -- and while I think the Chameleons have moments of undeniable godlikeness, I wouldn't really put them in the same league as the Cure ... it's not just about daydreams and nightmares, as ilxor so eloquently puts it, but about the range and scope of what they did. Even after all these years, the Cure can still surprise me.

Like with a surprisingly dull, middling new album in 2008 (a handful of tracks aside)? ;-)

Er, well ... I really liked it to begin with ... umm ... yeh, OK.

But it's funny: I've just put on Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, which is (oddly) the album of theirs I've probably listened to the least, and there's so much going on there -- so much to love -- that I find myself thinking, fuck it, I can forgive the (not insignificant) dross when there's stuff as good as this in there.

Sure, the Chameleons suffer in this comparison by having a much smaller body of work to choose from. But, er ... tough :)

ok I was stretching it w/the Cure

more vivid daydreams & nightmares Echo & the Bunnymen

^^ there we go, works better w/the analogy since the Cure were more eclectic than these other bands

where is the love for what does anything mean, basically?

That's long been my favourite one, apart from the shit poem on the cover.

everyone talks about script and strange times, seemingly ignoring the better album in between. it's not as dark as script, seems more jangly/proto-shoegazery, and seems less straight "rock" than strange times.

yes, it is my favorite as well.

I think it's suffered a little cos it hasn't got a 'Second Skin' or a 'Soul In Isolation' on it, but really, 'Perfume Garden' and 'Intrigue In Tangiers' are two of the most vivid songs that Mark Burgess wrote.

The drummer from the Chameleons is doing a Chameleons tribute band as support to the Comsat Angels in October

"Home Is Where the Heart Is" is where it's @

A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days 12"

comsat angels reunion?

Yes, more details on the Comsat thing please.

Hey I posted about that on here and none of you punks said anything:

Comsat Angels C or D/S&D

should have had that thread bookmarked. oh well. show happened already.

Well apparently more shows coming up so hey.

Yeah I think I will go to the London one. I don't know anybody who was at the Sheffield gig, I read a review linked on the Sleep No More website but the guy said something about how political correctness had gone mad or some shit so I kinda zoned out.

I've heard whispers of an upcoming "reunion" tour of sorts. Not going to be all original members -- Burgess and maybe some of the others, not sure -- but it sound like it'll be a full-on Chameleons setlist thing, which is at least somewhat exciting.

They supported the Comsat Angels last night. I thought it was just the drummer as per the original announcement, but I turned up late and was a bit surprised to see Burgess there singing Soul in Isolation. Ended with Second Skin and did the Please Please Me thing over the coda, it was neat. He introduced them as "John Lever's Second Skin", which is weird as I'd have kind of expected Burgess to want more of the credit than that.

But yeah, I'd pay to see a full headlining show of that.

Well, didn't expect this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwbdYtaKEVo

I...I don't think any of us expected this

Not sure if I'm relieved or disappointed at how tasteful this is

Hugely disappointed

they mismanage the great halfway transition

classic case of cover mismanagement

I just kept waiting for it to go fucking mental and then it didn't go fucking mental SELL-OUTS WD NOT LISTEN AGAIN

I will never disapprove of anyone paying tribute to "Second Skin" which is my unwavering favorite song of all time

btw wtf @ the fact that the combined scores of the 3 albums (well, major albums) wouldn't even have made the 80's poll top 100

If this is the stuff dreams are made of... then please god never let me sleep again.

wish they hadn't fucked up the second half of the song. even moreso I wish they had made it sound like "Move Your Ass."

it's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!!

7^%$%#$@#$@#@#$@$#

...actually this isnt too bad.

I'm too scared to heard the 2nd half tho.

...yeah ok they could have done better.

It loses all the euphoria!

Just received my 2xCD reissue of What Does Anything Mean? Basically and, as expected, it's a gorgeous remastering job. Going to listen to these demos in the coming hours as well. This is a really great album, too often underrated because of the company it keeps with the Chameleons' other two masterpieces.

Buy here: http://www.blueapplemusic.co.uk/chameleondetails/chamREF091.html

'perfume garden' is the best chameleons song

I just ordered that today. I thought it wasn't due to come out 'til January. I guess Blue Apple has some exclusive special edition. I wonder if they'll do the dbl deluxe treatment for Strange Times too.

Yep, it's available exclusively through Blue Apple for a couple months before it hits retail in Jan/Feb. And I can't imagine them reissuing the first two albums and not Strange Times... that'll likely be out within a year or so.

Chameleons non-album tracks OPO: Nathan's Phase

Good choice. "Things I Wish I'd Said" is a favorite of mine, "Dali's Picture" is okay enough, and "Sally" is way too obscure, such a sweet little song.

Never heard 'Sally' I don't think, what's that from? Other pick for me is 'Is It Any Wonder'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNqiTMN6Tl8

^ it's here I guess

Oh that is a nice song, bit of downer vibe going on though.

bit of downer vibe going on though.

Chameleons... downer vibe... really? ;-)

Yeah, that was kind of a dumb comment, but you know, they nearly always sound fairly hopeful to me. Didn't really absorb the lyrics to that song yet, but there they sounded like they know the game was up. Whatever game that might be.

Fair point!

Just got this email from Blue Apple Music, feel free to utilize the coupon code and get yerself some Chameleons in yer life:

Dear Chameleons Fan,

As a valued customer of Blue Apple Music, we would like to offer you £5 off your next Chameleons purchase from the official online store (valid until the end of February).

By using the voucher code (below) you can bag one of the new official t-shirts for only £10 (+ p&p), or knock a fiver from the price of the re-mastered versions of Script of the Bridge or What Does Anything Mean? Basically.

Alternatively, there are a handful of copies of the discontinued Ascension DVD still available, and the offer also applies to The Reegs Definitive collection and range of t-shirts.

To take advantage of this offer, simply place your order at www.blueapplemusic.co.uk/chameleons.html enter the code NOSTALGIA in the voucher box and then press Recalculate . The £5 will be deducted from your total order amount.

Please remember, this offer expires on February 28th 2010.

Thanks for your continued support in helping to keep the music of The Chameleons alive.

Best regards

Blue Apple Music

They have the reissues of the first two Chameleons albums (Script of the Bridge, What Does Anything Mean? Basically) each with a great bonus disc -- or the Ascension DVD which is out of print -- or the Reegs complete recordings compilation -- or a range of t-shirts if you're into those.

Go nuts!

Link is here: http://www.blueapplemusic.co.uk/chameleons.html

Cheers. Just ordered the DVD? Anyone seen it?

Yup.

Can't believe they've made the WDAMB look even worse than it did the first time around.

^ the WDAMB cover

Looks worse, sounds better. I'd say that's a pretty fair trade!

I've just picked up on The Chameleons in the last few months. Bought the remastered 'Script', 'WDAMB' and 'Strange Times'. Seem's pretty difficult to get the originals of anything else sadly. Managed to download FLAC's of the 'Peel Sessions' album but everything else seems to be only available on mp3. Really dug the 'Free Trade Hall Rehersals', the delayed guitars sounded amazing with all that empty atmosphere. The live bonus disc on the reissue of 'Script' is brilliant. Probably the best Chameleons live recording I've heard. Any other reccomendations?

Also, Mark Burgess solo and The Reegs, what's the verdict?

Solo/side stuff = good but the whole is much greater than the sum of its parts.

The Sun and the Moon's s/t album and follow-up EP are both excellent -- I believe it was Mark's side project (+ John Lever?) in between the Chameleons and his solo stuff with the Sons of God.

Cool, will check out in time.

What about live recordings? As I said, I'm totally blown away by the show on the bonus of the 'Script' reissue. Some tracks like 'Paper Tiger' and 'A person isn't safe' sound even better than the studio versions to my ears. I haven't been blown away by any of the officially released live discs I've been able to download in the same way.

"Live In Toronto" is damn good. There's a number of other live albums but "Toronto" and the Script bonus disc are the best of the lots.

Track down The Peel Sessions, The Radio One sessions and "Here Today Gone Tomorrow" for almost all of their radio appearances.

live @ camden palce dvd is totally frickin awesome; really well filmed, excellent sound quality.. a total must

"tripping dogs" is a pretty good live cd.. it has a really nice slow-burning version of "less than human"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es_2bZ8ziv4

^ this is off the Camden Palace DVD. Always wondered where the stills in the WDAMB gatefold were from.

wow

What can I buy that has "Sally" on it????? It sounds like it was recorded in the WDAMB? era

From http://www.thechameleons.com/band/faq.php

Who is Sally?
Sally is the name of Mark's (ex) wife. The "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" album includes a rather atypical song called 'Sally,' which was written by Mark for the woman who was to become his wife.

http://www.bobsy.per.sg/illusion035.jpg

The Chameleons - Here Today...Gone Tomorrow

Release Date: 1 Jun 1992
Label: Imaginary
Country: UK
Tracks:

* String Quartet 1
* Home Is Where The Heart Is
* In Answer
* Bobby Moore's Wine
* Sally
* In Shreds
* Nathan's Phase
* Up The Down Escalator
* On The Beach
* Dear Dead Days
* Things I Wish I'd Said
* String Quartet 2

Notes:
On "Here Today", "In Answer" is still developing lyrically. The lyrics for "Bobby Moore's Wine" were completely rewritten and it became "Mad Jack". Three tracks are not listed as taken from a radio session: "In Shreds", "Things I Wish I'd Said", and "Dear Dead Days". Are these studio versions? "Dear Dead Days" sort of became the end of "Soul In Isolation".

I guess I should probably get round to hearing this thing...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0OHTj-3fyQ

^ this is a song that I've been listening to a whole heck of a lot lately - 'Is It Any Wonder' off the Tony Fletcher EP.

...which gets a fair bit of love upthread, but something I only heard in the last year cos I am the laziest of fans.

Got the Acsention DVD in the post today. God bless Blue Apple, they seem to sent stuff super quick. Looking forward to putting in on this weekend. Tracklist on both the DVD's looks great. Shame there's no 'Paper Tiger' though, one of my fave tracks.

Managed to order a vinyl called "Tripping Dog's". The info I've come across suggests its the same as the 'Free Trade Rehersals'. Anyone have it?

Yeah, Free Trade is just the CD version of Tripping Dogs -- the sole difference is that Free Trade contains "Tomorrow Never Knows" as well.

Coolio. I can live with that. Got it at a decent price too.

There's a good few tracks on the DVD I haven't heard off. Take it some are from the albums they released since they reformed. How do those ones stack up?

There's only one full-on reformation album, Why Call It Anything -- all the other ones are live or acoustic remake albums. WCIA is generally speaking the calmest of the four studio albums -- part and parcel with the band members being older and more reflective, perhaps -- but it has some excellent songs, my favorite being "Dangerous Land."

'Why Call It Anything' seems to be quite expensive second hand. Same with those acoustic remake albums. What's the deal here? The fact most Chameleons stuff is so hard to find and usually out of print. Most of the postuhumous stuff seems to be only semi-legit and released on small labels. I'm guessing they something like 'Fan and The Bellows' or 'Here today gone tomorrow' was only released in small numbers. Same with the live stuff that's been put out. How come it's all so terribly hard to find?

Because it's so good only a small number of people can handle it.

Why Call It Anything is marred by that track with the inexplicable reggae toasting on it

Been watching some of the 'Ascention' DVD this evening and I have to say my verdict is split. Disc 2 with the Acoustic stuff is brilliant but Disc 1 is bizzare. Not sure if it's just me but the sound of the guitars seems far too low. The bass and drums are all up front clouding the (already) subtle melodic leads. Plus the guy on the congo's/tambourine etc, he is was too loud in the mix too (on the acoustic disc as well).

My theory, which is probably far off, is that, as Ned mentioned, they've mellowed out with time a bit, that's why the acoustic/quieter stuff works a treat but the louder electric set is lacking somewhat. I guess is takes a certain youthfull restlessness to play 'A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Day's' with the conviction and paranoid anxiety of the original recording.

Scott Blonde, formerly of the Lovemakers, does a pretty nice cover of "One Flesh":

http://soundcloud.com/scottblonde/one-flesh

Mark Burgess will be at the Big Takeover 30th Anniversary bash in Brooklyn in a couple of weeks. Can't wait!

So the Big Takeover bash was frickin' awesome - loads of great bands, I never thought I'd have the stamina to watch 16 bands in two days but it never got tiresome or boring! Mark Burgess brought the house down with a fantastic set, just pumping out energy and emotion. He's on tour now, go see him! Dates here: http://www.myspace.com/chameleonsvox

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MprCSzBIexw

Mark Burgess reveals himself a bit of a conspiracy theorist in his bio on http://www.myspace.com/chameleonsvox :

I believe that the murders of John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King were the result of meticulously orchestrated conspiracies involving members of the Mafia, disgruntled extremists, powerful right wing industrialists and certain government agencies that are basically fascist in nature, rather than by alienated or mentally disturbed “lone-nuts”; and that some of the people involved in one or more of these crimes still hold positions of influence today.

Finally I believe that the official explanation offered for the 9/11 tragedy, that the buildings fell due to impact from passenger jets that had been hijacked by a mythical international terrorist network using box-knives as weapons is not supported by a significant amount of evidence and by witness testimony, including that provided by many of the surviving rescue teams that were in the buildings when they started to collapse; and that a full, objective and politically independent enquiry into this tragedy is long overdue.

Hmmm.

To be fair this strain of thinking of his has been fairly constant over the years and has surfaced at many points -- a song like "Up the Down Escalator," for instance ("Now they can erase us/At the flick of a switch"). Disappointing, but not surprising.

Yeah, this stuff is vexing. Didn't get the book because I (somewhat unfairly) assumed it would be full of this sort of nonsense.

Wow, I really had no idea, but I guess I never looked into it. I think for the sake of my future enjoyment of Chameleons records I probably never will. I'd always assumed he was singing about something higher (and IMO higher-minded) than government conspiracies.

I try not to let a songwriter's outside beliefs color my perception of their music too much, but it really does. I don't think I'd be anywhere near as in love with the latest Church record, for instance, if there were reason to believe those abstract lyrics were disguised references to 9/11 being an inside job.

I think my response to that side of Burgess is basically "What on earth are you talking about?"

More than anything I'm just miffed at the whole 'ChameleonsVox' thing -- throughout the nineties he never toured as anything but a solo or separate group name, and when the reunion happened it was actually all four of them, straight up.

Talking of ChameleonsVox, these have only just gone up on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzkgCbLG_Dg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYrQWrDMz8M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IECGYm1mLq4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axlh3RjBR2Q

Don't want to offend anyone here but...

PRETTY FUCKING SWEET!!!

More footage I've not seen before, but this is classic stuff - 'Splitting In Two' off Spanish TV:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vfyz0rnuixQ

Mark Burgess reveals himself a bit of a conspiracy theorist in his bio on http://www.myspace.com/chameleonsvox :

Coincidentally Rescue Mission, the band that opened for Bird, the recent Mark Burgess project, on their US tour a couple years ago, has a band full of conspiracy theorists as well. I've had a couple odd discussions w/ those guys about 9/11 conspiracies, that ridiculous film Loose Change, as well as JFK stuff and general government distrust to a ridiculous degree. Not surprised at Burgess, I've heard the same from him before...

You lot forgot the coda to his Myspace ramblings:

"You of course are entirely free to believe whatever you choose based upon your own research, experiences and insights, which is precisely as it should be."

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG

xx 12:45 am
hey
crutis stephens 1:04 am
hey
what's up?
xx 1:04 am
Hey, you know "Don't Fall" by the Chameleons?
crutis stephens 1:05 am
yup!
xx 1:05 am
That "In the autumn before his winter" quote?
crutis stephens 1:05 am
yeh
xx 1:05 am
I found which movie that's from
crutis stephens 1:05 am
REALLY?????
xx 1:05 am
Two Sisters From Boston
crutis stephens 1:05 am
omg
this is vital information
xx 1:05 am
The young man is talking to his mother about his father
Really old movie

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ask them whether they think they're taking goth-rock forward in 2010

Hmm, handy. I'd half heard they'd found out the movie a while back but maybe that was just a guess. Is there a clip anywhere?

Classic - Beyond all shadow of doubt!
As for the drumming, you only have to watch any early live footage to see and hear how competent it was. I must admit, some of the production on the drums should have replicated the live feel and sound on the actual albums, as they can sound slightly flat.

I have to say that I rate the Chameleons as one of my 5 all time fave' bands.

Hmm, handy. I'd half heard they'd found out the movie a while back but maybe that was just a guess. Is there a clip anywhere?

Dunno whether this is the famous Raggett irony kicking in but obv. the clip is on this very thread a dozen posts back if anyone is interested.

Chameleons : Classic or Dud

Hahah well there ya go.

It is an interesting quote once you see that it's a son talking about his father. Aging, nostalgia, recapturing lost youth - these seem to be topics that Burgess visits again and again. I remember reading what he wrote about 'Intrigue In Tangiers':

the lyrics came from frequent visits to a home for retired service men called Broughton House, in Salford Manchester, were I'd often go to visit my grandfather. It made me very aware of my own relative youth and how precious my time was. There was one chap there, a former seaman in the merchant navy, who was bound to a wheelchair and likened his life there to being buried alive. I use to take him some hash whenever I went over and he'd sit in his chair, getting stoned and watching TV. He'd call them "funny cigarettes." He used to talk of all these far-away exotic sounding places he'd visited, like Tangier.

Those visits must have made a huge impression on him - does he talk about them much in his book? It's a beautiful and sad subject.

I was just listening to "In Shreds" and my husband asked why I was listening to black metal. "It sounds like the new Enslaved..."

I've become obsessed with the song "Free For All", up to the point to consider that this actually is the best song of the Chameleons.
Naturally I have experienced much with "Swamp Thing", "Second Skin", "Lufthansa", "Soul in Isolation" "Monkeyland" or "Intrigue in Tangiers" for instance, but "Free For All" has happened to be (for me) the most lyrical performance of Burgess, as though he was in a desesperate run for his life, surrounded by these parade of clowns, and calling for help.

I'd like your opinions about that matter, that is, how do you consider this song as it was never mentionned in the posts above. Thanks

as though he was in a desesperate run for his life, surrounded by these parade of clowns, and calling for help

If you know anything about Mark, you'd realize you've nailed it straight away.

I'm rubbish at song titles, so I had to re-listen to it to remind me what song it was. Sounds like an attack on demagoguery and a rejection ('I don't believe in you') of the endless parade of saviours/clowns that have appeared throughout the course of history (the turning wheel?). It's also obviously having a pop on the masses that would welcome such a figure (the 'empty heads' that 'bow down'), who can't see through this 'joke reality' like what Birdy can. I kind of find his critique here a bit sixth form-ish tbh, and the sheep bleats at the end of the chorus don't do a lot to help. But yeah, there is (as ever) something about Burgess's sense of alienation which I find pretty affecting.

I think he does a lot more for me when he's talking about childhood/the passage of time etc rather than when he's getting into political analysis, cos that's when he starts wandering off down the path of paranoid crazytalk imo.

that's true for most musicians re: political analysis

& i agree!

Thanks for the answer. I must admit that I pay less attention to the exact contents of lyrics : being french but english speaking, I do understand the lyrics without the meaning coming straight to my understanding. I'm almost done with the book from Burgess "View From A Hill", and he said that he had been inspired by the american presidential elections at the time for the sing.
As I expected, "Free For All" was only a temporary frenzy, followed by "Paradiso".

would The Chameleons Vox be worth catching on the upcoming tour?

If you've never seen Mark perform Chameleons songs, yes, because he can be a hell of a performer -- but if you were lucky enough to catch the Chameleons reunion tour (and I realize that it's almost a decade old by now -- yipes!), I'd not be so eager. Having seen the Chams a total of four times and Mark solo in various configurations even more, Chameleons songs can really only be played by the original four straight up; there's something always lacking otherwise. The except is when Mark does solo acoustic performances, those are often remarkable precisely because they don't and can't try to compete with the original arrangements.

hm, that's what I was thinking... well, having never had the chance to catch 'em in the past, I'll prob check it out anyways. will just have to make sure I set my expectations for what it is. thx

Thought I'd share this for any ILX Chameleons fans (of which there are many).

New limited vinyl remaster of 'Script of the Bridge'.

http://www.blueapplemusic.co.uk/chameleondetails/chamREF121.html

Strictly limited to 1000 numbered copies worldwide, The Chameleons seminal debut album ‘Script of the Bridge’ has been restored and re-mastered for vinyl at Abbey Road Studios, London.

The gatefold package contains two heavyweight (180g) vinyl discs and also includes a cd, produced without the use of a ‘limiter’, which greatly increases the dynamic range of the recordings.

The restoration project was undertaken by production team Guy Massey and Steve Rooke, who received a Grammy Award last year for their work on the Beatles Box Set. Guy Massey quotes Script of the Bridge as an influential album on his career.

This is the first time that Script of the Bridge has been made available as a ‘double album’. By dividing the tracks onto two 12” discs, the sound quality greatly increases with none of the compression that hampered the original Chameleons vinyl.

Working from original studio tapes, the production pair painstakingly restored the album song by song, to create what the band believe is the truest reflection of how the recordings were meant to be.

The gatefold sleeve features exclusive new artwork by The Chameleons guitarist Reg Smithies.

Consider me in!

Indeed.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/c1e3720f0aa99954417a003a1786b987/tumblr_mj52eoKFnI1qar3r2o1_1280.jpg

Bi-zarre!

Allegedly, Mark, John Lever and two other guys have formed ChameleonsVox and will be releasing a new album, "Eden", this spring. There's one track floating in the aether from a radio session.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lfkjW1iKCc

A new Mark interview

http://www.drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4147553-dis-meets-mark-burgess-from-the-chameleons

He'll never make anything good with Yves.

Why do you say that?

Because everything he's done with him has felt half-baked and weak. Maybe I'm being hard on Yves, it's also possible Mark can no longer handle constructive criticism and so surrounds himself with people who tell him everything he does is great. I don't know for sure, but "Paradyning" is mostly bad, Invincible has one redeeming tune and the new EP is forgettable. Whereas "Zima Junction" is wonderful and "Why Call It Anything" is underrated, suffering only because the first three records are some immense. I want to believe Mark has one great album left in him but at this point, probably not.

Okay, ouch.

I kind of lump Zima Junction and Paradyning together — both solid 3.5 star albums. But I love the Invincible album; maybe even more than Why Call it Anything.

The semi-official live album from the Paradyning tour is very good, as well.

they're playing script of the bridge at my local pub
but it's £16 :( and i'm second skint
down the up price guys

i'm going to go and see them play here. how could i not? 30 years of listening to the chameleons and i've still never seen them live

this is very silly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vasr1_sJV1A

Definitely go see them live! But I wish Mark would expand his focus beyond Script, as great as that album is, and give some love to the rest of his work.

That is a silly clip but, jeez, his words still penetrate. "Nothing's forever, some things rearrange the scheme of things" - a simple insight but what we all need to hear sometimes.

http://devonrecordclub.com/2014/06/10/the-chameleons-strange-times-round-68-robs-choice/

Mark Burgess autobiography, View From A hill, about to be reissued.

We're very proud to announce the imminent publication of a newly-edited and augmented edition of View From A Hill. It has been produced with Mark's blessing and co-operation, and will be available in the UK and Europe in mid-late November.

You can make pre-orders here and they will reach you in time for Christmas: http://mittenson.com/vfah.html

There will be a kindle edition available at the same time, and we will make the paperback available in other parts of the world too. Please contact us for details of these, and with any questions - i✧✧✧@mitten✧✧✧.c✧✧.

Apparently there's a Chameleons Vox farewell tour, being a performance of Script Of The Bridge.

They toured the UK last year performing Script in its entirety and they're touring here again in a month or so doing the whole second album. Unless something has happened suddenly to make Mark change his plans?

Mark change his mind? How unexpected.

**rolls eyes**

Oh, so you know Mark too...

I am embarrassed that I own nothing by The Chameleons. However hearing songs of theirs pop up in my Killing Joke Pandora station have convinced me I need to rectify that.

Am I good if I pick up Return of the Roughnecks or are the first three albums all essential?

Just get Strange Times, and if it thrills, proceed sequentially.

The compilation is expensive! An import only evidently.

I can get the original versions of the albums cheaply since they did the deluxe remaster dealios, I'll probably go that route unless those remasters are really essential.

No you just need the first album. And the peel sessions. Then you're good.

i mean, get all three albums, don't get a best of...

Is the Return Of Roughnecks the only compilation containing the Tony Fletcher EP?

Yes.

I was hoping it would show up on a Strange Times reissue.

You need all three albums, no question. The "Tony Fletcher" EP is available on the "Dreams In Celluloid" comp of early material, so it won't be redundant, and is also available cheaply.

Thank you very much. I heard the first three albums a decade ago and its nice not having to pay for an overpriced Best Of to get the EP.

Absolutely awful news -- John Lever has passed.

http://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2017/03/13/john-lever-chameleons-dies/

oh shit. wouldn't have been the same band without him, imagine 'soul in isolation' without JL

Yeah I keep turning over so many different fills and breaks of his in my mind. Just would NOT have been the same, indeed.

Ouch. That is indeed unsettling news.

LIstening to soul in isolation on this, fantastic, thanks Ned.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSfxjgIYjeGYUBs4NLlFEaMaKp5C6FPpC

You're welcome of course. I'll have a piece running in the Quietus tomorrow.

RIP :(

Way too young. A remarkable drummer in terms of what he didn't do, powerful without overpowering.

One of my favourite little bits of JL is that minute and a bit outro of On The Beach where the drums smashing through at the end of each bar, wave after wave onto the shore

Terrible news. I also thought of "Soul in Isolation" first, now it's time to reckon with "In Shreds," "Nathan's Phase"... jeez.

Giving a listen to the Live in Toronto album from the Strange Times tour now. They played San Diego that tour, and had I been just a bit more aware or on top of things, I suppose I could have gone or tried to go, but I was still very much a top 40 kid, wouldn't've known. Though I did see the reunion tour of course, I really can't complain.

FUCK

Man, what sad news. A lot of the Chameleons sound comes down to how powerful his drum parts were

My Quietus memorial is live:

http://thequietus.com/articles/21990-rip-the-chameleons-john-lever

Well said, Ned

great piece ned

Thanks kindly.

Another farewell to him, from Black Swan Lane's Jack Sobel

http://blackswanlane.com/goodbye-john/

https://scontent.fbed1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20663881_10156145323592137_7011716937297355767_n.jpg?oh=7f94036b7bb4faeeb7aca0c2f0a6dad3&oe=5A346751

oh my gosh, that is both brilliant and hideous

found amidst table of wizard of oz collectible plates and figurines at yard sale in illinois, so nutty. old lady next to me was like "is that suppose to be one of them oompa loompas...or ?"

LOL. Can just imagine the Mrs' face when comes home with that.

bump

Touring now, going to see Mark and the latest band in Boston on Sat night.

Who sang the first track on Tony Fletcher?

Mark sings everything. Except for the toast on WCIA.

I hadn't realized that those Dreams In Celluloid recordings were non-studio album tracks. Started to realise when I heard "Everyday I'm Crucified". Cant forget a lyric like "I think I know how Christ felt when they killed him on that hill, pissed off!"

"Denims And Curls" sounds like a Morrissey song.

Another song on the EP sounds like a full-on "wake up sheeple" thing. Didn't notice until several plays that he was doing a sheep "baaaaa".

Tony Fletcher (the person and the music recording) are both essential to life.

https://www.discogs.com/The-Chameleons-Free-Trade-Hall-Rehearsal/release/387186

Listening to that album for the first time in ages. The mix still leaves a lot to be desired, but it's just about impossible not to marvel at how good they were. Any 'Mad Jack' is bound to be good, but man they rip through it here. Probably my favorite recording of the tune.

Holy shit, I forgot they do 'In Answer' on here as well. This song is absolutely gorgeous. Always has been.👍🏻

Yeah, there's a dearth of great live recordings from the "Strange Times" tour.

I don't think I will ever tire of hearing them move from the brute, maniacal charge in the first section to the sound of souls exiting in the second half of 'A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days.'

Would still argue that's one of their absolute best; and one of the most "zeitgeist-esque" songs of the era.

Mark relaying the situation in one summed up and terrifying question after the outburst:

"`Have you killed her?`, someone said." is one of the darkest and most intense moments in recorded music, I'd reckon. Makes me scared to visit northern England for sure.

But also somehow one of the most profound and beautiful codas I've ever heard.

xpost -- At least there's Live in Toronto. I know I have one other bootleg kicking around.

I used to have a boot from the Philly show but lost it years ago. I recall it being better than "Toronto".

https://www.brooklynvegan.com/the-mission-uk-the-chameleons-touring-in-2022-with-theatre-of-hate/

i used to love the Mission UK, they are so bad. just another U2.

hmm, dave not involved with the chams. those dudes have been through it. has anyone heard any of his stuff post-reunion? last i knew, he was in a band called coconut dogfuck but i never checked it out. he strikes me as a very misunderstood person, just in general.

glad to see mark has reconciled with reg to the point that they can share a stage again. wonder who's going to be on drums - i didn't see any details in the link.

in any case, yes the mish are quite boring.

is there a rundown of the beef between Mark and Dave somewhere?

well, mark's book was about two-thirds about exactly that, so lol not really.

it stems from mark and dave both having gigantic egos and was really ignited by mark pressing up unreleased chameleons recordings and selling them without asking all of the other members of the group (though he did give them a part of the profits) [citation needed].

i think that sums up the genesis of their beef, but there is a lot more.
how they ever got back together for the reunion boggles my mind.

The unreleased stuff, that's what came out on Imaginary Records - "Dali's Picture", "Here Today", those albums, right?

not the imaginary stuff; that was after they had somewhat come to an agreement. the initial conflict was over the glass pyramid stuff, i.e. the tony fletcher ep. from what i understand, the band agreed when they went their separate ways in 1988 that those recordings were "not finished" and therefore would not be releasing them.

basically summarizing from mark's book. as one-sided as his story is, it is pretty illuminating as to why those guys have such a strained relationship. considering they split on even worse terms after the initial reunion, i wonder how this new incarnation came to be.

all of this just makes me sad thinking of jon sitting back there pounding away at "soul in isolation."
you know he'd be involved in this new tour if he was still alive.

Yeah that's why I can't be bothered with this. Having seen Mark solo throughout the 90s, even with John on drums at points, he was absolutely essential there, but no guitarists could even approach the perfect flow of Reg and Dave together -- when I saw the 2001/2002 shows it all made SENSE, it has to be the quartet or nothing when it comes to Chameleons songs. I did see Mark solo with a backing band later in the 2000s and it was a solid enough show, but when he started doing that ChameleonsVox approach I was out, and now that John's gone, I'm sorry, but the band has definitively ended, no matter what label is being used. I'd think that even if Dave was on board.

I'd think that even if Dave was on board.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, October 9, 2021 8:55 AM

inclined to agree here.

at this point, the innerband conflicts are becoming their most known legacy; and half of the band playing as "THE CHAMELEONS" doesn't seem like the kind of thing one does to extend the olive branch.

though i doubt most folks seeing them on this kind of bill really care. i do genuinely believe that mark feels like he is "giving the fans what they want."

Have seen chameleons vox a couple of times not really sure what to expect, but hearing Mark singing those songs right there in front of ne, it was impossible for me not to get swept away

see that's the thing: he is an outstanding performer. i saw him play one of his post-reunion pre-chamsvox pick up band gigs and it was fucking awesome. he played a bit acoustic before the proper set and he was taking requests for the sun and the moon songs, for fucks sake.

like i said, the guy seems to genuinely love his fans as much as they love him. and he has a gigantic ego, so he loves the attention it brings.

also i didn't mean that ego thing in a demeaning way. don't get me wrong or whatever.

Anyone seen them on the current tour? I'm thinking of going next week. Doubt I'd stay for the Mission but eight or so Chameleons songs still seems worth it.

I saw them in June if that counts as 'the current tour'. Very enjoyable! Mark was on excellent form - charming and combative.

ah thanks, that seals it

Saw 'em a few weeks ago, had a really good time! The Mission were fun too.

Playing the US in August

Sweet. Still kicking myself for missing them last year, was utterly shocked how cheap it was and how small the venue was. Straight up injustice.

Oh wow, and they're playing Strange Times. I might have to find a way to be in... Kansas City?

They were so good last fall, just wish the set had been longer, esp. after finding out they'd ended up headlining the night before. Could've listened to Mark riff on popular songs in the middle of "Soul in Isolation" for at least another hour.