the long blondes / 'couples' / 7 April '08.

http://www.hippy.com/trip/kennedyfuneral.jpg

?

http://www.thejerkreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/pour_one_out.jpg

Kind of sad, the guitarist had a stroke.

Are they over??

Apparently:

http://www.thelongblondes.co.uk/news.php

!!!!!!!!!!!

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=30242378&blogID=442352689

devoed.

That's a really awful reason to have to split up. Get well, Dorian.

:( :( :(

I hope Dorian gets better and they eventually reconsider.

Solo career already underway...

http://www.nme.com/news/the-long-blondes/40559

Dorian gets bionic hand
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3537352/Long-Blondes-guitarist-uses-bionic-hand-after-stroke.html

Dorian speaks about his stroke...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jan/06/rock-guitarist-dorian-cox

Still gutted about how this all ended. I hope they're all happy and well and suchlike. Such an under-rated band.

from that interview: "my advice to people is to live a normal, boring life and you should be OK"

eh

Two new songs from Kate on Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/katejackson

ty for that link! "Guilt" popped up on my iPod the other day and I was like, "Awwww, I miss this band" :(

Homeward Bound is from about a year ago, but The Atlantic is new to me (and I like it more).

I really like The Atlantic, nice use of that old Duran Duran synth line near the beginning.

I'm glad she's back although I was expecting she would go in a pop direction like Sophie Ellis Bextor did after leaving TheAudience.

Dorian Cox's new band Former Lover has a few new tracks up http://soundcloud.com/former-lover

It sounds a lot like the Blondes - especially lyrically - but with a vocalist that... well it says on the facebook Cox hired her on strength of her fringe and I can believe that. She sounds bored out of her head. I reckon "He Doesn't Have To Know About You" would sound a hell of a lot better with Kate Jackson giving it her all.

Anyway I guess the band still has time and room to develop and I'm totally delighted Cox is playing guitar again.

So I never really noticed/paid attention to this band at all but I only just gathered Russell Senior played with them live a few times so I figured that was a good sign. Will investigate as I do.

you know, there are times when a band that makes good indie pop are all you need in life.
and when that need arises, I would suggest that this lot are probably the best on offer.

bloody great they were. i still have the Couples poster on my bedroom wall as we speak.

there's a sample, removed from the finished version of the album but on the initial promos, that is one man saying of another "i know he's funny i mean i've seen him BEING funny.. " and i've still no idea what it is or who's speaking. drives me mad it does.

Nostalgia is still one of the best songs ever.

actually, I it was your enthusiasm in this very thread that made me pick up the albums.

so, I owe you a massive thank you sir, and a pint should we ever get the chance.

Adored Couples when it came out but never bothers checking the first LP. Shame these guys didn't last longer

xp hey thanks. glad you like them! and yeah, if you're ever in Manchester..

They were terrific, good thing there are still a few b-sides left out there for me to discover

there's a sample, removed from the finished version of the album but on the initial promos, that is one man saying of another "i know he's funny i mean i've seen him BEING funny.. " and i've still no idea what it is or who's speaking. drives me mad it does.

This is either Peter Sellers or someone talking about Peter Sellers.

proper miss this band. dorian cox lives in manchester these days - walked past him a few weeks back in the city centre and regret not saying hi!

So!

We are pleased to announce The Long Blondes 'Christmas Is Cancelled' will be released just in time for Christmas by @BlowUpRecords #thelongblondes #Christmas2020 #newmusic @NME @BBC6Music @marcrileydj @steve_lamacq@matteveritt https://t.co/Sn2mRKLuzA

— Blow Up Records (@BlowUpRecords) December 16, 2020

Oh my!

! they put out some damn good singles among the rest of that NME dross. and they looked fucking fantastic.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVVrVp6sDC_/

Hm, could be something 'stirring' in Long Blondes world.

Rape and abuse allegations against Dorian Cox by an ex

TW: Sexual Assault
Dorian Cox is a rapist and systematic abuser. Please retweet if you can. 1/2 #thelongblondes #longblondes #doriancox pic.twitter.com/FYdYR2XZGS

— Victoria Lane (@victoriaclane) August 11, 2022

Supporting testimony from an former ex

https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChHRJS-j9IF/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

And Kate Jackson stepping back from the band (which I think means there is now no band?)

Some very serious allegations have been made against Dorian by his ex girlfriend Victoria Lane. Until these matters are resolved by the police I will be stepping away from The Long Blondes. All forthcoming shows are postponed until further notice.

— Kate Jackson (@KateJacksonLBs) August 11, 2022

Ugh. I actually didn't realize they were still going, but I loved both of their albums and this news sucks.

Gotta say that Kate herself does not come off very well either in the follow-up to that initial tweet, just ugh all around.

yeah very depressing stuff all round.

Just for context as some people seem to be unaware, the band originally broke up in 2008 when Dorian had a stroke and was unable to play guitar, and had only just reunited after 14 years to play a few shows.

I remembered the stroke but had no idea that they'd had any sort of reunion.

Couples still an amazing album.