Modern English
Modern English in the early '80s
Background information
Also known as	The Lepers
Origin	England
Genre(s)	New Wave, Post-punk
Years active	1979–1991, 2005–present
Label(s)	Sire, 4AD, TVT
Members
Robbie Grey Gary McDowell Richard Brown Mick Conroy Stephen Walker

Modern English is a rock band best remembered for their song "I Melt With You," which was an MTV staple in 1982, and has appeared in various commercials and movies over the years. Image File history File links Modern_English. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England_(bordered). ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... A music genre is a category (or genre) of pieces of music that share a certain style or basic musical language (van der Merwe 1989, p. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Post punk generally refers to the particularly fertile and creative period following the initial punk rock explosion. During the first wave of punk, roughly spanning 1976-1983, bands such as The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Ramones and The Damned began to challenge the current styles and conventions of rock... For the Smashing Pumpkins song, see 1979 (song). ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Sire Records Company is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. ... The British indie rock record label 4AD Records was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records. ... TvT Records is an independent record label in the United States. ... Rock is a form of popular music with a prominent vocal melody accompanied by guitar and drums. ... Modern English is a New Wave band best remembered for their song, I Melt With You, which was an MTV staple in 1982, and has appeared in various commercials and movies over the years. ... MTV (Music Television) is an American cable television network headquartered in New York City. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

History

Formed in Colchester, Essex, England, in 1977 by Robbie Grey (vocals), Gary McDowell (guitar, vocals), and Michael Conroy (bass, vocals), Modern English was originally known as the Lepers. Richard Brown (drums) and Stephen Walker (keyboards) were subsequently added to the line-up of the indie rock band. A debut single, "Drowning Man" was released in 1980 on the Limp Records label. The band's full-length Mesh & Lace, released by 4AD Records a year later, drew heavily on the gloom rock sound already patented by bands such as Joy Division. The follow-up After The Snow, recorded by the same line-up, was a minor revelation, as they introduced warmth and strong guitar harmonies (most notably on the minor classic "I Melt With You"), rejecting the tinny bleakness of the debut. It was well received in the USA, and the band relocated to New York to consolidate a popularity encouraged by college radio. Richochet Days had a crisper production but less creative experimentation. By Stop Start, released by Sire Records in 1986, Walker and Brown had left, and Aaron Davidson (keyboards, guitar) had joined. The band had tried too hard for commercial 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 mutliple harmonies. It received very little enthusiasm from TVT. Locked into contractual obligations with TVT, Grey subsequently put the band on hold to study and travel, and Mason handled the legal issues of getting out of the TVT deal. In 1995, they re-formed Modern English with Matthew Shipley (keyboards) and Ted Mason (guitar), and recorded Everything's Mad for the Imago label. Robbie Grey continues to tour extensively on the US club circuit, and in 2001 signed a new recording contract with A.P.G. Music. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Essex is a county in the East of England. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... The British indie rock record label 4AD Records was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records. ... Joy Division were an English rock band that formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. ... NY redirects here. ... College radio (also known as university radio, campus radio or student radio) is a type of radio station that is run by the students of a college or university. ... Sire Records Company is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... TvT Records is an independent record label in the United States. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Discography

Main Albums

• Mesh and Lace (1981)
• After The Snow (1982)
• Ricochet Days (1984)
• Stop Start (1986)
• Pillow Lips (1990)
• Everything Is Mad (1996)

1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...

Compilations

• Life in the Gladhouse, 1980-1984: Best of Modern English

External links

• All Music page on Modern English