The Parachute Men with Fiona Gregg in conversation with David Eastaugh
The Parachute Men formed in 1985, with a line-up of Fiona Gregg (vocals), Stephen H. Gregg (guitar), Andrew Howes (bass and keyboards), and Mark Boyce (drums and keyboards). After two years of gigging, the band were signed by large London indie label Fire Records in 1987. Their first release was a four-track EP with "Sometimes In Vain" as the lead track, in May 1988. This was followed in August of the same year by debut album The Innocents, which made the NME top 50 albums of that year. Two further singles were taken from the album, "If I Could Wear Your Jacket" (which author Mike Gayle has stated is one of his all-time favourite records) and "Bed and Breakfast". A further single, "Leeds Station" was released and also featured on the NME's Carry On Disarming video.
Howes and Boyce departed soon after, with Fiona and Stephen continuing as an acoustic duo until they recruited Matthew Parkin (bass) and Paul Walker (drums). 1990 saw the release of the second album, Earth, Dogs, and Eggshells, preceded by the single "Every Other Thursday" (a reference to signing on to the dole). The album was released over a year after it was recorded, losing much of the momentum the band had built up.[2] The band line-up changed again, with Canadian Colleen Browne replacing Matthew Parkin. They eventually recruited a further bass player, Tony Hodges, but after playing just one gig, at Liverpool University, split in the early 1990s with no further releases.
Martha and the Muffins - Martha Johnson & Mark Gane
Diesel Park West - John Butler
Pat Irwin - Raybeats, 8-Eyed Spy & B52s
Matthew Edwards - Dance, Matthew Edwards & The Futurists/Unfortunates
Vernon Dewhurst - photographer
The Reducers with Hugh Birdsall
Rebecca Pidgeon
The Higsons with Simon Charterton
Omega Tribe with Hugh Vivian
Peppy Castro - Blues Magoos
Jeff Drake - The Joneses
Paul Roessler - The Screamers, Nervous Gender & 45 Grave
Vashti Bunyan
The Bolshoi - Trevor Tanner
Five Thirty with Tara Milton
Ivan Julian
Make Me Famous - Edward Brezinski with Brian Vincent & Heather Spore
Modern English - Michael Conroy
Mark Reeder
Daved Hild - The Girls, The Wooden Birds & The Pale Orchestra
Join Podbean Ads Marketplace and connect with engaged listeners.
Advertise Today
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Irish Songs with Ken Murray
Immediately Kinfolk
Turned On
Resident by Hernan Cattaneo
Markus Schulz presents Global DJ Broadcast