Shriekback is a rock band formed in the early 1980s by Barry Andrews, formerly of XTC and League of Gentlemen (keyboards/synthesizers/vocals), Carl Marsh (guitars/vocals), and Dave Allen, formerly of the Gang of Four (bass). They were joined by Martyn Barker on drums in 1983.

Style

Shriekback are popular for their exploration of the darker, funkier side of rock music, usually featuring Dave Allen's driving basslines. Self-described as an "avant-garde musical outfit", they are popular among a limited audience, both for their poetic, often intellectual lyrics, and for their dance-worthy music which range from disco and new wave (New Romantic) to an edgy, pre-grunge hard rock.

History and member changes

Shriekback was originally an artistic trio of Barry Andrews, Carl Marsh, and Dave Allen. They enjoyed some success on the dance chart on their original Y Records label, but left for the big time on Arista Records for 1984's Jam Science. Finding little success, single Hand on my Heart charted in the top 60 in the UK, they switched to Island Records for the next year's breakout, Oil & Gold. This album signalled a shift for the band, with Carl Marsh leaving the band and rockers Martyn Barker and Lu Edmonds joining what was now Andrews' vehicle. Indeed, Allen left the band after the followup, Big Night Music, and Shriekback remained a collaborative around Andrews.

Dave Allen would go on to play in King Swamp, The Elastic Purejoy, and most recently in the reformed Gang of Four. Carl Marsh was in the band Happyhead. Both Allen and Marsh did return to the studio to contribute to the recording of Shriekback's 2003 release, Having a Moment.

Director Michael Mann was a fan of Shriekback and used several of their songs in his films Manhunter and Band of the Hand.

Their best-known song is "Nemesis", which received wide airplay on the indie/college circuit. The song was notable among the hard rock of its day for its use of unusual imagery and lyrics including the use of the word "parthenogenesis" in the chorus, and an appearance in the music video clip of "Nemesis the Warlock" from the UK comic book 2000AD.

Discography

• Tench (EP) (1982)
• My Spine Is The Bassline (1982)
• Care (1983)
• Jam Science (1984)
• Oil & Gold (1985)
• Big Night Music (1986)
• Go Bang! (1988)
• Sacred City (1992)
• Naked Apes and Pond Life (2000)
• Having a Moment (2003)
• Cormorant (2005)
• Glory Bumps (2007)

Singles

External links

• The Shriekback Pages
• Band leader, Barry Andrews' site
• All Music Guide: Shriekback
• Trouser Press: Shriekback
• Shriekback's Billboard hits
• Shriekback - Cormorant - Presented by Malicious Damage Records