JoBoxers | |
|---|---|
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1982–1985, 2020–present |
| Labels | RCA,Sanctuary,Sony BMG |
| Members | Rob Marche Dave Collard Chris Bostock Sean McLusky Dig Wayne |
| Website | Joboxers.net |
JoBoxers are a Britishnew wavegroup formed inLondon, England in 1982 when formerSubway Sect members Rob Marche (guitarist), Dave Collard (keyboardist),Chris Bostock (bassist), and Sean McLusky (drummer) teamed up with England-based American singer Dig Wayne (born Timothy Wayne Ball, 20 July 1958,Cambridge, Ohio). Wayne, under the name Buzz Wayne, had previously fronted the New York–basedrockabilly band Buzz and the Flyers.
The band's debutsingle, "Boxerbeat", peaked at number three on theUK Singles Chart[3] while the group were the opening act on theMadness Rise and Fall tour.[4] At numbers one and two at the time wereDavid Bowie's "Let's Dance" andDuran Duran's "Is There Something I Should Know?", respectively.[5][6]
However, it was their next hit, "Just Got Lucky", that broke the band internationally. This single sold over 250,000 copies, made the UK top 10, and cracked the US top 40, reaching number 36 during November 1983.[3] The song has been featured in a number of films includingJust My Luck andThe 40-Year-Old Virgin.[7]
The third UK hit, "Johnny Friendly", is a homage to theMarlon Brando filmOn the Waterfront. British boxerFrank Bruno appeared in the promotional video for the song.[8]
"Jealous Love"/"She's Got Sex" was released as a double A-side. "Jealous Love" was performed on the UK TV showLoose Talk introduced by the actressDiana Dors in one of her last TV appearances, while "She's Got Sex" was covered onSamantha Fox's double platinum-selling albumTouch Me (as "He's Got Sex").[9]
JoBoxers' debutalbum,Like Gangbusters, featuring all of the abovementioned hits, reached the top 20 of theUK Albums Chart.[3]
The band released another single, "Is This Really the First Time", and a secondalbumSkin and Bone in 1985, but then split up during the making of a third album, with Sean McLusky joining Rob Marche in theindie-dance band called If? and Chris Bostock joiningDavid A. Stewart to form his post-Eurythmics group,the Spiritual Cowboys[10] achieving two gold albums in France.[11]
Meanwhile, Dig Wayne remained in London and briefly attempted asolo career, releasing the albumSquare Business in 1987, featuring fellow former JoBoxer Dave Collard onkeyboards. One single, "Mastermind" was released from this album. After his solo efforts proved unsuccessful, Wayne began pursuing an acting career. He appeared in several stage productions (including a starring role in the successfulWest End musicalFive Guys Named Moe) in the UK. In 1995, he returned to the US, settling inLos Angeles,California, to continue pursuing his acting/television career.
In November 2020, they announced a reunion show at London's 100 club, after 35 years of inactivity.[12] Other dates in Brighton, Leeds, Guildford and Bristol were also added, plus some festivals.[13] The dates went ahead in summer 2022.[14]
Chris Bostock performed bass on the Style Council's debut albumCafe Bleu,[15][16]Spear of Destiny'sThe Price You Pay album and tour,Sandie Shaw tours with Sean McLusky and Rob Marche,[17] theShakespears Sister single and album track "Goodbye Cruel World" and produced albums forEMI andBMG. Bostock currently records and tours as a member ofSubway Sect.[18][19]
Rob Marche went on to formEarl Brutus in 1993.
In 2012, JoBoxers' debut album,Like Gangbusters, was re-released.
Wayne returned to his music roots and fronts the band Dig Wayne and the Chisellers. Also aguitarist anddrummer, Wayne has toured both America and Europe with his band. Wayne also appeared in the sixth episode of season 8 ofCSI, "Who and What", playing apawn shop owner.
Dave Collard joinedThe The and performed onMind Bomb (1989) andDusk (1993) as well as in 'The The Versus The World' world tour. FollowingMatt Johnson's decision to re-form the band and tour in 2019, Dave (or "DC") Collard toured globally with the The, opening three nights in London (theRoyal Albert Hall,Brixton Academy and thenTroxy) and finishing the world tour in Australia, playing two nights in the main auditorium at theSydney Opera House followed immediately by another two nights at theArts Centre Melbourne. Under the name DC Collard, he continues to write and record.
| Year | Album | Label | Peak chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [3][20] | US [21] | NZ [22] | ||||
| 1983 | Like Gangbusters (re-released in 2012) | RCA | 18 | 70 | 37 | |
| 1985 | Skin and Bone (unreleased) | — | — | — | ||
| 1986 | Missing Link (unreleased) | N/A | — | — | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | ||||||
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [23] | GER [24][25] | IRE [26] | NZ [27] | UK [20] | US [28] | ||
| 1983 | "Boxerbeat" | — | 23 | 4 | — | 3 | — |
| "Just Got Lucky" | 25 | 54 | 13 | 50 | 7 | 36 | |
| "Johnny Friendly" | — | — | — | — | 31 | — | |
| "Jealous Love" / "She's Got Sex" | — | — | — | — 50 | 72 | — | |
| 1985 | "Is This Really the First Time" | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released | |||||||
The new wave group formed in 1982
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