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The Real People | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Liverpool, England |
| Genres | Alternative rock,indie rock,Britpop |
| Years active | 1986–1998, 2002, 2008–present |
| Labels | CBS |
| Website | The Real People's official website |
The Real People are an Englishrock band formed inLiverpool in 1986. The band currently consists of Tony Griffiths (bass, vocals), Chris Griffiths (guitars, vocals), Martin Lappin (guitar), Tony McGuigan (drums), and James Breckon (keyboards).[1]
Formed in 1986 by the Griffiths brothers, the band was initially known asJoJo and the Real People with Dave Reilly (drums), Jay Norton (keyboards), Phil Coxon (guitars), and Gordon Morgan (guitars), although Norton departed from the band prior to any studio recordings.[2] They released a few singles which were not a success. Following the shortened name change, Tony Elson replaced Reilly on drums, and Sean Simpson replaced Morgan and Coxon on guitars. After a debut album in 1988, The Real People found success in 1991 with theirself-titled album.[3]
Despite a few singles charting in the UK, the band's follow-up album in 1992 was cancelled by the band's label, and Simpson departed from the band. The Real People then discarded the material and focused on another album, which was released in 1996. Around that time, the lineup changed numerous times, until the band went on a hiatus in 1998. They reformed for a few live shows in 2002, followed by another reunion in 2008 which eventually spawned two albums in 2010 and 2016.
Initially called JoJo & the Real People, the band started playing in local clubs and later toured as support act for theInspiral Carpets,Ocean Colour Scene,the Pixies,Simple Minds,David Bowie, and others throughout the 1990s and onwards.
The group signed a management deal with local entrepreneur Mick Swift of Whitehouse Management, Bold Street, Liverpool in 1986. Their first record deal was brokered withPolydor Records in 1987, after Swift had persuaded Eddie Lundon of Kirkby bandChina Crisis to produce the demo of their debut single "One by One". The band also signed a publishing deal withPolygram. After "One by One", which would become a Top 10 hit forCher[4] in 1996, the band released a cover of Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan's "Lady Marmalade", which was produced by Phil Harding atPWL withStock Aitken Waterman acting as executive producers.[5][6][7][8][9] Even though both songs would provide Top Ten hits for other artists in the 1990s,[10][11] neither song charted for JoJo & The Real People in the 1980s.[12]
The band self-releasedMini L.P. in 1988. The following year, now managed by Jeffrey Abbotts, they were signed as the Real People byCBS on theColumbia label, although CBS were subsequently bought out bySony. During this time, under the management of Jeffrey Abbotts, they toured extensively, including a major tour of the US, Japan, Europe, etc. etc. They released their self-titled major label debut albumThe Real People on 6 May 1991. All the songs were written by Chris and Tony Griffiths. This reached the number 59 in theUK Albums Chart.[13] They recorded the follow-up album,Marshmellow Lane, for CBS, but although theChris Allison produced "Believer", the first single from the album, charted at No. 38 and another single, "Too Much Too Young", appeared soon afterwards, the album was never actually released. Several tracks subsequently appeared on a two bandcompilation album calledLiverpool – The Calm Before the Storm, released in 1996 on the Columbia label. Tony and Chris Griffiths went on to set up their own recording studio (Realistic Studios) in Birkenhead, Wirral, and started their own label Egg Records.
Their next album,What's on the Outside, was released independently under their own label on 4 November 1996. It was critically acclaimed but failed to make the charts. Although another album calledCloser was reported to be in preparation in 2002, it was never released; however, The Real People played a few live performances in 2002.
Oasis were still unsigned whenNoel Gallagher first met Tony Griffiths of The Real People when he was roadie to the Inspiral Carpets. In 1992, determined to make a professional soundingdemo, he contacted Griffiths and asked him to help record something to send out to record companies.
Paul Moody of theNME reported:-
'Used to the hard-knock school of theManchester scene,Oasis were shocked by the co-operation of theirscouse mates. "Because we'd got our own eight-track studio we let them come down to the Dock Road and record there," says Tony. "They were quite naive about recording, so we'd show them how to play the songs, how to think about the structure of the songs and the dynamics. We were just helping them because that's what bands do in Liverpool. I don't think it's quite the same in Manchester, because no one had done anything for them before."'
The result was the eight-song music demo (later dubbed theLive Demonstration tape) recorded in Liverpool in 1993 that got Oasis their first record deal. The tape included many of the songs that eventually featured on the band's first albumDefinitely Maybe.
Chris and Tony Griffiths' input into the writing and recording process has since been fully acknowledged by Oasis. Tony Griffiths is credited with providing vocals on "Supersonic" onDefinitely Maybe. Chris Griffiths also co-wrote "Rockin' Chair" with Noel Gallagher in 1993. This was released as the B-side to the single of "Roll with It" in 1995, and also appeared on the albumThe Masterplan. Chris Griffiths also claimed to have written the lyrics for "Columbia", withLiam Gallagher being responsible for the chorus, although the song is officially credited to Noel Gallagher only. Oasis Drummer Tony McCarroll tells the same story in his bookOasis: The Truth. They are both included in the documentary made for theDefinitely Maybe 10th Anniversary DVD.
In 2006, "Losing a Friend" was released in the UK as a single by theIcelandic girl groupNylon. It reached top 20 in the UK chart. Another Real People cover, "Closer" was the second single release from the group in October 2006. Both songs were number ones in Iceland.
They also wrote several tracks for the debut solo album by ex-Atomic Kitten,Natasha Hamilton.[14] "Reaching Out" (co-written withAlistair Griffin andJames and Tom Martin) was recorded by the Northern Irish bandBel's Boys and appeared on their 2007 albumPeople Lets Go.[15]
Chris and Tony Griffiths continue to perform live, both as solo artists and as backing for other bands. In November 2006 the Real People played a special benefit concert at theCarling Academy in Liverpool, for the mental health charity C.A.L.M. following another successful live gig in December. The Real People supportedThe Pretenders at theLiverpool Summer Pops, on 9 July 2007 at the Aintree Pavilion Arena,Aintree Racecourse. They also appeared at Liverpool Arena on 19 January 2008 as part of The Number One Project singing a cover of "Hey Jude". This was later released on thecharity albumLiverpool – The Number Ones Album.[16]They have since played at the Carling Academy on 21 March 2008, at the Echo Arena supportingDuran Duran and also at the Cockpit inLeeds.
Their long delayed fourth studio album,Think Positive, was released on 6 December 2010. They continued to play gigs through 2010 and 2011, and more recently in March 2012 inYork. In May 2012,Marshmellow Lane was eventually released.
The Real People's latest album,Monday Morning Breakdown, was released on the 28 October 2016, through Townsend Records.
In 2018, the band performed as part of the high profile Star Shaped Festival tour at venues including the iconic Brixton Academy.[17]
Colour denotes main live duty
| Year | Title | UK Albums Chart |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Mini L.P.[a] | — |
| 1991 | The Real People | 59[13] |
| 1992 | Marshmellow Lane[b] | — |
| 1996 | What's on the Outside | — |
| 2010 | Think Positive | — |
| 2016 | Monday Morning Breakdown | — |
| Year | Title | UK Singles Chart | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | "One by One"[c] | — | non-album song |
| "Lady Marmalade"[c] | — | ||
| 1990 | "Window Pane" | 60[13] | The Real People |
| 1991 | "Open Up Your Mind (Let Me In)" | 70[13] | |
| 1992 | "The Truth" | 41[13] | |
| "Believer" | 38[18] | Marshmellow Lane | |
| 1993 | "Too Much Too Young" | — | |
| 1995 | "Bring You Down" | — | What's on the Outside |
| "Going Nowhere" | — | ||
| "Every Vision of You" | 138[19] | ||
| 1996 | "Rayners Lane" | 98[19] | |
| "Rolling Stone" | 106[19] | ||
| 1997 | "The People in the Telly" | 155[19] |
"Window Pane" also peaked at #11 on the USModern Rock Tracks chart in 1992.[20]
