Here’s what I wrote on my blog:

http://hmanwifesearch.blogspot.com/2011/11/my-favorite-new-old-band.html

I sadly missed seeing The Chameleons first time around during the 80′s, having originally got into their music from a cassette tape compilation recording which a guy at college had done for me. The tape contained side-1 of ‘Script of The Bridge’ amongst tracks by other bands. To say that over the coming months/years I would become absolutely besotted with them is a massive understatement.

For years, I painstakingly attempted to collect the back-catalogue and always hoped that one day they might reform. Roll onto 2000; I didn’t initially hear about the Ashton-under-Lyne Witchwood gigs (they completely caught me out and I only found out about them after they’d sold-out), but I did hear about the Manchester Academy gig. Following that, I saw them play in York followed by two consecutive nights at the Manchester Ritz. I went on to see them in Leeds (Irish Centre), London (Shepherd’s Bush Empire), again at the Manchester Academy and even during an acoustic tour (at Crewe’s Limelight Club).

I’ve been lucky to see The Sun and The Moon, Mark/Yves and The Reegs. More recently, I’ve seen Chameleons Vox a good number of times. Every time I see Chameleons Vox, they seem to improve. Don’t ask me how, they just do.

I would echo Jim Stringer’s advice and suggest that you walk over hot coals to see Chameleons Vox. They’re one of the most powerful, all-consuming bands I’ve ever witnessed. There’s nothing like a room full of Chameleons fans all singing along, the love for the band is just incredible.

As for the back-catalogue, I’m just about there now, save a couple of promo 7″ singles (‘Don’t Fall’ and ‘One Flesh’). Maybe, just maybe, they’ll pop up on eBay or in some secondhand record store in the future at which point my heart might just skip a beat when I discover them in the rack.

For the time being, I’m happy to keep passing the word around to the people who have yet to discover the delights of The Chameleons. For instance, a guy I spoke to recently in Leeds who is a fan of Interpol and Radiohead. I said “So you must like The Chameleons?”, to which he replied “The Chameleons?? Who are they??”. I soon put him right…

First time at Huddersfield Polytechnic in 1982-ish. Most recently about 6 months ago in Manchester. Same rush – same goosebumps. Same joy.

And I’m with you – Soul in Isolation is a work of power and beauty. To sing ‘I’m alive in here’, with a couple of hundred (or thousand) other people, led by Mark is a moment I never tire of. And I’m filling up just thinking about it.

The word ‘genius’ gets chucked ariund all the time, but Mark Burgess makes music that prods your soul in places you didn’t even know it had places. And that IS bloody genius.

Go see them Cindy – it’ll change your (musical) life forever.

Jim
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