Be-Bop Deluxe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Be-Bop Deluxe
Bill Nelson fronting the band at Massey Hall, Toronto, 1977
Background information
Origin	Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England
Genres	Art rock glam rock
Years active	1972–1978
Labels	Harvest
Past members	Bill Nelson Robert Bryan Nicholas Chatterton-Dew Ian Parkin Richard Brown Simon Fox Paul Jeffreys Milton Reame-James Charlie Tumahai Andrew Clark

Be-Bop Deluxe was a cool English rock band from the 1970s. They were known for their unique sound and had some popular songs. The band was active from 1972 to 1978.

The Story of Be-Bop Deluxe

How the Band Started

Be-Bop Deluxe started in 1972 in Wakefield, England. The band was created by Bill Nelson. He was the singer, guitarist, and main songwriter.

The first band members were Bill Nelson, Ian Parkin (guitar), Robert Bryan (bass and vocals), Nicholas Chatterton-Dew (drums), and Richard Brown (keyboards). They began by playing music in pubs around West Yorkshire. Their music was a mix of blues and rock. Some people compared them to David Bowie, but Bill Nelson wanted the band to have its own special sound.

Changing Members and New Sounds

The band signed with EMI's Harvest Records. Their first album, Axe Victim, came out in 1974. After this, Bill Nelson changed the band's lineup. New members included Paul Jeffreys (bass), Milton Reame-James (keyboards), and Simon Fox (drums).

Soon, Paul Jeffreys and Milton Reame-James left. Charlie Tumahai joined as the new bassist and singer in late 1974. This group recorded the 1975 album Futurama. Later, Andrew Clark joined on keyboards. This final group stayed together until the band broke up in 1978. Sadly, Paul Jeffreys passed away in 1988.

The band's music mixed different styles. These included progressive rock, glam rock, and hard guitar rock. Their song "Ships in the Night" was a big hit in both the UK and the US. It came from their third album, Sunburst Finish. This album was produced by John Leckie, who worked with the band on many of their records.

Album Names and Touring

The first three Be-Bop Deluxe albums have names linked to guitars. "Axe" is a slang word for a guitar. "Futurama" is a type of guitar. "Sunburst Finish" is a way guitars are painted.

Their fourth album, Modern Music, had a long song about their experiences touring in the US. In 1977, they released a live album called Live! In The Air Age. This album captured their exciting live shows.

A New Direction and Breaking Up

In 1978, Be-Bop Deluxe released Drastic Plastic. This album sounded very different. It had influences from punk and new wave music. Bill Nelson wanted to try new things in music. So, he decided to end Be-Bop Deluxe.

The band appeared on TV shows like BBC's The Old Grey Whistle Test and Top of the Pops. They performed their hit song "Ships In The Night" on Top of the Pops.

What Happened After Be-Bop Deluxe

After Be-Bop Deluxe, Bill Nelson started a new band called Bill Nelson's Red Noise. Andy Clark stayed on keyboards, and Bill's brother, Ian Nelson, played saxophone. Bill Nelson has released many albums on his own since then. He often plays all the instruments himself.

In the 1990s, Bill Nelson thought about forming a new band with his brother, but it didn't happen. Later, in 1995, former Be-Bop Deluxe members Ian Parkin and Charlie Tumahai passed away.

In 2004, Bill Nelson went on tour again with a band called Bill Nelson and the Lost Satellites. This tour was called "The Be Bop Deluxe And Beyond Tour." Nicholas Chatterton-Dew, the original Be-Bop Deluxe drummer, played on this tour. Ian Nelson also played saxophone until he passed away in 2006.

Bill Nelson later formed Bill Nelson and the Gentlemen Rocketeers. They played songs from Be-Bop Deluxe and Bill Nelson's other music. In 2011, EMI re-released all of Be-Bop Deluxe's original albums. These new versions were improved and included extra songs.

Between 2018 and 2022, a company called Esoteric Recordings re-released expanded versions of the Be-Bop Deluxe albums. These new sets included many CDs with extra tracks.

Be-Bop Deluxe's Music Style

Be-Bop Deluxe started as a glam rock band. They mixed in elements of progressive rock, blues, and folk rock. When people compared them to David Bowie, Bill Nelson decided to make their sound more experimental.

Their new style was called art rock. It also had influences from heavy metal, progressive rock, pop rock, and progressive pop. Their last album, Drastic Plastic, added new wave music sounds. The band's songs often used science fiction ideas in their lyrics. They also sang about common themes like love and human feelings.

Band Members

• Bill Nelson – lead guitar, lead vocals, keyboards (1972–1978)
• Robert Bryan – bass, lead vocals (1972–1974)
• Nicholas Chatterton-Dew – drums, backing vocals, percussion (1972–1974)
• Ian Parkin – rhythm and acoustic guitars (1972–1974; died 1995)
• Richard Brown – keyboards (1972)
• Simon Fox – drums, percussion (1974–1978)
• Paul Jeffreys – bass (1974; died 1988)
• Milton Reame-James – keyboards (1974)
• Charlie Tumahai – bass, backing vocals (1974–1978; died 1995)
• Andrew Clark – keyboards (1975–1978)

Timeline of Members

Line-ups

Discography

Studio Albums

• Axe Victim (1974) Harvest
• Futurama (1975) Harvest
• Sunburst Finish (1976) UK No. 17 Harvest
• Modern Music (1976) UK No. 12 Harvest
• Drastic Plastic (1978) No. 22 Harvest

Live Albums

• Live! In the Air Age (1977) UK No. 10 Harvest
• Radioland (1994) BBC Radio 1 live in concert 1976 Windsong
• Tremulous Antenna (2002) (Radioland remastered) Hux

Singles

• "Teenage Archangel" / "Jets at Dawn" (1973) Smile
• "Jet Silver and the Dolls of Venus" / "Third Floor Heaven" (1974) Harvest
• "Between the Worlds" / "Lights" (1975) Harvest (recalled)
• "Maid in Heaven" / "Lights" (1975) Harvest
• "Ships in the Night" / "Crying to the Sky" (1976) – UK No. 23 Harvest
• "Kiss of Light" / "Shine" (1976) Harvest
• "Japan" / "Futurist Manifesto" (1977) Harvest
• "Panic in the World" / "Blue as a Jewel" (1978) Harvest
• "Electrical Language" / "Surreal Estate" (1978) Harvest

DVDs

• Picture House (2010) [Bill Nelson] Visuluxe
• Be-Bop Deluxe at the BBC 1974–78 (2013) EMI
• Classic Rock Magazine Legends Bill Nelson and the Gentlemen Rocketeers filmed live at Metropolis Studios (2011) ITV Studios Home Entertainment

Compilation Albums

• The Best of and the Rest of Be-Bop Deluxe (1978) Harvest
• Singles A's & B's (1981) Harvest Heritage
• Bop to the Red Noise (1986) Dojo
• The Best of Be-Bop Deluxe: Raiding the Divine Archive (1990) Harvest
• Air Age Anthology: The Very Best of Be-Bop Deluxe (1997) EMI
• The Very Best of Be-Bop Deluxe (1998) EMI-Capitol Special Markets
• Tramcar to Tomorrow (1998) Hux
• Electrotype: The Holyground Recordings 1968–1972 (2001) Holyground
• Postcards from the Future... Introducing Be-Bop Deluxe (2004) EMI
• Futurist Manifesto (2011) Harvest
• The Practice of Everyday Life (2011) [Bill Nelson] Esoteric Recordings
• Original Albums Series (2014) Warner/Parlophone

Compilation Singles

• Hot Valves: "Maid in Heaven", "Bring Back the Spark" / "Blazing Apostles", "Jet Silver and the Dolls of Venus" EP (1976) UK No. 36 Harvest
• Permanent Flame (The Beginners Guide to Bill Nelson) (1983) [Bill Nelson] Cocteau