The Chameleons (called The Chameleons UK on American releases) were a post-punk band that formed in Middleton, in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England in 1981 (see 1981 in music). They consisted of singer and bassist Mark Burgess, guitarist Reg Smithies, guitarist Dave Fielding, and drummer John Lever. The band broke up initially in 1987 when their second manager Tony Fletcher died. In 2000, they reformed and recorded three albums (two "unplugged" ventures into older material, and one new studio release). Following these recordings and their accompanying tours, The Chameleons disbanded again. Although they never broke through to mainstream success, they had an undeniable influence on bands as diverse as The Comsat Angels, Interpol, and Oasis.^*

Discography

Albums

• 1983 Script of the Bridge
• 1985 What Does Anything Mean? Basically
• 1986 Strange Times
• 2000 Strip (acoustic versions of earlier material)
• 2001 Why Call It Anything?
• 2002 This Never Ending Now (acoustic versions of earlier material)

Singles

• 1982 In Shreds/Nostalgia
• 1983 Up the Down Escalator
• 1983 Don't Fall
• 1983 As High As You Can Go
• 1983 A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days
• 1985 One Flesh
• 1985 Singing Rule Britannia (While the Walls Close In)
• 1986 Tears
• 1986 Swamp Thing
• 1987 Tony Fletcher Walked on Water....La La La La La - La La - La - La

Compilations

• 1986 The Fan and the Bellows
• 1990 John Peel Sessions
• 1997 Return of the Roughnecks: The Best of the Chameleons

External links

• The Chameleons: Home Is Where the Heart Is - Official webpage with news, articles, discography, lyrics, and store
• Biography at allmusic.com

English musical groups | Music from Manchester, England | Post-punk | Peel Sessions artists | Rochdale

The Chameleons | The Chameleons