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The Chameleons

This article is about the English band. For other uses, see Chameleon (disambiguation).

The Chameleons
The Chameleons performing at Primavera Sound 2024
The Chameleons performing at Primavera Sound 2024
Background information
Also known asThe Chameleons UK (for North America)[1]
OriginMiddleton, England
GenresPost-punk[2]
DiscographyThe Chameleons discography
Years active
  • 1981–1987
  • 2000–2003
  • 2021–present
Labels
Members
  • Mark Burgess
  • Reg Smithies
  • Todd Demma
  • Stephen Rice
  • Danny Ashberry
Past members
  • Dave Fielding
  • Neil Dwerryhouse
  • Chris Oliver
  • Brian Schofield
  • John Lever
  • Martin Jackson
  • Alistair Lewthwaite
  • Andy Clegg
  • Kwasi Asante
  • Ray Bowles
Websitethechameleons.com

The Chameleons are an English rock band formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester, in 1981. The band's classic line-up consisted of bassist and vocalist Mark Burgess, guitarists Reg Smithies and Dave Fielding, and drummer John Lever.

The band released their debut studio album, Script of the Bridge, in 1983. They followed it with What Does Anything Mean? Basically and Strange Times in 1985 and 1986, respectively, before abruptly breaking up in 1987 due to internal tensions and the sudden death of the band's manager. After the break-up, Burgess and Lever formed the Sun and the Moon, while Fielding and Smithies formed the Reegs. Burgess also had a short solo career with backing band the Sons of God.

The Chameleons reformed in 2000, releasing their fourth studio album Why Call It Anything (2001) as well as the acoustic albums Strip (2000) and This Never Ending Now (2002). Renewed tensions caused the group to break-up again in 2003. Burgess and Lever continued to play Chameleons songs live with their new project ChameleonsVox, although Lever later left that group and died in 2017. Burgess and Smithies reformed the Chameleons in 2021 with two members of Burgess' ChameleonsVox group.

Known for their atmospheric, guitar-based sound, the Chameleons are regarded as one of the most underrated Manchester bands of the 1980s.[3][4] They did not attain the commercial success of other groups from the Manchester scene but developed a cult following.[5]

  1. ^ Palmer, Robert (15 October 1986). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  2. ^ James, Lauren (4 January 2018). "Post-punk band The Chameleons' singer on their Hong Kong debut, 37 years after they started out". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference rc was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference rg2003 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ James, Lauren (4 January 2018). "Post-punk band The Chameleons' singer on their Hong Kong debut, 37 years after they started out". South China Morning Post.

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