Formed in Colchester, Essex, England, in 1979 by Robbie Grey (vocals), Gary McDowell (guitar, vocals), and Michael Conroy (bass, vocals), Modern English were originally known as "The Lepers". The group expanded to "Modern English" when Richard Brown (drums) and Stephen Walker (keyboards) were subsequently added to the line-up of the band.
After the single on their own 'Limp' label in 1979 ("Drowning Man & Silent World"), they made their 4AD debut with the "Swans On Glass". The band signed to 4AD the following year in 1980, with two further singles released, and a session for John Peel recorded before the band's debut album, 'Mesh & Lace', in 1981, the band in the early days showing a strong darker post-punk gothic sound. A second Peel session was recorded in October 1981. The follow-up, 'After The Snow' (April 1982), was more keyboard-oriented. It was also released in the United States by Sire Records the following year, where it reached number 70 on the Billboard chart, and sold over 500,000 copies. Grey said of the album, "We used to think 'God, we'll never make a pop record. We're artists!', but things don't always turn out as you planned and when you actually create a pop record, it's so much more of a thrill than anything else".
The second single from the album was also a hit in the US, the jangly "I Melt With You" reaching number 78. When he reviewed the album, Johnny Waller of Sounds described the track as "A dreamy, creamy celebration of love and lust, which deserves to be showcased on as 12" single all by itself, with no b-side".
The band relocated to New York City and worked on a third album, 'Ricochet Days', which again made the top 100 in the US, after which the band left 4AD and were solely signed to Sire outside the UK and Canada. The album 'Stop Start' (1986) was the last record Modern English record released by Sire, with the band splitting up after its release.
Grey and Conroy along with Modern English worked with 'This Mortal Coil' before re-forming Modern English with Mick Conroy and Aaron Davidson for a new album in 1990, 'Pillow Lips', now on the American TVT label. The album featured a re-recorded "I Melt With You", which was released as a single, and saw the band again in the Billboard top 100. The band split up for a second time in 1991, after contractual problems with TVT. In 1995, with the legal issues with TVT sorted out, the band evolved into the next incarnation of Modern English and signed to the Imago label, with Robbie Grey (vocals) and Matthew Shipley (keyboards). This line-up recorded the 1996 album 'Everything Is Mad'. Later to be re-issued in 2007.
Robbie Grey toured the US with a new Modern English lineup, travelled coast to coast across the US, and recorded a new album with Hugh Jones again (producer of earlier Modern English records). The songs written with guitarist Steven Walker and Matthew Shipley came together on the road.
Back home in London between tours, after a few years on the shelf this collection of songs is due to be released May 24, 2010 on Darla Records named 'Soundtrack". 'Soundtrack's' artwork design is also by Vaughan Oliver of 23 Envelope (also known for doing their earlier artwork on 'Mesh & Lace', 'After The Snow', and 'Richochet Days').
There will also be a re-issue of 'Stop Start" due out in stores May 4, 2010 for the first time ever on CD! The new studio album 'Soundtrack' will also be available shortly afterwards on May 24, 2010.
The band is also set to go on tour in the United States soon after these new releases.
This is truly an "EXCITING TIME!" for Modern English fans!
