tony skinkis/the chameleons

for the moment this page is dedicated to the chameleons and john lever's new band bushart,but i will be updating soon with some other video's so stay tuned...they'll all be related somehow...........................................................

While still working in a local vinegar factory they sent a tape to John Peel. He liked it and spent months trying to contact the band. He succeeded, gave them a Radio One session and then the mighty CBS swooped.

An eight-album deal was signed and their debut single, "In Shreds", a thumping, abrasive song was released in March 1982.

The group fell out with the record company and after the single's initial pressing, CBS deleted it and The Chameleons with it.

The smaller label, Statik Records, moved in and released the single "As High As You Can Go". It received a good response and in August 1983 The Chameleons followed up with a stirring album, Script of the Bridge.

The Chameleons produced it themselves at a local studio, deigned the cover and did a lot of it's promotion.

The reaction was encouraging. They toured Britain several times and spent many weeks in Europe. The record sold especially well where they have loyal following.

Two more singles were culled from the album, "A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days" and "Up The Down Escalator", before they ran into more record company trouble.

This year the band have been involved in legal problems with Statik. Despite this they have recorded another Peel session (their third) and played a few major concerts, including one as support for Simple Minds in Germany. They have recently toured America where their album is just breaking and they are currently on the verge of joining another record company.

The Chameleons are: Mark Burgess (bass/vocals), Dave Fielding (guitar), John Lever (drums) and Reg Smithies (guitar).

The nucleus of the group had been mates from school. They met again when two Middleton groups, "The Clichés" and "Years" folded.

Their music is written collectively with Mark Burgess adding the lyrics. "They are an outlet. It's like thinking aloud, but actually writing it down as you're thinking," says Mark.

They do not try to make any direct political points but they do not peddle escapist trash. "I would not say we were a political band. I have a CND sticker on my guitar strap because I regard that as important, more as a social thing than a political one," says Reg.

Unlike many groups, The Chameleons, without any publicity hype, have built up a hardcore following of a cross-section of people. Mark says: "We'll play to anyone who wants to listen to us. We've had all sorts coming to gigs: punks, skins and hippies."

And what do The Chameleons sound like? Well, drums crash, guitars swirl, the bass booms and Mark Burgess evokes imagery of laughing in the rain, monsters in masks and alarm bells ringing.

I was listening to a live tape of one of their recent concerts. During the encore a bouncer can be heard shouting as he tries to calm a frantic crowd, "There's gonna be a riot in here. . . "

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