B.F.G. - Paris / Western Sky / Higher Then Heaven Is

Neatly following on from the very limited releases of Lavolta Lakota are B.F.G. formed by former LL drummer Mike Simkins. Whilst clearly classified as 80's Goth music, B.F.G. did not aspire to the goth image.
On hearing the early demos, Joy Division and New Order bassist Peter Hook invited the band to support New Order On their Summer 1986 Tour. This tour coincided with BFG's first release Paris b/w Amelia with a sound much akin to that of Joy Division and early Sisters of Mercy.

Simkins was joined by B.J. Williams on vocals, Keith Lambert on Bass, and Acky on Guitar. At this time B.F.G. also worked with Andy Clegg of the Chameleons. The band quickly began to make a name for themselves, basing their sound around a thumping bass line and screaming guitars and those deep Eldrich/Curtis-like vocals. Amelia very much sounding like Alice does Exercise One. The limited edition sold out within 1st week of release and was quickly hailed as a "goth" classic.

B.F.G.'s first headlining show in home town Manchester was with the Stone Roses as support and even at this early stage were being compared with Joy Division for the intensity of their live performance. The band were starting to gain the reputation of being seen as "difficult" as far as the press were concerned. During the late 80's B.F.G.completed very few interviews and even today still refuse to play by the media's rules. Surely they would have been ideal Factory fodder, but as Manchester dropped the Manc and went Mad, the B.F.G. sound was perceived as dated and did not fit well with the new Hacienda crowd with baggies and floppy fringes.

The line up changed for the next 2 E.P.s with Steve Craig Replacing B.J. Williams and Paul Batheram replacing Acky on Guitar. Western Sky E.P. and Higher Than Heaven(........is) was recorded with the new line up with Melody Maker declaring Higher Than Heaven(........is) as the Indie Single Of The Year.

1988 saw the release of the debut B.F.G. album Fathoms whith a much more indie-pop sound akin to The Smiths and numerous other soundalikes. Another album, Blue and accompanying EP, Fade Away were to follow. I don't have copies of those - so if you do, please get in touch.

From the Paris EP released on Attica Records in 1986:
A1. Amelia
A2. Paris
B1. Paris (insane Mix)



From the Western Sky EP released on Attica Records in 1987:
A1. Western Sky
B1. Murder
B2. Fall



From The Higher EP released on Attica Records in 1988:
A1. Higher Than Heaven ....is
A2. No Two Things
B1. Firefly
B2. Back To Front

Re:Upped!