The Chameleons, part of Manchester’s musical tapestry and post punk pioneers, may never have received the accolades many felt they deserved in the eighties, but since their split in 1987, followed by frontman and bassist Mark Burgess resurrecting them in various forms from 2000 onwards, their legacy has only expanded. Now touring again as The […]
Chameleons Vox will play two of their classic albums in their entirety at two Manchester gigs later this month. The Middleton band, fronted by Mark Burgess, will play 1985’s What Does Anything Mean? on Friday, December 19, followed by 1986’s Strange Times on Saturday, December 20. Both gigs will be played at Manchester’s Academy 2, […]
– SOUND CONTROL, MANCHESTER – My boss insists that I need to go and see a band called The Chameleons (I have to admit I have never heard of them) as part of my essential musical education. A reformed 80’sManchesterband. I am surprised that when we arrive at Sound Control at around 9pm a tout […]
– THE RUBY LOUNGE, MANCHESTER – The sign outside Manchester’s coolest gig venue reads ‘Sold Out’. There’s a large crowd milling around, most with tickets and a few poor sods without. So what’s the difference between Chameleons Vox and the band of old? Well musically, almost nothing. Mark Burgess has handed his bass guitar to […]
The Chameleons have long been relegated to the position of footnote in the history of Manchester music, despite being the greatest band to ever emerge from Middleton. They have become the Gaugin to the Stone Roses Van Gough, the Salieri to the Smiths Mozart. With this reissue of the seminal 1985 album ‘What Does Anything […]