Then Jerico

Then Jerico
250x200px
Background information
Origin	London, England
Genres	Alternative rock, pop rock, new wave
Years active	1983–present
Labels	London Records
Website	www.thenjerico.com
Members	Mark Shaw PJ Phillips Ryan Williams Justin McConville Barry Ross
Past members	Jasper Stainthorpe Nick Beggs Paul Harvey Simon Ellis Guy Pratt Steve Wren Scott Taylor Cliff Lawrence Mark Sanderson Ben Angwin Alex Mungo Rob Downes Chris Youdell Keith Airey

Then Jerico are an English rock band who became popular in the late 1980s.

Career

The band included singer Mark Shaw, bassist Jasper Stainthorpe, drummer Steve Wren, and guitarist Scott Taylor.

The band played at The Limelight Club in NYC in 1983 and signed to London Records in 1984. The single "The Big Sweep" was recorded for London but they objected to the lyrical subject matter (an anti-Robert Maxwell/Rupert Murdoch statement). It was initially released by the track's producer Martin Rushent on his own Immaculate label in 1985 and later as a limited edition by London Records along with the new song, "Fault".

The band's songs "Muscle Deep" and "The Motive" charted in 1987. They enjoyed success with two albums, First (The Sound of Music) (1987) co-produced by Mark Shaw and Owen Davies, which reached number 35 in the UK Albums Chart, followed by The Big Area in 1989 that went gold and reached number 4 in the UK Albums Chart. Producer Rick Nowels took care of about more than half of the tracks on that album which also lead to the appearance of Belinda Carlisle on side vocals on the single "What Does It Take".

"Big Area" was the greatest success the group would have, peaking at number 13 in the UK Singles Chart.

After the original Then Jerico line-up split up in early 1990, Mark Shaw left the band for a solo career. He released his only studio album, Almost for EMI in 1991. It was produced by guitarist Andy Taylor and included two singles "Love So Bright" and "Under Your Spell". In addition to Then Jerico, Mark Shaw has worked off and on with Tony Hadley and with the SAS Band.

In 1998, Shaw re-activated Then Jerico, writing the materials for Orgasmaphobia, a self-financed album released on Eagle Rock. The album was co-produced by Mark Shaw and Andy Taylor with collaborations from Taylor, Simple Minds' keyboard player Mick MacNeil and author Iain Banks. In 2000, a live album Alive & Exposed was released by Yeaah! Records credited to 'Then Jerico... Mark Shaw Etc.'. It was a recording made in the summer of 1992 of a concert at The Grand Theatre, Clapham in London. It contained a new song "Step into The Light".

Shaw embarked on a new Then Jerico tour in 2012 with an original line-up of the band, made up of Mark Shaw, guitarists Rob Downes and Scott Taylor, bass player Jasper Stainthorpe and drummer Steve Wren.

A Reprise Tour was launched for 2013 to promote the release of the 'Reprise' compilation album on Warner / Rhino Music with a number of appearances including at Henley's Rewind the 80s Music and at the Let's Rock Bristol festivals.

As of February 2014 the 'original' Then Jerico called it a day; however, lead singer Mark Shaw has continued, as he vowed to do, with a new and improved line-up to fulfill Let's Rock festival dates in May, June and July. In 2015 Shaw has been playing club shows prior to a new album release in 2016 and a forthcoming performance at "Let's Rock London", Clapham Common, London, on July 16th 2016.

Original band members

• Mark Shaw – (born Mark Robert Tiplady, 10 June 1961, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England) – singer – (1983–present)
• Cliff Lawrence – guitarist (1983)
• Scott Taylor – (born 31 December 1961) – guitarist – (1984–1989 / 2012–present)
• Keith Airey (replaced Scott Taylor on guitar for The Big Area tour – 1989)
• Rob Downes – guitarist (born 7 December 1961) – (1987–1989 / 2012 – present)
• Ben Angwin – keyboardist – (1984–1985)
• Alex Mungo – keyboardist – (1985–1988)
• Chris Youdell – keyboardist – (1988–1989)
• Jasper Stainthorpe – (born 18 February 1958) – bassist – (1983–1989 / 2012–present)
• Steve Wren – (born 26 October 1962) – drummer – (1983–1989 / 2012–present)
• Mark Sanderson – (born 1961) – keyboardist (1983)

Their live shows featured the talents of backing vocalist Bari Goddard (who also worked with Cliff Richard, Madonna and Jimmy Somerville among others) and Steve Lee (Joan Armatrading); some of these performances are available on the double CD release Radio Jerico which showcase some Radio 1 sessions and the full Hammersmith Odeon show of 1989.

Current band members

• Mark Shaw – Vocals
• PJ Phillips – Bass/Backing Vocals
• Ryan Williams – Guitars
• Justin McConville - Guitars
• Barry Ross - Drums

Discography

Albums

• First (The Sound of Music) (1987)
• The Big Area (1989)
• Almost... (Mark Shaw, solo) (1991)
• Electric (1994)
• Radio Jerico [2 CD] (1997) (re-issued as download only via thenjerico.com, 2012)
• Orgasmaphobia (1998)
• The Best Of... (1999)
• Alive & Exposed (2000)
• First (The Sound of Music) (25th Anniversary Expanded Edition 2012)
• Jewels in Time: Rarities & Unreleased Tracks (Then Jerico Music 2012)
• Big Area (Re-issue Warner/Rhino 2012)
• Acoustic Live (CD/DVD) (2012)
• Reprise (compilation) (Warner/Rhino May 2013)
• Acoustic: Live London 2012 (CD only) (Then Jerico Music June 2013)

Singles

• "The Big Sweep" (1985)
• "Fault" (1985)
• "Muscle Deep" (1986)
• "Let Her Fall" (1986) – UK No. 65
• "Prairie Rose" (1987)
• "The Motive (Living Without You)" (1987) – No. 18
• "Muscle Deep" (1987) – No. 48
• "Big Area" (1988) – No. 13
• "What Does It Take" (1989) (featuring Belinda Carlisle) – No. 33
• "Sugar Box" (1989) – No. 22
• "Love So Bright" (Mark Shaw solo – 1990)
• "Under Your Spell" (Mark Shaw solo – 1991)
• "The Motive" (1996) (Eurohouse Remix – Bol Beat Records)
• "The Motive" (1997) (ItaloDance Remix – Contraseña Records)

External links

• Then Jerico official website