James

Formed in 1982 in Whalley Range, south Manchester, James first emerged on the local indie scene with a sound that blended post-punk, indie pop and alternative rock, later being linked to the Madchester movement around 1990. Centered on Tim Booth and bassist Jim Glennie, the band evolved from a group known for improvisation into a larger lineup augmented by Larry Gott, Saul Davies, Mark Hunter, Andy Diagram and David Baynton‑Power, broadening their songwriting toward melodic choruses, jangly guitars, keyboards, violin and trumpet. After early releases on Factory and the albums Stutter (1986) and Strip-mine (1988), James reached new heights with Gold Mother (1990) and Seven (1992). Collaboration with Brian Eno on Laid (1993) and Wah Wah (1994) accompanied a shift toward a more open, sometimes experimental pop-rock. Subsequent records include Whiplash (1997), Millionaires (1999) and Pleased to Meet You (2001), before Tim Booth’s departure led to a hiatus. Reunited since 2007, James has continued to release albums—Hey Ma (2008), La Petite Mort (2014), Girl at the End of the World (2016), Living in Extraordinary Times (2018), All the Colours of You (2021), Be Opened by the Wonderful (2023) and Yummy (2024)—maintaining a strong live presence in the UK and internationally.