New Model Army

New Model Army was first formed in 1980 by its lead singer Justin Sullivan, bassist Stuart Morrow and drummer Phil Tompkins. However, a few months laters Tompkins left the band and was replaced by Robert Charles Heaton. The band released their first album entitled “Vengeance” in 1984, and it went to number 1 on the UK Indie Chart. During the mid 80s the band ran into some trouble with visas to tour the United States, however once everything was cleared up, the band successfully played their shows in the United States.

They released their second album, “No Rest For The Wicked” in 1985 followed by constant touring. Between 1986 and 1998 they continued to put out five more albums. Additionally, some members came and went, and went off to play with other bands, such as Stuart Morrow playing with the band Loud, as well as sometimes touring as 'Justin Sullivan and Friends', which had a more acoustic set without some players. After a short tour at the end of 2004, the group returned to the studio to record their ninth studio album, “Carnival” which was subsequently released the following year. Additionally, their label, EMI, has released four remastered earlier albums. In 2014 they released “Between Wine and Blood” which features as both a studio album doubled with a live album.

The beginnings of The Selecter arose in 1977, when Neol Davies, John Bradbury and Barry Jones recorded what would become “Kingston Affair” whilst in session. They then decided to form a band, becoming “The Selecter,” with this first track being featured on the b-side to the Specials’ single “Gangsters.” Neol Davies (guitar) then recruited Desmond Brown (hammond organ), Charley Anderson (bass), Compton Amanor (guitar), Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson (vocals), Charley ‘H’ Bembridge (drums) and finally vocalist Pauline Black, completing the lineup in 1979.

The band went straight into the studio, recording and releasing a string of singles, “On My Radio,” “Three Minute Hero” and “Missing Words’ before the end of the year. Their debut album, “Too Much Pressure” was released in February 1980, by 2 Tone Records and Chrysalis Records. The album was a success, peaking at number five in the UK charts. Their second release, “Celebrate the Bullet,” came out a year later. However it did not achieve the same success and the band crumbled apart.

The band split in 1982, with Black pursuing a career in theatre, TV and film as well as music. However, this was not to be the end of The Selector, as Davies and Black reunited in 1991, continuing to tour and perform live, supporting No Doubt on their North American tour in 1997. Throughout the 90s and 2000s, varying lineups under the guise of The Selecter released albums intermittently, led by front woman Pauline Black. In 2010, Black and Hendrickson again played under the name of The Selecter, celebrating the 30th anniversary of their debut album. In celebration, they performed the whole album in its entirety. In 2014, The Selecter was again mobilized for a show at the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Subsequently, they embarked on an extensive tour of the UK, Europe, New Zealand and Australia.