http://www.sheffield-rocks.me.uk/index.php Copyright 2010, Richard Womersley Richard Womersley en-US SPHPBLOG 0.4.8 http://www.sheffield-rocks.me.uk/index.php?entry=entry080328-130456 Here at Sheffield Rocks we're rightly proud of the many outstanding bands and singers that came from the Steel City, however we're also proud of our actors (e.g. Sean Bean), comedians (e.g. Marti Caine) and politicians (e.g. David Blunkett and David Hattersley). Well, maybe not the politicians. But Sheffield also produces it's fair share of models and actresses too and we thought we'd take a second to step aside from our usual musical bent to bring you the bare facts about one of our up and coming starlets, none other than the sexy swindler herself, Jessica Jane Clement.

Viewers of BBC Three's 'The Real Hustle' know that 'Jess', born on 24 February 1985 who went to High Storrs, is often called upon to use her 'god given talents' to distract helpless males whilst her comrads in crime perform some dastardly dead or other. Also a veteran of 'Footballers Wives', we reckon that Terry Curran and friends probably never had it quite this good!]]> Born n Bred http://www.sheffield-rocks.me.uk/index.php?entry=entry080328-130456 Richard Womersley Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:04:56 GMT http://www.sheffield-rocks.me.uk/comments.php?y=08&m=03&entry=entry080328-130456 http://www.sheffield-rocks.me.uk/index.php?entry=entry070205-193744 Pop-Funk band Living in a Box comprised Richard Darbyshire (vocals and guitar), Marcus Vere (synthesisers) and Anthony Critchlow (drums). They are best known for their eponymous debut single, produced by Richard James Burgess, reaching number 5 in the UK singles chart in 1987 and being the band's only single to chart in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.

Living in a Box were formed in 1985 in Sheffield and enjoyed further success in the UK, releasing their self-titled debut album in 1987 and a follow-up album, Gatecrashing, in 1989, which went on to generate two UK top 10 hits: Blow the House Down (which reached number 10 in the UK charts) and Room in Your Heart (which reached number 5). Artistic differences (largely the desire of Darbyshire to go solo), as well as changes at their record label Chrysalis, caused the band to break up in 1990 before their third LP could be released.

Lead vocalist Richard Darbyshire continued his long-standing music career, and went on to enjoy modest success as a solo artist, writing songs for artists such as Lisa Stansfield, as well as releasing two solo albums - How Many Angels (1994) and Love Will Provide (1999), which comes as a re-issue of How Many Angels, including several new and unreleased tracks.]]> Comers http://www.sheffield-rocks.me.uk/index.php?entry=entry070205-193744 Richard Womersley Mon, 05 Feb 2007 19:37:44 GMT http://www.sheffield-rocks.me.uk/comments.php?y=07&m=02&entry=entry070205-193744 http://www.sheffield-rocks.me.uk/index.php?entry=entry061222-110806 Olive were a trip hop group formed in Sheffield during the latter half of the 1990s (though their publicity blurb cited them as 'poptronica'). The founding membership consisted of producer, instrumentalist and songwriter Tim Kellett (formerly with Simply Red), producer and keyboard programmer Robin Taylor-Firth, and singer Ruth-Ann Boyle (who, having given up on her job at Bassetts was managing a student pub in the city at the time the group was formed).

The band released two albums, the second without Taylor-Firth (who had returned to working with Nightmares on Wax), before evaporating into the ether.

They are best known for the UK number 1 single You're Not Alone which was released in 1996 but didn't reach the top of the charts until 1997 finally selling over half a million copies. The song also won the band the 1997 Ivor Novello Dance Music Award and was covered by German producer ATB in 2002. Their second single Outlaw only reached number 14 in the UK singles charts.

The band released two albums. The first Extra Virgin released in 1996 on the (RCA/BMG) record lable only reached number 15 in the UK album charts. Their second album Trickle was released in 2000 on Madonna's Maverick record label and only scratched the surface of the charts. The band haven't been heard of since 2000.]]> Comers http://www.sheffield-rocks.me.uk/index.php?entry=entry061222-110806 Richard Womersley Fri, 22 Dec 2006 11:08:06 GMT http://www.sheffield-rocks.me.uk/comments.php?y=06&m=12&entry=entry061222-110806 http://www.sheffield-rocks.me.uk/index.php?entry=entry061016-214326 The All Seeing I comprise Dean Honer, Jason Buckle and DJ Parrot (real name Richard Barratt). They released their first single I Walk in 1997, but it wasn't until the year after that they gained UK chart success with the song Beat Goes On, a cover of the song by Sonny and Cher (or rather, a cover of Buddy Rich's version of the song), which reached number 11 in 1998.

Interestingly, while All Seeing I's album is named after their single Pickled Eggs And Sherbert, the single is mysteriously not included on the album! It features a good handful of other musicians who, like the band, all come from Sheffield. Their musical styles range from house to breakbeat, drum & bass and lounge. The album kicks off with the single Walk Like A Panther, the quirky sounding ode to Sheffield with lyrics written by Jarvis Cocker and sung by white 'Amarillo' soul super-star Tony Christie. The track reached number 10 when released as a single in 1999.

Their work makes them something of a Sheffield super-group as they worked with many other famous artists from the City including Tony Christie, Jarvis Cocker, Phil Oakey and Babybird. Their regular live vocalist was Bozz, who later went on to form electronica duo Hiem.

The All Seeing I went on to have further chart success with the very enigmatic 1st Man In Space which, reaching only number 28 in 1999, was massively under-rated.]]> Born n Bred http://www.sheffield-rocks.me.uk/index.php?entry=entry061016-214326 Richard Womersley Mon, 16 Oct 2006 20:43:26 GMT http://www.sheffield-rocks.me.uk/comments.php?y=06&m=10&entry=entry061016-214326 http://www.sheffield-rocks.me.uk/index.php?entry=entry061009-111137 Like Krush before them, Funky Worm were another band who put Sheffield firmly on the dance music map of the UK - maybe not surprising as the band contained some of the same members. In particular, Mark Brydon founder of FON Studios (and who later went on to form Moloko) was credited with being the driving force behind the Funky Worm.

The track, officially titled Hustle! (to the music...) - the only one to make the the top 40 - hit a high of number 13 in the UK charts in 1988.]]> Born n Bred http://www.sheffield-rocks.me.uk/index.php?entry=entry061009-111137 Richard Womersley Mon, 09 Oct 2006 10:11:37 GMT http://www.sheffield-rocks.me.uk/comments.php?y=06&m=10&entry=entry061009-111137 http://www.sheffield-rocks.me.uk/index.php?entry=entry061005-152028 An odd place for Sheffield Rocks to start maybe, but then again maybe not! One hit wonder Krush whose full name was actually The Hawaiian Krush, comprised Kevin Clarke, Mark 'Cassius' Campbell and vocalist Ruth Joy (now married to house music supremo Kevin Saunderson). The trio's only hit single House Arrest (The Beat is Law) was released in 1987 and rose to number 3 in the UK charts, though they did have further, minor chart success in 1992 with a cover of the Rockers' Revenge track, Walking on Sunshine.

The track was produced by Mark Brydon and Robert Gordon at FON Studios in Sheffield (which they founded). Mark later went on to form another Sheffield pop/dance group Moloko.

House Arrest was pretty inspirational for it's time, putting the UK firmly on the developing house music map. The connection between Krush and Sheffield was never widely publicised, but that's exactly the kind of error that Sheffield Rocks is here to correct!]]> Born n Bred http://www.sheffield-rocks.me.uk/index.php?entry=entry061005-152028 Richard Womersley Thu, 05 Oct 2006 14:20:28 GMT http://www.sheffield-rocks.me.uk/comments.php?y=06&m=10&entry=entry061005-152028 http://www.sheffield-rocks.me.uk/index.php?entry=entry061004-161424 516,000 in 2004 according to the City Council, Sheffield is the UK's 4th largest city.
It's not surprising then, that Sheffield has forged a musical heritage that even a Bessemer converter would have trouble smelting!

From the Human League to Stretch Armstrong and the Dyslexic Sponge Cakes from Hell, Sheffield Rocks is a web-site dedicated to telling the stories of the many bands, singers, composers, artists and musicians who are or were 'Made in Sheffield'. Take a look at:
> 'Born n Bred' for those artists who call the city home
> 'Comers' for those who came to call the city their home and
> 'Passin thru' for those whose connection to the city is more esoteric.

Incidentally, much the colour scheme for Sheffield Rocks comes from the old South Yorkshire Transport (SYT) busses were the delightful cream, orange and brown that meant they looked much the same whether dirty or clean!]]> Born n Bred http://www.sheffield-rocks.me.uk/index.php?entry=entry061004-161424 Richard Womersley Wed, 04 Oct 2006 15:14:24 GMT http://www.sheffield-rocks.me.uk/comments.php?y=06&m=10&entry=entry061004-161424