| grew up in North Manchester in the 80's and loved the Chameleons. They brought to life every brown brick, every cracked pint glass, they drowned out the noise of a forgotten town and offered us hope. English Melancholy at its finest and most brutal. Thank you so much for sharing your passion for the band, they are one of the most under rated and brilliant bands in rock music. Thanks.
sorry to be so off topic but does anyone know of a way to log back into an Instagram account?? I somehow lost my login password. I love any tricks you can offer me.
Used to hear them at Alternative post punk clubs in Manchester mid 80s The Ritz, Cloud Nine, Berlin, many long vanished clubs, the dance floors were packed, strange how they had a John Peel session but the press barely touched them, there a secret world, I saw the early Stone Roses but they were nowhere near as good as The Chameleons live, I managed to catch them first live in 1986 at the Middleton Civic Hall they were great I nearly lost my shoe the crowd pogoing was so intense, then I caught them live I think 2001 when they reformed they were great again, and a Rastafarian mate of Marks was onstage doing a rap in 'A person isn't safe anywhere these days" it was a bit surprising but shows how open minded they were to new ideas..great band.
Middleton's finest. I was buying anything I could find since being 14 in the 80's. Every listen is an emotional trip. Second Skin is one of the best songs ever written.
Hahaha! I went to school with Dave, Reg and Mark, formed Years with Reg and Dave. And, recorded the pre-Chameleon's EP, 'Come Dancing'' with 'Years'! I'm still drumming but, haven't seen the guys since the early '80s. Life was tough and the music we produced then reflected exactly how we felt back then. Peace & Love!
My favorite post-punk bands ; The Chameleons , Joy Division , The Sound , Comsat angels . Bad Brains. Kudos to you for performing on stage with Mark Burgess.
I met Mark Burgess too in the late 90's at Dan Tana's restaurant next to the Troubadour in West Hollywood before his show with the Sons of God. He shares the same birth date with me, he was so nice & genuine. I'm a long , long time fan. I totally feel you about people judging books by their covers & I appreciate your passion for good music and this band.
Completely agree with you about Manchester bands resonating with you. For some reason those bands touched my soul and there's not quite anything that affects me as much. For reference, I'm a brown girl from Brooklyn and I was either not a thought or in diapers when this music first came out. Always nice to see other POC who feel similarly about this music because in my show-going days, in the early 2000s, I was always one of maybe a few in attendance. Anyway, just wanted to say I feel you!
Yes. Soul. I was lucky - these amazing sounds were made 5 miles from where I grew up at a time when I was looking for a soundtrack for my life. It's still playing in the background 30-odd years later. Great share, Dereck - cheers man.
Dereck you legend.The Chameleons are from Manchester as I'm sure you will know that's where I am from they are such a great band simply amazing.I wish they would have done like 8 albums but I'm happy with the three classics.Your vinyl collection looks ace I'm a collecter myself do you have the Tony fletcher ep I want to get my hands on the rarer stuff
In 1984 I was sharing a student house in London when a lad from Liverpool who also lived there made tapes of 2 up and coming bands he thought I might like , one was REM ( whatever happened to them) which I liked, their music was a bit more quirky than later stuff and fitted in with vibe in alternative scene in UK at the time, and I enjoyed it. The other was the Chameleons Script of the Bridge, which completely blew my socks off. I couldn’t believe that they weren’t super popular as for me it was such a massive, powerful sound. There you go. I’m sure they’ve had a good time playing their music and do have adoring fans, so could be worse :)
I saw The Chameleons three times and The Sun And The Moon once. If only it had been 1,000 times I’m tearing up now hearing you describe what they mean to you. All I can say is: you get it man. You get it. I think The Chameleons only have fans who get it. There are no casual Chameleons fans.
Great stuff. In a way I like it that The Chameleons matter to those that know, they are the 1980’s best kept secret. I’m a guitar player and I joined a heavy rock band back in the 1990’s, the other guitar player asked me who my influences were. I said The Chameleons and he was the same. We started jamming out Don’t Fall and In Shreds, the other guys were Metal fans but went along with it and loved it. They were such a great overlooked band and influenced many musicians.
Really glad to see people are still talking about this awesome band! Don't fall was one of the first songs I learned on guitar back in the day. Absolutely great stuff!
The Chameleons have the perfect combination of hypnotic steady baselines along with that palmed muffled guitar strings sound effect. Don't hear to many, non metal, USA bands do that. Good example would be early UR, early The Cult.
True! One of the most under appreciated bands, ever! I still have all of their albums on heavy rotation. I never get tired of listening to their sound.
Could very well be my favourite band of all time. Seen them countless times throughout my life. Just last week they played my 2 local towns, Brighton and Guilford and delivered business as usual!! Mark sat in the pub with everyone afterwards in Brighton. Cool guy!
Love your comments Dereck, stéréotypes are dull. In 5 minutes watching I could see a real person who has thought things out for himself, not been told how to be by others. I salute you
Hi Derek, i'm from Brazil and i'm a huge fan of The Chameleons, one of the greatest band in the world for sure! And i love the bands from UK as well. Thank you.
Hi Dereck, you are absolutely right. The word that resume The chameleons music is "soul". It is why their music is timeless, like great musicians in all styles. thank you for your chanel!
""the Chameleons, the finest band coming out of England'' I agree with you ! This is the best thing I ever heard in my life and this coming Saturday, Oct 3rd 2015, Im gonna see Chameleons vox in Montreal ! :)
That amazing sound the drummer creates, is a representation of the beat created by a steam hammer, that used to thump out in Eccles during the time I was at school in the area. I believe The Drummer that he loves the sound of, is Martin Jackson who also played with "Magazine."
Absolutely agree, I just messaged Mark tonight, what a killer, beautiful, color background aesthetic these guys created. I am moved to goosebumps by how much you love them, because I do too...
I saw these Lads In my local memorial Hall in Northwich in May 1982 . I`d never heard of them , we (me and some mates ) went to see a local band supporting them called "The Air" . The Air where smashed and the singer went into a mad rant and they got booted off stage , enter the Chameleons . TALK ABOUT BLOWN AWAY . MAGIC BAND
Hi Aaron. Thanks for your tribute to this wonderful band. Not sure you mentioned it in your quiet consequent collection of records: the John Peel sessions available on Strange fruit records with a very fine version of “The Fan & The Bellows”. Mark Burgess also produced another fine record after The Chameleons split with a band called The Sun & The Moon (have to search my vinyl collection if you need references). Thanks again for sharing your passion and nice feelings about one of my favorite rock’n roll band. P.S.: please forgive my limited and somewhat broken english. I’m a damn froggy!
Your face is so cute and you slurping your drink put a big smile on my face than headbanging to second skin what way to start a video. They are superb!!
Thank you Dereck. I just watched this video for the first time and like you, I love The Chameleons. Their music will live on for a long time. I picture some archeologist in 400 years digging up an LP or CD and future society/people, whomever they are, recognizing their genius and having a really good time in the process.
LOVE your glowing and informative tribute! I, too, was lucky to meet MB a few years back, and I have known and loved THE CHAMELEONS since their beginnings...THANK YOU, kind Sir...
I am from Bolton - which is 15 minutes down the road from Manchester - and I of course grew up with many of the bands you named. The Stone Roses were my first love but I was surprised how long it took for me to discover Chameleons. Haven't looked back. Great band. Awesome video.
I posted a comment on this video almost 7 years ago and I remain faithful to the sound that The Chameleons projected in their music, they have caused me nostalgia and melancholy in their songs during all these years. P.D When I die, bury me with all your CDs.
+dereckvon ...I could have listened to you talk about this band for hours .....In 2003, I was on Yahoo Groups for the band, "Catherine Wheel" and was topic of other great bands. Another member asked if I ever heard of The Chamleons, "No, I haven't" and replied with offer to send me a mix tape, and I obliged. He also sent me VHS of their Manchester concert!! At the time, I worked as Courier and played that tape every-fucking-day... Over following year I collected all of their albums and felt compelled to email and thank him again.... A few days later, his wife replied and told me that he lost his life as Medic in IRAQ... It gutted me. I wish I could have hugged him for giving me such a huge gift... Today, I try to pass on this gift to any friends who like music.. I'm also from Minnesota, and voted in Jesse for Governor. ...Minnesota is very similar to Manchester, both cities can make you feel depressed and isolated. This is why both cities have influential music and art scenes.... OT: Another band I've been referring my friends to isn't from Manchester, but has similar "guitar oriented" resonance, Black Liquor Pond, ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1kwH5jVeeq8.html
I grew up in the 80s, but am just now really discovering how great this band was, and you're right, this band does have alot of soul, the kind of gorgeous music that almost brings tears to your eyes because it's so good.
Go to see the Chameleons (no longer Vox since the return of Reg) live and you'll never miss a local gig by them again. Second to none live. And second to none audience who sing the roof off. We are all Chameleons.
ChameleonsVox are touring next year. Got my tickets already for September. I saw them in '09. Can't wait to see them again! Also, you're so right about their music having soul. Their music touches me in a different way and I'm forever grateful to have discovered them when I did.
Absolutely agree with all of you here: The Chameleons are one of the greatest bands of the 80's and of all times actually. I was in Europe at the time digging them like a madman and, even there, they were criminally overlooked by critics, record stores, etc.
That video intro was AMAZING! Second skin! Impressive! Loved this video! Definitely The Chameleons was my best discovery of 2020! Such awesome you get to play with Mark!! And thank you Dereck for the recommendations! I’m learning so much thanks to you! You have so good music taste!
Dereck, you are such an awesome dude. I love your channel and your enthusiasm. I especially admire the fact that your an individual and you follow what you like and not what others expect of you. Keep doing what you like doing. I love your channel. please share more awesome bands :)
It's so hard to express how great The Chameleons are, perhaps the best indicator is that incredible tunes like Nostalgia, In Shreds, Paradiso, Inside Out and Ever After only became B sides or bonus tracks. The albums were first class, top to bottom.
Brilliant, insightful and honest - Thank You!! One thing I've noticed about Mark Burgess is that he never forgets anyone, or any meaningful personal encounter. I've met him three times ('86, '03 and '12) Even though I'm a nobody in the music world, he always remembered who I was, each time treating me like a long lost compatriot or brother.
Shame everything has gone sourer than sour now with Burgess, Lever and Fielding. Looking forward to hearing John Lever and Dave Fieldings new album though hopefully out next month, sounding good. For me personally, the late 80s early 90s bastard child of The Chameleons were most certainly Kitchens Of Distinction who also flew totally under the radar.
Thank you! I appreciate all your insights! I first heard "Up the Down Escalator" on a college radio station and I was late to class because I had to wait for the DJ to come back and name all the songs in the segment! And I was hooked from that day! My all time favorite band! I cant explain it but I will not listen to them for a while and when I listen to them again I always get teary eyed!
Hi dude Mark Burgess of The Chameleons autographed my vinyl cover for me, and sent me a postcard too! amazing band. Script of the bridge is a masterpiece.
This is such a great video Dereck. Heartwarming and inspiring to hear someone with the same love for The Chameleons that I have. Thanks for this so much - it has actually brought tears to my eyes.
I'm glad I stumbled across this video and your channel. I think that The Chameleons are a treasure to the world of post punk/alternative music and it's a big shame that most people don't even recognize them. For me, they released 3 albums that can be considered as one of the best of the 80s and Script Of The Bridge (ever since I discovered it about 8 months ago) will probably forever remain as one of my absolute favourite albums at least of the 80s if not ever. I subbed instantly beacuse it's great to hear someone with such passion talk about such beautiful music from the 60s up to now and be so open minded about many of it. You are the type of person I'd like to have a chat with someday.
Got to share this band with my coworkers and they were blown away, both by the band itself and also by the fact that they had no fucking clue who they were.
Your love for my hometowns music is heartwarming my friend , I was in bands for years in Manchester from 1985 to 2005 , I’m still making music to this day, check me out on here , I’m still alive and I’m still doing my own thing
The Chameleons perhaps are the best band of the world, for me. I knew them with the LP "Strange Times"(Thanks to my friend Ortega,for let me to know this amazing band!!). Mark Burgess is a genius without no doubt. Long life to Mark.
dereckvon your enthusiasm for this band mirrors mine . couldn.t believe your reaction to script of the bridge. most underrated album ever !! life affirming! cheers del!!
I went to see Chameleons Vox just last week in Manchester @ the Ritz and they were (as always) amazing. I saw them a few years ago supporting Mercury Rev and the thank you Jonathan Donahoe gave them was amazing and he's obviously a big fan. I've been a fan since about 1980 something when I heard Swamp Thing on a local radio station and have been a fan ever since. There's a great book by Mark Hodkinson called Last Mad Surge Of Youth (from a quote at the start of Don't Fall) featuring a fictional band from the north of England and has many references to the Chameleons. Well worth getting hold of if your a fan of music from the North of England.
Dereck..from someone in the UK that has followed The Chameleons since 1982...you are so cool!! you are a very lucky man for playing with Mark! Fantasic video my friend!
