The Blue Aeroplanes

The Blue Aeroplanes are an English rock band from Bristol,[1] the mainstays of which have been Gerard Langley, brother John Langley, and dancer Wojtek Dmochowski. All three had previously been members of the new wave "art band" Art Objects from 1978 to 1981.

The Blue Aeroplanes
The Blue Aeroplanes, Glastonbury Festival, 2019
Background information
Origin	Bristol, England
Genres	Alternative rock, post-punk, art rock
Years active	1981–present
Labels	Party Fire Ensign Chrysalis Beggars Banquet Art Star Harvest/EMI
Associated acts	Art Objects Massive Attack Strangelove Rita Lynch Witness Exploding Seagulls Oyster Band Suede
Website	theblueaeroplanes.com
Members	Gerard Langley John Langley Wojtek Dmochowski Gerard Starkie Chris Sharp Bec Jevons Mike Youe
Past members	Rita Lynch Angelo Bruschini Rodney Allen Max Noble Ian Kearey

Cover of Huh!: The Best of, 1987–1992

History

The Blue Aeroplanes first performed under that name at the King Street Art Gallery in Bristol in 1981. They consisted mainly of former members of Art Objects, with the addition of Nick Jacobs, former guitarist and vocalist of Southampton band the Exploding Seagulls.[2] The same line-up played three or four concerts over the next couple of years, either at the gallery or for benefits, including a Karl Marx centenary performance at the Victoria Rooms, with the addition of trumpet and didgeridoo.[3] The Blue Aeroplanes' first album Bop Art was released on their own Party Records in 1984, and was rapidly picked up by the Abstract (US) and Fire (UK) labels.[4] It contained material that had been considered as a follow-up to Art Objects' only album, Bagpipe Music. Gerard Langley's largely spoken poetic lyrics were combined with a heavily guitar-centric band that went on to release Tolerance (1985) and Spitting Out Miracles (1987) and several singles and EPs whose B-sides were brought together in the compilation FriendLoverPlane (1988), all on the Fire label.[5]

On 24 February 1990,[6] the band released their most critically acclaimed album, Swagger, this time on a major label Chrysalis/Ensign.[7] This was followed by Beatsongs, which was recorded in the United States and released in 1991. It was produced by Elvis Costello and Larry Hirsch.[7] This second album on the major label was their highest charting, reaching no. 33 in the UK Albums Chart. A second compilation of rare B-sides and out-takes, FriendLoverPlane2 (Up in a Down World), was released in 1992.[5]

The follow-up to Beatsongs was delayed until 1994, when the album Life Model was released on the Beggars Banquet label;[7] it was followed by Rough Music in 1995. "Broken & Mended" from Life Model was the band's last single to chart and is a favourite at gigs. A long break and another label change to ArtStar preceded the release of Cavaliers in 2000. Following negotiations with EMI who now owned the rights to Swagger and Beatsongs, The Blue Aeroplanes made a surprise return to this major label. EMI re-released Swagger Deluxe as a 2-CD version in January 2006. This was followed by an album of new material called Altitude later that year, released on EMI's Harvest imprint. The group then recorded an album of cover versions of classic tracks that were originally recorded by artists signed to the Harvest label. The album, called Harvester, was released by EMI/Harvest in 2007.[5]

As well as the two FriendLoverPlane compilations, several other compilations have been released in recent years. Huh! The Best of The Blue Aeroplanes (1987–1992) was released by EMI/Chrysalis in 1997 and featured many of the songs from Swagger and Beatsongs. Also in 1997, Warhol's 15 The Best of the Blue Aeroplanes (1985–1988) was released and covered the preceding period when the band was signed to Fire Records. In 1996 Fruit (live 1985–1995) was released on Fire Records and covered 10 years of live performances recorded at various venues. Then in 2001, ArtStar released Weird Sh*t which featured both rare tracks and alternative versions of some of the band's best-known songs from Swagger through to 'Cavaliers.[8]

In 2008 and 2009, limited-edition live albums were released and sold at the annual Christmas gig at Fiddlers in Bristol. Live in Cheltenham (2008) and Skyscrapers (2009) were limited to just 100 copies each and each featured songs not included on the other live CD. Their Christmas gig moved to The Fleece a few years later and is a staple in their touring calendar.

The band released a new album Welcome, Stranger! in January 2017 through Pledgemusic.[9]

Live performances

The Blue Aeroplanes, 2006

Lead singer Gerard Langley (right) and Polish dancer Wojciech Dmochowski, 2006

They have played headlining gigs in small indie venues as well as supporting big acts such as REM[10] and Siouxsie & the Banshees on major international tours, frontman Gerard Langley always wearing his trademark shades even at night in dark venues.[11] Performances include the band's 1992 appearance at Glastonbury which was broadcast on BBC Radio 1,[12] the finale at the Hammersmith Apollo when 12 guitarists were seen on stage performing "Breaking in My Heart" and their annual appearance at Fiddlers in Bristol[13] which has now been relocated to the band's own venue, The Fleece.[14]

In February 2016 the band played at the 6music festival at Colston Hall's Lantern venue, being introduced by Gideon Coe and in April 2016 they were personally chosen by curator Stewart Lee to play the ATP festival at Pontins Prestatyn.

In 2019 the band performed at the Glastonbury Festival on the Avalon Stage.

Discography

Studio albums

• Bop Art (1984), Party
• Tolerance (1985), Fire
• Spitting Out Miracles (1987), Fire
• Swagger (1990), Ensign
• Beatsongs, (1991), Ensign
• Life Model (1994), Beggars Banquet
• Rough Music (1995), Beggars Banquet
• Fruit (1996), Fire
• Weird Shit (1996), Self-release
• Cavaliers & Roundheads (2000), Swarf Finger
• Altitude (2006), EMI/Harvest
• Harvester (2007), EMI/Harvest
• Anti-Gravity (2011), Art Star/Albino
• Welcome, Stranger! (2017), Art Star

Compilation albums

• Friendloverplane (1988), Fire
• World View Blue (1990), Chrysalis
• Friendloverplane 2 (Up in a Down World) (1992), Ensign
• Huh! The Best of The Blue Aeroplanes 1987–1992 (1997), Chrysalis
• Warhol's 15 – The Best Of The Blue Aeroplanes 1985–1988 (2002), Nectar

Singles and EPs

• "Action Painting & Other Original Works Of..." (1985), Fire
• "Lover & Confidante And Other Stories of Travel Religion & Heartbreak" (1985), Fire
• "Tolerance" (1986), Fire
• "Bury Your Love Like Treasure" (1987), Fire
• "The Janice Long Session" (1988), Night Trax
• "Veils of Colour" (1988), Fire
• "Jacket Hangs" (1990), Ensign
• "...And Stones" (1990), Ensign
• "The Loved EP" (1990), Ensign
• "Yr Own World" (1991), Ensign
• "The Boy in the Bubble" (1991), Ensign
• "Stranger" (1992), Flexi-disc given out at Bristol University gig.
• "Fun" (1992), Ensign
• "Up In A Down World" (1993), Fantastic Plastic
• "Broken & Mended EP" (1994), Beggars Banquet
• "Detective Song" (1994), Beggars Banquet
• "Sugared Almond EP" (1995), Beggars Banquet
• "China Brilliance Automotive" (2010), Albino Two Recordings
• "Dead Tree! Dead Tree!" (2016), ArtStar

Compilation appearances

• Bludgeoned (1985). Includes different version of "Action Painting".
• Imminent Episode One (1985), Food. Includes an alternate version of "Outback Jazz".
• On The Dotted Line (1997), EMI. Two separate LPs - (There) included "Gunning the Works (live)" and (Here) included "Tolerance (live)"
• Great Fire of London (1989), Fire. Includes the uncredited version of Dave Brubeck's "Unsquare Dance" (an out-take from Bop Art), and a different version of "Gunning The Works".
• Lime Lizards (1991), CAS. Includes "Autumn Journal XV".
• Volume 2 (1991). Includes the original album version of "Aeroplane Blues" (pre-overdubs, etc.).
• Ruby Trax (1992), NME. Includes "Bad Moon Rising".
• NME Presents Viva! Eight (1992), NME. Includes "Yr Own World (live)".
• The Indie Scene 1985 – The Story of British Independent Music (1992). Includes "Action Painting".

Lineups

Album credits
"P" = Primary member, "S" = Supporting member

Player	Bop Art	Tolerance	Spitting Out Miracles	Friendlover- plane	Swagger	Beatsongs	Friendlover- plane 2	Life Model	Rough Music	Cavaliers	Altitude	Anti-Gravity	Welcome, Stranger!
Alex Acuna	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-	-
Joe Allen	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	P	-	P	-	-
Rodney Allen	-	-	-	S	P	P	P	P	P	-	-	-	-
Johnny Baker	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-
Bill Bell	-	-	S	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Richard Bell	-	P	P	P	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Tracey Bowen	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-
Vivian Bowen	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-
Bob Bradley	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	P	P	-	-	-	-
Paul Bradley	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-
Angelo Bruschini	-	S	-	P	P	P	P	P	-	-	-	-	-
Antoinette Burrell	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-
Steve Bush	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Dan Catsis	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Dave Chapman	-	P	P	P	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
George Claridge	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-
Christian Clarke	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ruth Cochrane	-	P	P	P	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
John Cornick	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-
Richard Crabtree	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-
Simon Crump	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Fiona Davies	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-
Stephen Davies	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Jedrej Dmochowski	-	S	-	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Wojtek Dmochowski	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Patrick Duff	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-
Chris Evans	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-
Nigel Eaton	-	-	S	-	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Rhian Evans	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-
Mark Espiner	-	-	S	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Pat Fish (Jazz Butcher)	-	-	-	-	-	S	S	-	P	-	-	-	-
Alexandra Frean	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-
Matthew Gale	-	-	S	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Roger Goslyn	-	S	-	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Caroline Halcrow	-	-	-	P	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Simon Heathfield	-	-	-	P	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Bob Hewerdine	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Clare Hirst	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Susie Hug	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	S	-	-	-	-
Nick Jacobs	P	P	P	P	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Luís Jardim	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Tom Johnson	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-
Rachel Jones	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-
Francis Kane	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-
Ian Kearey	P	S	-	P	S	S	S	P	S	-	-	-	-
Tim Keegan	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-
J.J. Key	S	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Robin Key	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Dave King	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Kenny Lacey	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-
Elizabeth Lane	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	S	-	-	-	-	-
Andrew Lang	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-
Gerard Langley	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
John Langley	P	P	P	P	P	-	P	-	P	P	P	P	P
Alex Lee	-	-	-	-	P	P	P	-	P	-	-	-	-
Jeremy Little	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-
Charlie Llewellin	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Georgia Lowe	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-
Rita Lynch	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	P	-
David Mansfield	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Jerry Marotta	-	-	-	-	-	S	S	-	-	-	-	-	-
Andy McCreeth	-	-	-	-	P	P	P	S	-	-	-	-	-
Paul Mulreany	-	-	-	-	-	P	P	P	P	-	-	-	-
Dave Newton	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	S	-	-	-	-
Max Noble	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	P	P	P	-
Iain O'Higgins	-	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Nick Powell	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-
Roger Power	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	P	-	-	-	-
Simon Preston	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Graham Russell	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	P	-	-	-	-
Andy Sheppard	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-
Michelle Shocked	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Bill Stair	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
John Stapleton	-	P	P	P	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Michael Stipe	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Elaine Summers	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Danny Timms	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Neti Vaandrager	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Marcus Williams	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	P	-	-	-	-
Nick Williams	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-
Sharon Williams	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-
Hazel Winter	-	-	-	-	-	-	P	P	-	-	-	-	-
Tony Wrafter	S	-	-	S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Jon Wygens	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	P	-	-	-	-
Loki Lillistone	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	P	-
Chris Sharp	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	P	P
Gerard Starkie	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	P	-	P	P	P
Mike Youé	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	P
Bec Jevons	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	P

See also

• List of bands from Bristol
• List of record labels from Bristol
• Bristol record labels

References

1. Ruhlmann, William. "The Blue Aeroplanes – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
2. "Fried Egg Records, Bristol Archive Records". Bristolarchiverecords.com.
3. "The Blue Aeroplanes Austin Shows on Do512". Do512.com. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
4. "The Blue Aeroplanes". Otherworldly.com. 7 December 2009. Archived from the original on 16 March 2010. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
5. "The Blue Aeroplanes". Discogs.com. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
6. "Swagger (Deluxe Version) by The Blue Aeroplanes". Music.apple.com.
7. Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (concise ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 151/2. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
8. Bruno, Franklin. "Art Star". Phoenix.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
9. Michael Astley-Brown. "10 questions for The Blue Aeroplanes". MusicRadar.com.
10. "The Blue Aeroplanes". 3 Loop Music. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
11. "The Blue Aeroplanes @ Borderline, London". Music OMH. 31 January 2006. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
12. "The Blue Aeroplanes, The Telescopes and These New Puritans". BBC. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
13. "Blue Aeroplanes at Fiddlers". Headfirst Bristol. 18 February 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
14. "The Blue Aeroplanes + Kezia + Damn Vandals + The Darwin Republic @ The Fleece, Bristol". All Events. 7 December 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2015.

External links

• Official website
• Media related to The Blue Aeroplanes at Wikimedia Commons