Return of The Roughnecks (Live at The Ritz Manchester)

Limited 2LP+7" : Chameleon-Splattered Coloured vinyl with bonus 7”, gig poster and a copy of the album / 7” on CD

In 2019 The Chameleons returned once again to one of Manchester’s most iconic venues, playing the original set they played one evening almost 35 years ago.

Chameleons Vox are the latest incarnation of Manchester’s post-punk icons The Chameleons, featuring original members Mark Burgess (vocals / bass) and guitarist Reg Smithies.

Mark Burgess began with The Cliches, guitarists Reg Smithies and Dave Fielding arrived from The Years and drummer John Lever (who quickly replaced founding member Brian Schofield) originated with The Politicians. After establishing themselves with a series of high- profile BBC sessions, The Chameleons signed to Epic and debuted with the EP ‘Nostalgia’, a tense, moody set produced by Steve Lillywhite, which featured the single ‘In Shreds’.

The quartet were soon released from their contract with Epic and signed to Statik, returning in 1983 with the band’s first full-length effort, ‘Script of the Bridge’. ‘What Does Anything Mean? Basically’ followed in 1985 and with it came a new reliance on stylish production. Following that release the Chameleons signed to Geffen and emerged the following year with ‘Strange Times’. The dark, complex record proved to be the Chameleons’ finale, however, with the band splitting following the sudden death of manager Tony Fletcher. While Burgess and Lever continued on in The Sun & The Moon, Smithies and Fielding later reunited in The Reegs. In 1993 Burgess surfaced with his solo album ‘Zima Junction’. He and his band The Sons of God toured America the following year.

The Chameleons have influenced and inspired many artists, including The Flaming Lips, The Killers, Interpol, The Editors, Slowdive, The National, The Verve, Moby and Oasis - Noel Gallagher stated on Instagram that The Chameleons were an early influence: “I’d forgotten how much ‘Strange Times’ meant to me. It came out in ‘86. I was 19!! I’ve been listening to it every day since and I have to say it’s blown my mind... again! It must have influenced my early years as a song writer because I can hear ME in it everywhere!!”