Cock Robin is an American

pop rock Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre with an emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than rock music. Originating in the late 1950s as an alternative to normal rock and roll, earl ...

band, mostly popular in the 1980s, particularly in continental Europe, where it achieved major success, notably with the single "

The Promise You Made "The Promise You Made" is a song by Cock Robin. Written by Peter Kingsbery, the song was recorded in 1984 for the group's self-titled debut album. It was released as a single in the USA in November 1985, and in early 1986 in Europe where it becam ...

". The band was founded by singer-songwriter

Peter Kingsbery Peter Kingsbery is an American singer-songwriter who co-founded the band Cock Robin in the 1980s. He grew up in Austin (Texas) where he studied classical music. He moved to Nashville (Tennessee) where he began his career as a musician (he acco ...

in 1982, disbanded in 1990, and reformed in 2006.

History

1985–1990: European success

Named after a 17th-century story titled "The Marriage of Cock Robin and Jenny Wren", the band formed in San Francisco, California and was signed to

CBS Records CBS Records may refer to: * CBS Records or CBS/Sony, former name of Sony Music, a global record company * CBS Records International, label for Columbia Records recordings released outside North America from 1962 to 1990 * CBS Records (2006), founde ...

. Cock Robin's eponymous debut album was produced by

Steve Hillage Stephen Simpson Hillage (born 2 August 1951) is an English musician, best known as a guitarist. He is associated with the Canterbury scene and has worked in experimental domains since the late 1960s. Besides his solo sound recording and reprodu ...

.
Released in 1985, it had a limited impact in their native country, as with the majority of their output, but was an overnight success in Europe, especially in

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

and the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

, where the

singles Singles are people not in a committed relationship. Singles may also refer to: Film and television * ''Singles'' (miniseries), a 1984 Australian television series * ''Singles'' (1992 film), written and directed by Cameron Crowe * ''Singles'' ...

"When Your Heart Is Weak", "

" and " Thought You Were On My Side" became big hits (with for example the latter two singles peaking at number 1 and number 4 respectively in Flanders, Belgium), and the album itself a chart-topper. "When Your Heart Is Weak" was the band's only chart single in the U.S., where it reached No. 35 in the late summer of 1985. It also became a radio favorite in

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

in early 1986. In mid-1987, the band, reduced from the original quartet to the duo of

and Anna LaCazio, released a second album, ''

After Here Through Midland ''After Here Through Midland'' is the second album by Cock Robin and was released in 1987. Again it was a big success in continental Europe as their first eponymous album, reaching the Top 10, but was largely ignored in the United States where t ...

'', produced by

Don Gehman Don Gehman is an American record producer, engineer, and executive, best known for his work with John Mellencamp and Hootie & the Blowfish. He was one of "the most successful producers of the 1980s and 1990s." As a sound engineer, he also helped ...

, who had previously worked with

John Mellencamp John J. Mellencamp (born October 7, 1951), previously known as Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American singer-songwriter. He is known for his catchy brand of heartland rock, which emphasizes traditional instrument ...

, among others. As with their debut, Cock Robin's second album attracted much attention in continental Europe where it reached the Top 5 and also scored hits with the singles " Just Around the Corner" (again a European Top 20 hit, from

Scandinavia Scandinavia; Sámi languages: /. ( ) is a subregion#Europe, subregion in Northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. In English usage, ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, ...

to Italy), "The Biggest Fool of All" and "El Norte". Two years later, in 1989, the band released their third, and, to many critics, most accomplished album, '' First Love/Last Rites'', with

Roxy Music Roxy Music are an English rock music, rock band formed in 1970 by Bryan Ferry—who became the band's lead vocalist and principal songwriter—and bassist Graham Simpson (musician), Graham Simpson. The other longtime members are Phil Manzanera ...

veteran

Rhett Davies Rhett Davies (born 1949 in London) is an English record producer and engineer. Davies' father was trumpet player Ray Davies (no relation to Ray Davies of The Kinks). Davies became a studio engineer at Island Records studios in the early 1970s, a ...

in the role of producer. As with their previous releases, the LP fared well in mainland Europe (especially in France), but, due to poor management and promotion, failed to make an impact in the USA. The duo went their separate ways shortly after the release of the album and a European Tour, with Kingsbery releasing a string of solo projects (three albums in English, one in French) in France, most notably a hit single "Only the Very Best" (English version of a

Daniel Balavoine Daniel Xavier-Marie Balavoine (; 5 February 1952 – 14 January 1986) was a French singer and songwriter. He was hugely popular in the French-speaking world in the early 1980s; he inspired many singers of his generation such as Jean-Jacques Gol ...

's song and a Top 10 hit in France and Belgium in 1993) recorded for the

Michel Berger Michel Berger (born Michel Jean Hamburger; 28 November 1947 – 2 August 1992) was a French singer and songwriter. He was a leading figure of France's pop music scene for two decades as a singer; as a songwriter, he was active for such artists ...

Luc Plamondon Luc Plamondon, OC, CQ (b. March 2, 1942 in Saint-Raymond, Quebec), is a French-Canadian lyricist and music executive. He is best known for his work on the musicals ''Starmania'' and ''Notre-Dame de Paris''. He is the brother of Louis Plamondo ...

concept musical album " Starmania", with English lyrics by

Tim Rice Sir Timothy Miles Bindon Rice (born 10 November 1944) is an English lyricist and author. He is best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom he wrote, among other shows, ''Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'', ' ...

in 1992. Anna LaCazio recorded her own solo album (''Eat Life'') circa 1992–93; but it was only officially released in its entirety for download in 2009.

Recent years

On 20 June 2012,

announced in his blog on the official Cock Robin website Cockrobinmusic.com that "there will be a new tour next Summer 2013 with a new album". Another Cock Robin remix by Umpff, "Extraordinary Thing", appeared on ''Mixtape'' from Mabel the Label in October 2012. The November 2015 issue of the French magazine ''Topo'', reported that Anna LaCazio had left Cock Robin in May 2015. Kingsbery had relocated to France and LaCazio preferred to remain in the United States and be close to her family. Peter Kingsbery announced that Coralie Vuillemin had been chosen as the new female voice in the group. The band released on 11 March 2016 their sixth studio album called "Chinese Driver". A 5-track EP was released as download only in April 2017. The first track ("Roman Holiday he Making Of) is an original song, whereas the second one ("Just Before It Begins") is an original instrumental track. The last three tracks however ("The Long Last Second", "Thought You Were On My Side" and "White Folks") are reprises of Peter Kingsbery's solo albums or of Cock Robin songs, with new arrangements and vocals by Peter Kingsbery and Coralie Vuillemin. With the current line-up, Cock Robin has performed in France, Portugal, Iceland, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Luxembourg, Denmark. May 2020 : the band is currently mixing their new album. On 17 September 2021 the band released a seventh studio album called "Homo Alien".

Band members

: lead vocals, keyboards, bass, guitar * Coralie Vuillemin: lead vocals, keyboards, percussion * Didier Strub: Drums, backing vocals

Ex-members

* Anna LaCazio: lead vocals, keyboards, percussion (1982–1990, 2006–2015) *

Clive Wright Clive George Wright, Jr. (born 18 November 1965) is a Jamaican former track and field sprinter who specialised in the 200 metres. He won several medals with the Jamaican relay team, taking Jamaica's first World Championships relay medal (a bronze ...

: guitars (1982–1988) *

Lou Molino III Louis Molino III (known as Lou Molino; born in Philadelphia) is an American drummer. He is best known for many years working with Trevor Rabin. He was also a member of Cock Robin and Yoso with Bobby Kimball, Billy Sherwood, Tony Kaye and Jimm ...

: drums, percussion, backing vocals (1982–1987)

Other members

* Stéphane Bonacci : guitars *

Pat Mastelotto Lee Patrick Mastelotto (born September 10, 1955) is an American rock drummer and record producer. He has been a member of King Crimson, Stick Men, Mr. Mister and O.R.k., as well as working as a session drummer with XTC, The Pointer Sisters an ...

: drums, percussions *

Tris Imboden Gregory Tristan "Tris" Imboden (born July 27, 1951) is an American rock and jazz drummer. As a performer, he has been in studio sessions and on tour with some of the most notable and highest-selling musicians of all time. He was the drummer fo ...

: drums * Hervé Koster: drums *

Corky James Corky James (born February 10, 1954) is a Los Angeles-based session guitarist and bassist who has appeared on a considerable number of music albums and motion picture soundtracks. His genres encompass rock, pop, country, singer-songwriter, and f ...

: guitars * John Pierce: bass * Lise Anderson: keyboards, backing vocals

Discography

*''

Cock Robin "Who Killed Cock Robin" is an English nursery rhyme. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 494. Lyrics The earliest record of the rhyme is in ''Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book'', published in 1744, which noted only the first four verses. The ...

'' (1985) *''

'' (1987) *'' First Love/Last Rites'' (1989) *'' I Don't Want to Save the World'' (2006) *''Songs from a Bell Tower'' (2010) *''Chinese Driver'' (2016) *''Homo Alien'' (2021)

References

External links

* * Official f
International forum dedicated to Cock Robin
{{Authority control Cock Robin (band), 1982 establishments in California American new wave musical groups American pop rock music groups Musical groups established in 1982 Musical groups disestablished in 1990 Musical groups reestablished in 2006 Musical groups from San Francisco