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Graduate were an English new wave and
mod revival The mod revival was a subculture that started in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s and later spread to other countries (to a lesser degree). The mod revival's mainstream popularity was relatively short, although its influence lasted for de ...
musical group formed in 1978, in Bath,
England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
. They were only mildly successful, and broke up by 1981. They are today best known as being the initial recording vehicle for future
Tears for Fears Tears for Fears are an English pop rock band formed in Bath, England, in 1981 by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, Tears for Fears were associated with the new wav ...
members
Roland Orzabal Roland Orzabal (born Roland Jaime Orzabal de la Quintana; 22 August 1961) is a British musician, singer-songwriter, record producer, and author. He is best known as a co-founder of Tears for Fears, of which he is the main songwriter and joint v ...
and
Curt Smith Curt Smith (born 24 June 1961) is a British singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and co-founding member of the pop rock band Tears for Fears along with childhood friend Roland Orzabal. Smith plays bass guitar, has co-written seve ...
, who found international fame in the 1980s and 1990s.


Band history

John Baker and
Roland Orzabal Roland Orzabal (born Roland Jaime Orzabal de la Quintana; 22 August 1961) is a British musician, singer-songwriter, record producer, and author. He is best known as a co-founder of Tears for Fears, of which he is the main songwriter and joint v ...
were at school together and performed as the "Baker Brothers" in local pubs and clubs from 1977, when both were aged 16. The name Graduate came from the fact that they used to open shows with a cover of
Simon and Garfunkel Simon & Garfunkel were an American folk rock duo consisting of the singer-songwriter Paul Simon and the singer Art Garfunkel. They were one of the best-selling music groups of the 1960s, and their biggest hits—including the electric remix of " ...
's "
Mrs. Robinson "Mrs. Robinson" is a song by American music duo Simon & Garfunkel from their fourth studio album, '' Bookends'' (1968). Written specifically for the 1967 film ''The Graduate'', the song was released as a single on April 5, 1968, by Columbia Re ...
", which was featured in the movie ''
The Graduate ''The Graduate'' is a 1967 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols and written by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham, based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Charles Webb, who wrote it shortly after graduating from W ...
''. They were introduced to drummer Andy Marsden by their first manager Colin Wyatt who ran a local musical youth group of which Marsden was a member. Buck was also found by Colin Wyatt playing piano at a local nightspot in Bath, and for a while they played with various bass players until Smith was offered the role. Orzabal and Smith had played in a youth club band called Duckz when they were 14. In 1979, Graduate signed a publishing deal with
Tony Hatch Anthony Peter Hatch (born 30 June 1939) is an English composer for musical theatre and television. He is also a songwriter, pianist, arranger and producer. Early life and early career Hatch was born in Pinner, Middlesex. Encouraged by his mus ...
who subsequently offered the group to
Pye Records Pye Records was a British record label. Its best known artists were Lonnie Donegan (1956–1969), Petula Clark (1957–1971), the Searchers (1963–1967), the Kinks (1964–1971), Sandie Shaw (1964–1971), Status Quo (1968–1971) and Brotherhoo ...
. Graduate recorded their debut album ''Acting My Age'' at Crescent Studios Bath in January 1980. The first single "Elvis Should Play Ska" reached number 82 in the
UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
in April 1980 (whilst the band were on a 33-date UK tour supporting
Judie Tzuke Judie Tzuke ( ; born Judie Myers, 3 April 1956) is an English singer-songwriter. She is best known for her 1979 hit " Stay with Me till Dawn", which reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart. Life and career Early life Tzuke's family relocated ...
), although it fared better in
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 ...
, reaching the Top 10. The band then travelled to Spain twice in 1980 to do TV and promotion work. The band undertook a gruelling tour of Germany in October/November 1980, having to drive hundreds of miles between gigs with no
roadie The road crew (or roadies) are the technicians or support personnel who travel with a band on tour, usually in sleeper buses, and handle every part of the concert productions except actually performing the music with the musicians. This catc ...
s: this was the main reason given from Orzabal for quitting on their return. At this time he did not see his future as a live artist and wanted to concentrate on writing. Smith also left the band at this stage. Graduate also appeared on UK TV during 1980. They performed "Ever Met a Day" on the children's TV show '' Runaround'' for
Southern TV Southern Television was the ITV broadcasting licence holder for the South and South-East of England from 30 August 1958 to 31 December 1981. The company was launched as 'Southern Television Limited' and the title 'Southern Television' was co ...
in
Southampton Southampton () is a port city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. It is located approximately south-west of London and west of Portsmouth. The city forms part of the South Hampshire built-up area, which also covers Po ...
. They also appeared on two episodes of ''RPM'' for BBC Bristol, playing three songs live on each occasion. Graduate continued into 1981. Orzabal and Smith were replaced for a short while with Darren Hatch on bass (son of Tony Hatch and
Jackie Trent Yvonne Ann Burgess (6 September 1940 – 21 March 2015), better known by her stage name Jackie Trent, was an English singer-songwriter and actress. She was best known for co-writing (with Tony Hatch) several hits for Petula Clark in the 1960s an ...
) and Nigel Newton on guitar; during this time, the former two played with the short-lived band
Neon Neon is a chemical element with the symbol Ne and atomic number 10. It is a noble gas. Neon is a colorless, odorless, inert monatomic gas under standard conditions, with about two-thirds the density of air. It was discovered (along with krypton ...
, which included
Pete Byrne Peter James Byrne (born 9 June 1954) is an English recording artist, and lead singer for the pop/ new wave duo Naked Eyes, during the earlier years of the 1980s. He is well known for his 1983 cover version of "Always Something There to Remi ...
and Rob Fisher, later of
Naked Eyes Naked Eyes are an English new wave band"All Eyes on Pete Byrne", ''Newsday'', 15 October 2013 that rose to prominence in the early 1980s. The band had four US top 40 singles. The group's first hit, "Always Something There to Remind Me", was ...
. Graduate played a handful of local and London gigs and carried on the relationship with Pye/PRT. They recorded a number of demos with Ian Stanley in mid-1981. Baker and Buck became busy with European promotional work with
the Korgis The Korgis are a British pop band known mainly for their hit single "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" in 1980. The band was originally composed of singer/guitarist/keyboardist Andy Davis (born Andrew Cresswell-Davis 10 August 1949) and singe ...
, and so Graduate fizzled out.


After Graduate

In 1981, Orzabal and Smith went on to form the new wave band
Tears for Fears Tears for Fears are an English pop rock band formed in Bath, England, in 1981 by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, Tears for Fears were associated with the new wav ...
. Andy Marsden played drums on the original single recording of " Suffer the Children". John Baker later joined
the Korgis The Korgis are a British pop band known mainly for their hit single "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" in 1980. The band was originally composed of singer/guitarist/keyboardist Andy Davis (born Andrew Cresswell-Davis 10 August 1949) and singe ...
, a band featuring members of Stackridge. Baker joined Orzabal again in 1993, singing backing vocals on the UK and US hit " Break It Down Again". Marsden and Baker still to this day play in a covers band, the Meanies, alongside former Graduate manager Glenn Tommey and James Warren of the Korgis.


Personnel

*
Roland Orzabal Roland Orzabal (born Roland Jaime Orzabal de la Quintana; 22 August 1961) is a British musician, singer-songwriter, record producer, and author. He is best known as a co-founder of Tears for Fears, of which he is the main songwriter and joint v ...
- vocals, lead guitar *
Curt Smith Curt Smith (born 24 June 1961) is a British singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and co-founding member of the pop rock band Tears for Fears along with childhood friend Roland Orzabal. Smith plays bass guitar, has co-written seve ...
- bass guitar, vocals *John Baker - rhythm guitar, vocals *Steve Buck - keyboards *Andy Marsden - drums


Albums


References


External links

* *
Graduate Discography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Graduate English rock music groups Musical groups established in 1979 Musical groups disestablished in 1981 English new wave musical groups British mod revival groups Musical groups from Somerset