Official Secrets Act (OSA) was a pop-rock band from

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

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 ...

. Thomas Burke, Alexander Mackenzie, and Lawrence Diamond formed a band at

Leeds University , mottoeng = And knowledge will be increased , established = 1831 – Leeds School of Medicine1874 – Yorkshire College of Science1884 - Yorkshire College1887 – affiliated to the federal Victoria University1904 – University of Leeds , ...

after bonding over an interest in British military history. Michael Evans joined after catching one of their early gigs. The band has drawn inspiration from both

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

and American guitar-based bands, such as

Talking Heads Talking Heads were an American rock band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991.Talki ...

Futureheads The Futureheads are an English post-punk band from Sunderland, formed in 2000. The band consists of Ross Millard (vocals and guitar), David "Jaff" Craig (vocals and bass guitar) and brothers Barry Hyde (vocals and guitar) and Dave Hyde (drums) ...

and Blur. OSA was the first band to perform in

Black Cab Sessions ''The Black Cab Sessions'' is a series of one-song performances by musicians and poets recorded in the back of a black cab and filmed for an internet audience. A black cab is a type of hackney carriage (taxicab, An Austin FX4 or a Metrocab) comm ...

's the

Secret Garden Party The Secret Garden Party, often colloquially shortened to the SGP, is an independent arts and music festival which takes place in Abbots Ripton near Huntingdon in England. This location is on part of the grounds of a Georgian farmhouse and has its ...

Sessions in July 2009. Former bassist Lawrence James Diamond is the son of singer/songwriter Jim Diamond

Discography

Albums

* ''Understanding Electricity''Understanding Electricity - Official Secrets Act : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic
/ref> (30 March 2009)

Singles

* ''So Tomorrow'' (8 December 2008) * ''Girl from The BBC'' (16 March 2009) * ''Bloodsport'' (15 June 2009)

References

External links

Official Secrets Act
on Myspace
Record Label

last.fm profile

NME article

English pop rock music groups {{UK-pop-band-stub