The Blue Aeroplanes are an English rock band from

Bristol Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...

, 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 A work of art, artwork, art piece, piece of art or art object is an artistic creation of aesthetic value. Except for "work of art", which may be used of any work regarded as art in its widest sense, including works from literature ...

from 1978 to 1981.

History

The Blue Aeroplanes first performed under that name at the King Street Art Gallery in

in 1981. They consisted mainly of former members of

, with the addition of Nick Jacobs, former guitarist and vocalist of Southampton band the Exploding Seagulls. 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 Karl Heinrich Marx (; 5 May 1818 – 14 March 1883) was a German philosopher, economist, historian, sociologist, political theorist, journalist, critic of political economy, and socialist revolutionary. His best-known titles are the 1848 ...

centenary performance at the

Victoria Rooms Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

, with the addition of trumpet and didgeridoo. 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. 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. On 24 February 1990, the band released their most critically acclaimed album, ''Swagger'', this time on a major label

Chrysalis A pupa ( la, pupa, "doll"; plural: ''pupae'') is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation between immature and mature stages. Insects that go through a pupal stage are holometabolous: they go through four distinct stages in their ...

Ensign An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diffe ...

. This was followed by ''Beatsongs'', which was recorded in the United States and released in 1991. It was produced by Larry Hirsch. This second album on the major label was their highest charting, reaching no. 33 in the

UK Albums Chart The Official Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales and (from March 2015) audio streaming in the United Kingdom. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the Official Charts C ...

. A second compilation of rare B-sides and out-takes, ''FriendLoverPlane2 (Up in a Down World)'', was released in 1992. The follow-up to ''Beatsongs'' was delayed until 1994, when the album ''Life Model'' was released on the

Beggars Banquet ''Beggars Banquet'' is the 7th British and 9th American studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on 6 December 1968 by Decca Records in the United Kingdom and London Records in the United States. It was the first Ro ...

label; it was followed by ''

Rough Music Charivari (, , , alternatively spelled shivaree or chivaree and also called a skimmington) was a European and North American folk custom in which a mock parade was staged through a community accompanied by a discordant mock serenade. Since the cr ...

'' 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 EMI Group Limited (originally an initialism for Electric and Musical Industries, also referred to as EMI Records Ltd. or simply EMI) was a British transnational conglomerate founded in March 1931 in London. At the time of its break-up in 201 ...

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 Harvesting is the process of gathering a ripe crop from the fields. Reaping is the cutting of grain or pulse for harvest, typically using a scythe, sickle, or reaper. On smaller farms with minimal mechanization, harvesting is the most labor-i ...

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. 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 Fire Records was an American independent record label, set up in 1959 by Bobby Robinson. Amongst others, it released records by Lightnin' Hopkins, Elmore James, Buster Brown and Arthur Crudup. At one point it was thought Fire had issued the la ...

. In 1996 ''Fruit (Live 1983–1995)'' was released on Fire Records and covered 12 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''. 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.

Live performances

They have played headlining gigs in small indie venues as well as supporting big acts such as

R.E.M. R.E.M. was an American rock band from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe, who were students at the University of Georgia. One of the first alternati ...

and

Siouxsie and the Banshees Siouxsie and the Banshees were a British rock band formed in London in 1976 by vocalist Siouxsie Sioux and bass guitarist Steven Severin. They have been widely influential, both over their contemporaries and with later acts. ''Q'' magazine in ...

on major international tours, frontman Gerard Langley always wearing his trademark shades even at night in dark venues. Performances include the band's 1992 appearance at Glastonbury which was broadcast on

BBC Radio 1 BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including electronica, dance, ...

, the finale at the

Hammersmith Apollo The Hammersmith Apollo, currently called the Eventim Apollo for sponsorship reasons, and formerly known as the Hammersmith Odeon, is a live entertainment performance venue, originally built as a cinema called the Gaumont Palace. Located in Ham ...

when 12 guitarists were seen on stage performing "Breaking in My Heart" and their annual appearance at Fiddlers in Bristol which has now been relocated to the band's own venue, The Fleece. In February 2016 the band played at the

6music BBC Radio 6 Music is a British digital radio station owned and operated by the BBC, specialising primarily in alternative music. BBC 6 Music was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in 32 years. It is available onl ...

festival at Colston Hall's Lantern venue, being introduced by

Gideon Coe Gideon Jon Quantrill Coe (born 22 September 1967 in Canterbury, Kent) is a radio DJ, presenter, sportscaster, voiceover artist and journalist. Early career He began his broadcasting career in 1976 as a child presenter on the BBC One TV program ...

and in April 2016 they were personally chosen by curator

Stewart Lee Stewart Graham Lee (born 5 April 1968) is an English comedian, screenwriter, and television director. His stand-up routine is characterised by repetition, internal reference, deadpan delivery, and consistent breaking of the fourth wall. Lee b ...

to play the ATP festival at Pontins Prestatyn. In 2019 the band performed at the

Glastonbury Festival Glastonbury Festival (formally Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts and known colloquially as Glasto) is a five-day festival of contemporary performing arts that takes place in Pilton, Somerset, England. In addition to contemp ...

on the Avalon Stage.

Discography

Studio albums

* ''Bop Art'' (1984),

Party A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, recreation, or as part of a festival or other commemoration or celebration of a special occasion. A party will often feature f ...

* ''Tolerance'' (1985),

Fire Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material (the fuel) in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction Product (chemistry), products. At a certain point in the combustion reaction, called the ignition ...

* ''Spitting Out Miracles'' (1987), Fire * ''Swagger'' (1990),

* ''Beatsongs'', (1991), Ensign * ''Life Model'' (1994),

* ''

'' (1995), Beggars Banquet * ''Cavaliers & Roundheads'' (2000), Swarf Finger * ''Altitude'' (2006), EMI/Harvest * ''Harvester'' (2007), EMI/Harvest * ''Anti-Gravity'' (2011), Art Star/Albino * ''Welcome, Stranger!'' (2017), Art Star *''Culture Gun'' (2022), Art Star

Live album

* ''Fruit (Live 1983-1995)'' (1996), Fire

Compilation albums

* ''Friendloverplane'' (1988), Fire * ''World View Blue'' (1990),

* ''Friendloverplane 2 (Up in a Down World)'' (1992), Ensign * ''Weird Shit (One-Offs False Starts & Side Roads To The Wrong Part Of Town)'' (1996), Self-release * ''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..." (EP) (1985), Fire Records (FIRE 2) - Action Painting / Le Petit Cadeau De Don Juan / Ashtrays From Mt. Etna / Police (38 Divinity) * "Lover & Confidante And Other Stories of Travel Religion & Heartbreak" (EP) (1985), Fire Records (FIRE 8) - Lover & Confidante / Who Built This Station In The Midwest / Weird Heart / Breaking In My Heart * "Tolerance" (EP) (1986), Fire Records BLAZE 12T - Tolerance (Remix) / Teaching English (Through Sex And Death) / The Couple In The Next Room / Complete Blessing * "Bury Your Love Like Treasure" (EP) (1987), Fire Records BLAZE 23T - Bury Your Love Like Treasure / King Of The Soap Box / Vice King's Son / Continually Torn Apart * "The Janice Long Session" (EP) (1988), Strange fruit / Night Trax SFNT009 - * "Veils of Colour" (EP) (1988), Fire Records BLAZE 24T - Veils Of Colour / Spitting Out Miracles (Re-mixed) / Arriving / Built In A Day * "Jacket Hangs" (1990), Ensign ENY628 * "...And Stones" (1990), Ensign ENY632 - ... And Stones (Remix Edit) / ... And Stones (Album version) * "The Loved" (EP) (1990), Ensign ENY636 - You (Are Loved) / You're Going To Need Somebody / Sweet Jane / World View Blue (Acoustic Version) * "Yr Own World" (1991), Ensign ENY647 * "The Boy in the Bubble" (1991), Ensign ENY649 * "Stranger" (1992), Flexi-disc given out at Bristol University gig. * "Up In A Down World" (EP) (1993), Fantastic Plastic FP002 - Up In A Down World / Fun (Acoustic) / Breaking In My Heart / Mean Time * "Broken & Mended EP" (1994), Beggars Banquet BBQ26T - Broken & Mended / Love Is / Star-Cross'd / Get Out! * "Detective Song" (1994), Beggars Banquet BBQ39 * "Sugared Almond EP" (1995), Beggars Banquet BBQ53 - Sugared Almond (New Version) / Scared (Scared Mix) / Bad Moon Rising / Broken And Mended (Acoustic Version) * "China Brilliance Automotive" (2010), Albino Two Recordings ALBTW010 * "Dead Tree! Dead Tree!" (2016), ArtStar AS CS 002

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 "Unsquare Dance" is a composition by jazz pianist Dave Brubeck that was released as a single in 1961. Included on Brubeck's album ''Time Further Out'', the piece reached No. 93 on the ''Cash Box'' chart on December 16, 1961. Time signature Wri ...

" (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 ''Ruby Trax - The NME's Roaring Forty'' is a compilation album released by the 'rock inkie' (newspaper) NME (New Musical Express) in 1992 to commemorate 40 years of publication. The album features 40 cover versions of classic Number 1 songs by p ...

'' (1992), NME. Includes "

Bad Moon Rising "Bad Moon Rising" is a song written by John Fogerty and performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival. It was the lead single from their album ''Green River'' and was released in April 16, 1969 four months before the album. The song peaked at No. 2 ...

". * ''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

References

External links

Official website

Blue Aeroplanes at Fire Records
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Blue Aeroplanes, The Musical groups established in 1981 English new wave musical groups English post-punk music groups Musical groups from Bristol Chrysalis Records artists Beggars Banquet Records artists Harvest Records artists Fire Records (UK) artists