A_Flock_of_Seagulls

A Flock of Seagulls
A Flock of Seagulls
	Lead singer Mike Score performing in 2011
Background information
Origin	Liverpool, England
Genres	New wave; synth-pop; electronic rock;
Years active	1979–1986; 1988–present;
Labels	Arista; Jive; I.R.S.;
Members	Mike Score; Pando; Kevin Rankin; Gord Deppe;
Past members	Paul Reynolds; Frank Maudsley; Ali Score; (see Personnel section for others);
Website	aflockofseagulls.org

A Flock of Seagulls

English new wave and synth-pop band

A Flock of Seagulls are an English new wave band formed in Liverpool in 1979. The group, whose best-known line-up comprised Mike Score, Ali Score, Frank Maudsley and Paul Reynolds, hit the peak of their chart success in the early 1980s.^[4]

Quick Facts Background information, Origin ...

The group had a string of international hit singles including "I Ran (So Far Away)" (1982), "Space Age Love Song" (1982), "Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)" (1982), and "The More You Live, the More You Love" (1984). Their video for "I Ran (So Far Away)" received airplay on MTV during the Second British Invasion.^[5] The band won a Grammy Award in 1983 for their instrumental "D.N.A." (1982).^[6]

In 2018, the members of the original lineup assembled to record the album Ascension with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.^[7] In 2021, the original lineup again reunited temporarily to record another album with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, String Theory.

History

1979–1982: Formation and debut album

The band A Flock of Seagulls was formed in Liverpool, England, in 1979 by Mike Score, Frank Maudsley and Ali Score. Mike was a hairdresser when he bought a second-hand Korg MS-10 synthesizer and invited his friends to form the band. Frank played bass and Ali drums, even without prior experience. After testing six guitarists, Willie Woo joined the band and brought in Mark Edmondson to replace Ali on drums. Later, the Score brothers had a falling out, and Mark Edmondson left. Ali returned to the band and shortly afterwards Woo left, being replaced by Paul Reynolds, a 17-year-old friend of Mark Edmondson. Initially, the band did not have a vocalist. Mike, who was the composer of the songs, sang just to show how he thought the song should sound. However, Frank suggested that he be the band's official lead singer. Mike was reluctant at first, but ended up accepting the suggestion.

The band began playing local clubs and eventually got a record deal with Jive Records. In 1981, they released their first single, "Talking", which was produced by Bill Nelson. The single was a moderate success in the United Kingdom. In 1982, the band released their second single, "Telecommunication", which was also produced by Bill Nelson. The single was an even bigger success than the first and became a club hit. The band's third release was the EP Modern Love is Automatic. Released in the US, it included the single "Telecommunication" as well as "I Ran (So Far Away)" — which became the band's biggest hit and was in heavy rotation on the new cable channel, MTV.^[8] The video for "I Ran" was low budget (even for the time), but it provided enormous exposure for the band, and it is well-remembered in part because MTV played it frequently.^[9]

The band's debut album, A Flock of Seagulls, was released in 1982. The album was a commercial and critical success, reaching number 1 in Australia and the Top 10 in the US and New Zealand. The album was praised for its new wave songs, which were influenced by styles such as synthpop, post-punk and new romantic. The band was also praised for their image, which was characterized by slicked-back hair and colorful clothing. The album was influential in pop music in the 1980s.^{[citation needed]} The band was one of the pioneers of synthpop and helped popularize the style.^{[citation needed]}

Personnel

Current members

Mike Score – vocals, guitars, keyboards (1979–1986, 1988–present)
Pando – bass (2004–present)
Kevin Rankin – drums (2016–present)
Gord Deppe – guitars (2017–present)

Former members

Frank Maudsley – bass (1979–1986, 2003, 2004, 2018, 2021)
Ali Score – drums (1979–1986, 2003, 2004, 2018, 2021)
Paul Reynolds – guitars (1980–1984, 2003, 2004, 2018, 2021)
Willie Woo – guitars (1980)
Mark Edmondson – drums (1980)
Chris Mars Chryssaphes – keyboards (1984–1985)
Gary Steadman – guitars (1984–1985)
Ed Berner – guitars (1988–1998)
Dave Maerz – guitars (1988–1989)
Kaya Pryor – drums, percussion (1988–1994)
Mike Radcliffe – bass (1988–1994)
Mike Railton – keyboards (1988–1994)
Jonte Wilkins – drums (1988–1989)
Mike Marquart – drums (1989)
Shavin Duffy – bass (1990)
A.J. Mazzetti – drums (1994–1998)
Dean Pichette – bass (1994–1998)
Joe Rodriguez – guitars (1998–2017)
Lucio Rubino – bass (1998–2002)
John Walker – drums (1995–1998)
Darryl Sons – drums (1998–2004)
Rob Wright – bass (1998–2004)
Robbie Hanson – bass (1999–2006)
Albert Cruz – drums (2001–2006)
Michael Brahm – drums (2004–2016)

Line-ups

More information 1980–84 (Reunions: 2003, 2004, 2018, 2021), 1984–85 ...

1979	1980	1980	1980
Mike Score – lead vocals, keyboards Frank Maudsley – bass guitar Ali Score – drums	Mike Score – lead vocals, keyboards Frank Maudsley – bass guitar Ali Score – drums Willie Woo – lead guitar	Mike Score – lead vocals, keyboards Frank Maudsley – bass guitar Willie Woo – lead guitar Mark Edmondson – drums	Mike Score – lead vocals, keyboards Frank Maudsley – bass guitar Willie Woo – lead guitar Ali Score – drums
1980–84 (Reunions: 2003, 2004, 2018, 2021)	1984–85	1985–86	1986–88
Mike Score – lead vocals, keyboards Frank Maudsley – bass guitar Ali Score – drums Paul Reynolds – lead guitar	Mike Score – lead vocals, keyboards Frank Maudsley – bass guitar Ali Score – drums Chris Mars Chryssaphes – keyboards Gary Steadman – lead guitar	Mike Score – lead vocals, keyboards Frank Maudsley – bass guitar Ali Score – drums	Disbanded
1988–89	1989	1989–94	1994–98
Mike Score – lead vocals, keyboards Ed Berner – lead guitar Dave Maerz – lead guitar Kaya Pryor – drums, percussion Mike Radcliffe – bass guitar Mike Railton – keyboards Jonte Wilkins – drums	Mike Score – lead vocals, keyboards Ed Berner – lead guitar Dave Maerz – lead guitar Kaya Pryor – drums, percussion Mike Radcliffe – bass guitar Mike Railton – keyboards Jonte Wilkins – drums Mike Marquart – drums	Mike Score – lead vocals, keyboards Ed Berner – lead guitar Kaya Pryor – drums, percussion Mike Radcliffe – bass guitar Shavin Duffy – bass guitar (1990) Mike Railton – keyboards	Mike Score – lead vocals, keyboards Ed Berner – lead guitar A.J. Mazzetti – drums John Walker – drums (1995-1998) Dean Pichette – bass guitar
1998–2004	2004–2016	2016–2017	2017–present
Mike Score – lead vocals, keyboards Joe Rodriguez – lead guitar Darryl Sons – drums Albert Cruz – drums Lucio Rubino – bass guitar (till 2002) Rob Wright – bass guitar Robbie Hanson – bass guitar	Mike Score – lead vocals, keyboards Joe Rodriguez – lead guitar Michael Brahm – drums Albert Cruz – drums (till 2006) Pando – bass guitar Robbie Hanson – bass guitar (till 2006)	Mike Score – lead vocals, keyboards Joe Rodriguez – lead guitar Pando – bass guitar Kevin Rankin – drums	Mike Score – lead vocals, keyboards Pando – bass guitar Kevin Rankin – drums Gord Deppe – lead guitar

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A_Flock_of_Seagulls

A Flock of Seagulls

History

1979–1982: Formation and debut album

1983: Listen and the peak of popularity

1984: The Story of a Young Heart and Reynolds' departure

1985–1986: New lineup, Dream Come True and hiatus

1988–1998: Various formations and The Light at the End of the World

1998–2018: Touring and Ascension years

2019—: Inflight and String Theory

Legacy

Personnel

Timeline

Line-ups

Discography

See also

References

External links

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