Bronski Beat

Description

Bronski Beat was a popular British synth pop trio of the 1980s.<p>At the height of its popularity, the band consisted of distinctive singer Jimmy Somerville (born in Glasgow, Scotland on 22 June 1961), backed by Steve Bronski (born Steven Forrest, 7 February 1960, in Scunthorpe, England) and Larry Steinbachek (born Lawrence Cole 6 May 1960 in London), both of whom played keyboards and percussion.<p>Their music is characterized by Somerville's soulful counter-tenor voice and quirky synthesizer accompaniment.<p>Bronski Beat formed in 1983 when Somerville, Steinbachek and Bronski shared a three bedroomed flat, Lancaster House, in Brixton, south west London. Apparently the band's name was "God Forbid" before Bronski Beat was suggested by Bronski, as a pun on the group name of Roxy Music and the main character from the Günter Grass novel, The Tin Drum.<p>Bronski Beat signed a recording contract with London Records in 1984 after doing only nine live gigs. The band's arresting debut single, "Smalltown...