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CHAMELEONS - DISCOGRAPHY (77 VIDEOS)










The Chameleons

Profile:
The band formed in 1981 in Middleton, six miles north of Manchester. Before this, Mark had been in the Clichés while Reg and Dave were in Years. Dave was in a school band called Sen. The three started without a drummer and got the attention of the legendary Radio 1 DJ John Peel. Their first single, "In Shreds" on CBS, made number 42 on John Peel's Festive Fifty in 1982. They originally signed with CBS, but they disagreed with how they should sound. CBS dropped them after the one single, despite encouraging sales. They soon signed with Statik. However, Statik was distributed by Virgin, so they couldn't qualify for the independent charts and were thus overlooked by the music press.
The debut album, "Script of the Bridge", was recorded in Rochdale during a six-week period. The band was really pissed when they found out about the reduced version which was released by MCA in the US. They then became unhappy with Statik and tried to get away from them, but were bound by contractual obligations. After their second album, "What Does Anything Mean? Basically", they signed with Geffen. While signed to Geffen, the band released what was to be their last album together for fifteen years, "Strange Times" as the band literally fell apart, acrimoniously, with grief after the 1987 sudden death of band manager Tony Fletcher.
The dawning of a new millenium saw an ending to the 'hostilities' as the band buried hatchets, kissed and made friends once more, culminating in a reforming of the group, and a new 'unplugged' album entitled 'Strip' -- with live albums following beyond.More 
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Albums

The Chameleons - Script Of The Bridge album artScript Of The Bridge Statik Records1983
The Chameleons - What Does Anything Mean?  Basically album artWhat Does Anything Mean? Basically Statik Records1985
The Chameleons - Strange Times album artStrange Times Geffen Records1986
The Chameleons - John Peel Sessions album artJohn Peel Sessions Strange Fruit1990
The Chameleons - Tripping Dogs album artTripping Dogs Glass Pyramid1990
The Chameleons - Live In Toronto album artLive In Toronto Imaginary Records1992
The Chameleons - Here Today... Gone Tomorrow album artHere Today... Gone Tomorrow Imaginary Records1992
The Chameleons - Aufführung In Berlin album artAufführung In Berlin Imaginary Records1993
The Chameleons - The Radio 1 Evening Show Sessions album artThe Radio 1 Evening Show Sessions Nighttracks1993
The Chameleons - Dali's Picture album artDali's Picture Imaginary Records1993
The Chameleons - Live Shreds album artLive Shreds Cleopatra1996
The Chameleons - Recorded Live At The Gallery Club Manchester, 18th December 1982 album artRecorded Live At The Gallery Club Manchester, 18th December 1982 Visionary Communications1996
The Chameleons - Strip album artStrip Paradiso (UK)2000
The Chameleons - Live At The Witchwood album artLive At The Witchwood Not On Label2000
The Chameleons - Why Call It Anything album artWhy Call It Anything Artful RecordsUniversal2001
The Chameleons - This Never Ending Now album artThis Never Ending Now Paradiso Records (3)UniversalParadiso Records (3)Universal2002
The Chameleons - Live At The Academy album artLive At The Academy ‎(2xCD, Album)Paradiso Records (3)PARADISOCD022002
The Chameleons - Live @ KEXP Radio Seattle album artLive @ KEXP Radio Seattle ‎(CDr, Promo)Not On Labelnone2003
The Chameleons - Live At The Hacienda album artLive At The Hacienda ‎(LP, Ltd, Num, Pin)Radiation ReissuesRRSCV0032017

Singles & EPs

The Chameleons - In Shreds album artIn Shreds EpicEpic1982
The Chameleons - Up The Down Escalator album artUp The Down Escalator Statik RecordsVirgin1983
The Chameleons - A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days album artA Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days Statik RecordsStatik Records1983
The Chameleons - As High As You Can Go album artAs High As You Can Go Statik RecordsStatik Records1983
The Chameleons - Don't Fall album artDon't Fall ‎(7", Single, Promo)Statik Records815 907-71983
The Chameleons - Singing Rule Britannia (While The Walls Close In) album artSinging Rule Britannia (While The Walls Close In)Statik Records1985

Reviews Show All 7 Reviews

richygoth

richygoth

 October 9, 2015
Bandaza mañana darán un concierto en Lima Perú
Looking4Gems

Looking4Gems

 June 16, 2015
edited over 4 years ago 
The Chameleons are one of the most horribly overlooked bands of all-time. When the word Manchester gets dropped, people will most likely think of bands like Joy Division...or, Oasis, but most likely never of The Chameleons! I discovered them in 2008, and am still unable to understand why this band didn't get the recognition it deserved. Absolutely beautiful and intelligent songs for people with a heart. Much respect to all of the fans, where,- and whenever they are!
tezm

tezm

 March 29, 2014
edited over 3 years ago 
well put Escapist...having turned into a prick in early 80's Manchester I missed some music and some united games due to drugs and a little prison.it was while I was away my mate wrote about seeing the best band on the planet and I would love em..and they were and I very very did...ist album he taped for me and the chameleons are in my blood forever..i like the reegs and I liked burgess more with sun and the moon as opposed to sons of god..but preferred them together which was never enough..was it? yeah it was brilliant they got back together and I suppose in a way it makes you appreciate it more with all the breaks for one reason and 100 others..but they sound awesome as always with to my mind the best pair of guitarists I have ever heard for playing off each other, and fuck me I've heard a few...ageless music of the highest and mightiest order.i love keef and Ronnie ,and I know they have an excellent 'old Flemish weave' between them but its standard blues/rock maybe various tunings where as they don't have the colour and textures as well as the heavy fuck off drive that the Manchester boys have....I am writing this belatedly im sad to say..chameleons vox are vox without the chameleons, and a really great sound all the same..just..not the same..until the next reunion then..and its your round by the way tricky bollocks!
Escapist

Escapist

 November 20, 2005
edited over 13 years ago 
Bringing a new spectrum of music from the onslaught of bands of the post-punk era, the Chameleons brought a mature, dreamlike sound to light. Frontman Mark Burgess & company created thrilling ethereal music from elements of old-school psychedelia and avant-garde 70's music. Shrill and melodic guitarwork from Reg Smithies and Dave Fielding complimented Burgess' trancey basslines and voice with John Lever's thundering drums. Four solid albums and several compilations of great stuff keep the Chameleons going strong from one century to the next. So glad they got back together!

Videos (77) Edit


The Chameleons - Shades
5:01
The Chameleons - The Fan and the Belows
3:31
The Chameleons - Intrigue In Tangiers
5:19
The Chameleons - Swamp Thing - 1986
5:58
The Chameleons - Second Skin(Audio)
6:54
Less That Human
4:02
The Chameleons - Swamp thing (The Never Ending Now) Acoustic Version
5:26
The Chameleons - Script of the Bridge 1983 Full Vinyl
56:22
The Chameleons - Less than Human
4:14
The Chameleons - Up the Down Escalator [Sound Remastered]
3:56
The Chameleons (UK) - Tears (Strange Times version)
5:08
The Chameleons - Paper Tigers (Live at the Haçienda, Manchester, UK, 1983)
4:27
Dangerous Land - The Chameleons
5:57
The Chameleons - Less than Human
4:35
Home Is Where The Heart Is
4:55
Here Today (Strip)
4:48
Intrigue in Tangiers (This Never Ending Now)
5:28
The Chameleons-Monkeyland (Live 12-18-1983)
5:12
Perfume Garden
4:36
Soul in Isolation (Strip)
8:22
The Chameleons - Second Skin - Remastered Acoustic Version
7:50
The Chameleons-Thursday's Child (Live 12-18-1983)
3:36
On The Beach
4:12
The Chameleons - Anyone Alive?
5:41
The Chameleons - Prisoners of the Sun
4:22
The Chameleons Home Is Where The Heart Is
4:58
The Chameleons- Strip- Pleasure and Pain
4:49
The Chameleons-Nathan's Phase (Live 12-18-1982)
3:28
The Chameleons-Don't Fall (Live 12-18-1982)
3:53
The Chameleons-Pleasure And Pain (Live 12-18-1982)
4:21
The Chameleons-Here Today (Live 12-18-1982)
4:13
The Chameleons-In Shreds (Live 12-18-1982)
3:56
The Chameleons-Up The Down Escalator (Live 12-18-1982)
4:19
The Chameleons-Second Skin (Live 12-18-1982)
4:59
The Chameleons-Monkeyland (Live 12-18-1982)
5:41
The Chameleons-As High As You Can Go (Live 12-18-1982)
3:25
The Chameleons-Things I Wish I'd Said (Live 12-18-1982)
5:47
The Chameleons-View From A Hill (Live 12-18-1982) 

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