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Biography
for|the U.S. band|The Farm (U.S. band)Refimprove|date=July 2010Infobox musical artist| name = The Farm| image = The Farm Sire.jpg| alt = Black and white image of The Farm sitting on steps| caption = Promotional photograph of The Farm in 1992 L to R: Ben Leach , Carl Hunter , Roy Boulter , Keith Mullin (back row), Steve Grimes and Peter Hooton (front row)| image_size =| landscape = | background = group_or_band| alias =| origin = Liverpool , England| genre = Alternative rock , alternative dance , baggy | years_active = start date|1983–end date|1996, 2004–present| label = Produce, Sire Records|Sire | associated_acts =| website =| current_members = Peter Hooton Steve Grimes Carl Hunter Roy Boulter Keith Mullin Ben Leach | past_members = Phil Strongman Andy McVann Anthony Evans Steve Levy George Maher John Melvin The Farm are a United Kingdom|British musical ensemble|band from Liverpool . Their debut album Spartacus (The Farm album)|Spartacus reached the top position on the UK Albums Chart when it was released in March 1991. Currently, they are on tour with their Spartacus Live 2012 shows, and form part of The Justice Tonight Band, supporting The Stone Roses at Heaton Park, Lyon and Milan.
History
They formed in early 1983. and initially comprised Peter Hooton, Steve Grimes, John Melvin and Andrew John "Andy" McVann,cite web|url= http://www.findmypast.co.uk/post84BMDSearchStart.action |title=Search birth, marriage and death records 1837-2006 & #124; Overseas BMDs, parish records from 1538 |publisher=Findmypast.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2011-07-14 who was killed in a police chase on 1 October 1986 at the age of 21,cite web|url= http://www.penguin.co.uk/static/cs/uk/0/minisites/numberoneinheaven/yourehistory.html |title=Number One in Heaven - Penguin Books Ltd |publisher=Penguin.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2011-07-14 and to whose parents the band's subsequent album, Spartacus (The Farm album)|Spartacus , would be dedicated.
The band evolved out of an earlier group called The Excitements, initially including Phil Stephenson on bass, Neil (Cad) Campbell on drums, as well as Grimes on guitar & Thomas (the bands dancer). They became The Farm after Martin Dunbar (vocals) left and Peter Hooton joined, although they did play several gigs as The Excitements with Hooton on vocals. In 1984, they released the single (music)|single , "Hearts and Minds," produced by Suggs (singer)|Graham "Suggs" McPherson , lead vocalist with Madness (band)|Madness . In 1986, after McVann's death, Melvin left the band to pursue a varied career as the director of his own construction firm, but he eventually returned to music in 1990 under the guise of Mr. Smith, a two-piece band that would tour frequently, but not release anything of note. In 1987, the band supported Housemartins|The Housemartins on their UK tour.
After the departure of Melvin and the death of McVann, Hooton promptly brought in a new line-up. They released four Independent record label|Indie singles, but failed to earn themselves a big break until 1990. In 1989, the band had been given a cameo role in the movie The Final Frame starring Suggs. They were signed after this and hired Suggs as their producer. Their first single under new management was "Stepping Stone," a dance remake of Paul Revere & the Raiders and The Monkees ' single "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone," a 1966 single that in its day reached #20 in the U.S. Billboard (magazine)| Billboard charts for The Monkees. They were soon featured in The Face (magazine)|The Face , an influential popular culture magazine in the UK, and their promotion of "No alla violenza" anti- Football hooliganism|hooligan t-shirt s during the Football World Cup 1990|Italia 90 helped raise their profile further.
The Farm's first song to reach the upper end of the UK singles chart was " Groovy Train ," which reached the Top 10 in September 1990. In late November that year they released their most famous song, " All Together Now (The Farm song)|All Together Now ," which instantly became a hit. It was on the crest of this wave that their album Spartacus reached #1 in the UK. However, this success was short-lived, and their first single for a major label ( Sony Records ), "Love See No Colour" (1992), did not perform well, which led to a split from producers Pete Heller and Terry Farley. The band joined up with Mark Saunders , the man who had produced Erasure and The Cure . They released a cover of The Human League 's " Don't You Want Me ," which reached the Top 20.
In 1994, they released the album Hullabaloo (The Farm album)|Hullabaloo on the Sire Records|Sire label, followed by their last major single. Despite being a group largely supporting Liverpool F.C. , they released a single to accompany the presence of their cross-city rivals, Everton F.C.|Everton , in the 1995 FA Cup Final.
Their most recent release was "Alltogethernow 2004," featuring the S.F.X. Boys Choir, Liverpool, as the official anthem of the England National Football Team at Euro 2004 . It was issued on 31 May 2004 and as the name suggests, in a slightly remixed format, with radio commentary from the Euro 2004 Qualifiers added to the track, whilst a bonus remix also featured on the single with the help of DJ Spoony . The Farm were also central to the commemorative Hillsborough track " The Fields of Anfield Road ," the proceeds going to the families of those killed in the disaster.
Members
;Current members
Peter Hooton – vocals (1983–1996, 2004–present)
Steve Grimes – guitar (1983–1996, 2004–present)
Carl Hunter – bass guitar (1986–1996, 2004–present)
Roy Boulter – drums (1986–1996, 2004–present)
Keith Mullin – guitar (1986–1996, 2004–present)
Ben Leach – keyboards (1988–1996, 2004–present)
;Former members
Phil Strongman – bass guitar (1983–1986)
Andy McVann – drums (1983–1986)
Anthony Evans – brass (1984–1986)
Steve Levy – brass (1984–1986)
George Maher – brass (1984–1986)
John Melvin – brass (1984–1986)
Discography
Studio albums
Spartacus (The Farm album)|Spartacus (1991) #1 ( UK Albums Chart|UK ), #45 (NED), #37 (SWI). Gold Certification (UK)cite book| first= David| last= Roberts| year= 2006
| title= British Hit Singles & Albums| edition= 19th| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London| isbn= 1-904994-10-5| page= 195
http://www.youtube.com/thefarmvideos The Farm on YouTube
Myspace|thefarmlive|The Farm
Twitter|thefarm2012|The Farm
Allmusic|class=artist|id=p4232|label=The Farm
Discogs artist|artist=Farm, The|name=The Farm
The Farm (band) DEFAULTSORT:Farm, The Category:British electronic music groups Category:English house music groups Category:English rock music groups Category:Musical groups from Liverpool Category:Madchester Category:Sire Records artists Category:English alternative rock groups Category:British dance music groups Category:Musical groups established in 1983 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1996 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2004
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