The Lotus Eaters
Peter Coyle performing live at Let's Rock Liverpool, 31 July 2021. Photograph by Andrew D. Hurley
Background information
OriginLiverpool, England
GenresNew wave
Years active1981–1985
2002–present
LabelsArista, Cherry Red
MembersPeter Coyle
Jeremy "Jem" Kelly
Stephen Emmer
Past membersGed Quinn
Alan Wills
Phil Lucking
Michael Dempsey
Stephen Creese
Websitethelotuseaters.com

The Lotus Eaters are an English new wave band formed in 1981 in Liverpool. Their debut single, "The First Picture of You", became a hit in the UK and in continental Europe, notably France, Italy, Belgium and Spain.[1]

History

Formation and success

In September 1982, Peter Coyle and Jeremy "Jem" Kelly met for the first time. Kelly had been guitarist in the Dance Party with Michael Head and co-founded the Wild Swans in 1980.[2] Coyle had previously been in the Jass Babies, who had recorded a session for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show in 1981.[3]

After an invitation to record a Peel session, a number of new songs were created. Joined on keyboards by Kelly's fellow ex-Wild Swans member Ged Quinn, drummer Alan Wills and bassist Phil Lucking,[4] the session was recorded in October 1982 and included "The First Picture of You".[5] This led to the band being signed by Arista Records.

Produced by Nigel Gray, "The First Picture of You" became an iconic song for the Lotus Eaters in 1983, giving them a UK hit single before the band had even played a live gig. The band recorded a second session for Peel in October 1983.[6]

The band's debut studio album, No Sense of Sin, was released in 1984 on Arista subsidiary Sylvan Records, preceded by two further singles, "You Don't Need Someone New" and "Out on Your Own". Both of these songs hit the top 100 of the UK Singles Chart,[1] but owing to difficulties with producers and marketing, the impact of "The First Picture of You" was not repeated in the UK.

Line-up changes and disbandment

After Quinn left, Coyle and Kelly recruited bassist Michael Dempsey (the Cure, Associates), keyboard player Stephen Emmer (formerly of Minny Pops and Associates) and drummer Steve Crease. The Lotus Eaters toured extensively in the UK, France and Italy before going on hiatus in 1985 after parting ways with Arista.[2] "It Hurts", their final single, charted in the Italian Top 5 that year,[7] but the band had already split up, leaving a promotional video featuring footage of Louise Brooks to represent them.[8]

Aftermath

Coyle recorded as a solo artist, releasing the albums A Slap in the Face for Public Taste and I'd Sacrifice Eight Orgasms with Shirley MacLaine Just to Be There, and went on to found dance company 8 Productions and the G-Love nightclub.[9] As a songwriter/producer, he had success with Marina Van-Rooy's 1990 single "Sly One", and worked with a host of emerging artists on Liverpool's dance scene. Coyle later pursued academic interests at the University of Edinburgh.[10]

Meanwhile, Kelly reformed the Wild Swans, releasing the Bringing Home the Ashes album on Sire in 1988.[2] He co-wrote an album, Soul Fire (released in 2001), with Tom Hingley (ex-Inspiral Carpets), before leaving to study for a PhD in memory-themed multimedia theatre at the University of Reading.[11] Since 1989, Kelly has been writing, staging and performing in music-driven theatre, including Phantoms of the Aperture Part 1: Ted (2015) and Phantoms of the Aperture Part 2: Pictures of Me (2016) examining intersections of time, space, memory and music.

A compilation album of the Lotus Eaters' music, First Picture of You, was released in 1998 by Vinyl Japan/BBC Worldwide, consisting of sessions recorded at BBC Radio 1. No Sense of Sin was reissued that same year by Arista Japan.[12]

Reunion

In 2001, the Lotus Eaters, comprising the duo of Coyle and Kelly, reformed after almost two decades, recording and releasing a new album titled Silentspace on the Vinyl Japan label.[13]

On 13 March 2009, the band announced a one-off concert to be held at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on 25 July.[14] The gig, a performance of the album No Sense of Sin, featured Coyle, Kelly and Emmer accompanied by a string quartet from the University of Huddersfield.[15]

In April 2009, Coyle and Kelly collaborated with Emmer, and announced that they were working with producer Steve Power on material for a new album called A Plug-in Called Nostalgia,[15] which has yet to be released.[16] A limited-edition acoustic album, Differance, was issued the following year as a limited release on Sylvan.[17]

The Lotus Eaters played their first London show in 10 years at the Camden Barfly on 11 June 2010, followed by a string of shows in the UK. The band also toured in Japan in October 2010, with gigs in Tokyo and Osaka.

In 2015, the band announced on their Facebook page that they were still working to release A Plug-in Called Nostalgia.[18]

In 2017, Coyle performed solo in a one-night-only show in Manila.[19]

Discography

Studio albums

Year Title Label
UK
[1][20]
1984 No Sense of Sin Arista Records/Sylvan Records 96
2002 Silentspace Vinyl Japan —
2010 Differance Sylvan Records —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.

Singles

Year Title Label Peak chart positions
AUS
[21]		 UK
[20]
1983 "The First Picture of You" Arista/Sylvan Records 63 15
"You Don't Need Someone New" — 53
1984 "Set Me Apart" — 88
"Out on Your Own" — —
"German Girl" — —
1985 "It Hurts" — 87
2001 Stay Free (EP) Vinyl Japan — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

  • First Picture of You (BBC and live sessions, 1982-1984) (1998, Vinyl Japan/BBC Worldwide)

References

  1. 1 2 3 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 330. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. 1 2 3 Strong, Martin C. (2003). The Great Indie Discography. Canongate. p. 571. ISBN 1-84195-335-0.
  3. ↑ "BBC – Radio 1 – Keeping It Peel – 19/10/1981 Jass Babies". BBC. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  4. ↑ First Picture of You (CD liner notes).
  5. ↑ "BBC – Radio 1 – Keeping It Peel – 02/10/1982 Lotus Eaters". BBC. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  6. ↑ "BBC – Radio 1 – Keeping It Peel – 05/10/1983 Lotus Eaters". BBC. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  7. ↑ "Release details for Lotus Eaters - First Picture of You on the Vinyl Japan record label, catalogue number: ASKCD77". Pennyblackmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "Homage to Lulu". Pandorasbox.com. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  9. ↑ Sutton, Michael. "Peter Coyle | Biography | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  10. ↑ "Peter Coyle fractal | the raw edges of passion | Bio". Petercoyle.com. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  11. ↑ "Department of Film, Theatre & Television - University of Reading". www.reading.ac.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  12. ↑ Sutton, Michael. "The Lotus Eaters | Music Biography, Streaming Radio and Discography | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  13. ↑ Sutton, Michael. "Silentspace – The Lotus Eaters | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  14. ↑ Wright, Jade. "Lotus Eaters relish return to home stage at Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  15. 1 2 "Peter Coyle fractal | the raw edges of passion | News : The Lotus Eaters playing live at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall July 25th". Petercoyle.com. 13 March 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  16. ↑ "Peter Coyle fractal | the raw edges of passion | Home". Petercoyle.com. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  17. ↑ "News". Thelotuseaters.com. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  18. ↑ "The Lotus Eaters UK". Facebook. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  19. ↑ "Peter Coyle 2017 Manila [DOLBY] – YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  20. 1 2 "LOTUS EATERS - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  21. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 181. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
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