Biography
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Years Active
1981 – 1982 (1 year)
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Founded In
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
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Members
- David Weddell (1981 – 1982)
- Momus
- Neill Martin
- Ron Torrance (1981 – 1982)
There are two bands called "The Happy Family":
1) The Happy Family were the earliest vehicle for the cerebral songs of an Edinburgh university drop-out called Nicholas Currie - he was later to find his true vocation as a post-Brel, post-Gainsbourg "tender pervert" called Momus. Ivo's attention had been attracted by a demo which also featured ex-Josef K guitarist Malcolm Ross. A three-song single, "Puritans" - which, if truth be told, owed a rather large sonic debt to both Josef K and Orange Juice - was swiftly followed by an ambitious, complex concept album called The Man On Your Street (Postcard Records). Looking back, Currie has this to say :
"It's 1982. Postcard Records and The Sound Of Young Scotland. An Edinburgh literature student called Nick Currie forms a pop group with three ex-members of local group Josef K. They sign to 4AD, home of The Birthday Party, and proceed to record a CD with the following cast list : an evangelical detergent salesman; a Fascist dictator who comes to power thanks to a lottery win; Samuel, the son of the salesman and Maria, the dictator's beautiful daughter, who join the Red Brigade and plots to assassinate the Fascist. Confused ? Just wait 'til you read the lyrics !"
The Man On Your Street was to be The Happy Family's only album - Momus, of course, went on to release a string of twisted, provocative and highly literate pop records; he is still active.
2) A mislabeling of the Japanese zeuhl band Happy Family.
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