When we heard that Liam Maher, lead singer with Flowered Up, had died, it brought us down big time. We shared a drink or two with Liam in the College Arms, Somers Town, back in the day, and had nothing but laughs. RIP.
By Eduardo Anselmi
October 2009
After releasing two singles (It's On and Phobia) on Heavenly Records, Flowered Up signed to London Records and recorded their first (and only) album, A Life With Brian, in 1991.
The band were unusual in that, musically, they resembled Madchester bands such as the Happy Mondays but, whereas almost all of those bands came from Manchester or the environs, Flowered Up came from London. The group appeared on the covers of both Sounds and NME before releasing any records. A Life With Brian contained many of their popular live songs, as well as new versions of the previously released singles. However, the album was said by many not to live up to the promise of their live performances. Not long afterwards, Flowered Up released the 13-minute long single Weekender, on Heavenly.
Weekender which was released with a video directed by WIZ. starring Lee Whitlock and Anna Haigh.
The debauchery hinted at in their music was not merely a pose, and after much publicised drug problems with some members of the band, and unproductive (and some unreleased) studio work, the band split up. Keyboard player Tim Dorney went on to form Republica.
A Life With Brian has since been re-released by London as The Best of Flowered Up, and now includes the original version of Weekender. For a lovely tribute from the lovely John Robb go here and have a read.
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