The Brilliant Corners were a British indie pop band from Bristol who recorded throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s. [1]
The group was formed in 1983, taking the name from the Thelonious Monk jazz album, Brilliant Corners. [2] The line-up included Davey Woodward (b. Avonmouth, Bristol, England; vocals, guitar), Chris Galvin (1959 – 22 December 1998; bass guitar), Winston Forbes (lead guitar, percussion, backing vocals), Bob Morris (drums) and Dan Pacini (occasional trumpet and keyboards). [1] A later addition was Phil Elvins on guitar.
The band's first releases were early examples of indie pop, with three singles being released in 1984 on their own SS20 label. [3] Their first (mini-)album, Growing Up Absurd, appeared the following year. [3] With an explosion of indie pop groups in 1986, their May release Fruit Machine EP gained them both attention and radio airplay, followed by a second mini-album, What's In A Word. "Brian Rix", a re-recorded version of a track from the LP, with added trumpet, and a tribute to Rix, the "king of farce", was issued as a single, the proceeds going to Mencap, the charity of which Rix was chairman. The video, featuring Woodward running Rix-like around a couch with his trousers around his ankles, was shown on The Tube, further raising the band's profile. [2]
In March 1988, the band set up another label, McQueen, and released third album, Somebody Up There Likes Me, [1] followed by a collection of their sought-after early singles, Everything I Ever Wanted. Two more albums followed in 1989 (Joy Ride) and 1990 (Hooked), followed by a second compilation, Creamy Stuff, in 1991. They released A History Of White Trash in 1993 before splitting up.
Woodward and Galvin formed the Experimental Pop Band [4] in 1995. Galvin died from cancer in 1998. [1]
The Brilliant Corners reformed in 2013 for a short tour.
Winston Forbes died in 2019. [5]
Chart placings shown are from the UK Indie Chart. [6]