Bronski Beat

Bronski Beat
Bronski Beat
	Steve Bronski, Jimmy Somerville, and Larry Steinbachek, 1985
Background information
Origin	Brixton, England
Genres	Synth-pop; hi-NRG; disco; dance-pop;
Years active	1983–1995, 2016–2018
Labels	London Records
Past members	Steve Bronski; Jimmy Somerville; Larry Steinbachek; Stephen Granville; John Foster; Jonathan Hellyer; Manoush;

Bronski Beat were a British synth-pop band formed in 1983 in London, England. The initial lineup, which recorded the majority of their hits, consisted of Jimmy Somerville (vocals), Steve Bronski (keyboards, percussion) and Larry Steinbachek (keyboards, percussion). Simon Davolls contributed backing vocals to many songs.

Bronski Beat achieved success in the mid-1980s, particularly with the 1984 single "Smalltown Boy", from their debut album, The Age of Consent. "Smalltown Boy" was their only US Billboard Hot 100 single. All members of the band were openly gay and their songs reflected this, often containing political commentary on gay issues.

Somerville left Bronski Beat in 1985 and went on to have success as lead singer of the Communards and as a solo artist. He was replaced by vocalist John Foster, with whom the band continued to have hits in the UK and Europe through 1986. Foster left Bronski Beat after their second album, and the band were joined by Jonathan Hellyer before dissolving in 1995.

Steve Bronski revived the band in 2016, recording new material with 1990s member Ian Donaldson. Steinbachek died later that year;^[6] Bronski died in 2021.^[7]

^ Andrews, Marc; Isaac, Claire; Nichols, David (2011). Pop Life: Inside Smash Hits Australia 1984 – 2007. Affirm Press. p. 39. ISBN 978-0-98713-267-3.
^ Graham, Bill (14 December 1984). "Critics Roundup 1984". Hot Press. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
^ Soto, Alfred (18 June 2018). "50 Songs That Define the Last 50 Years of LGBTQ+ Pride". Pitchfork. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
^ Here Publishing (November 1999). Out. Here Publishing. p. 117.
^ Breihan, Tom (9 December 2021). "Bronski Beat's Steve Bronski Dead At 61". Stereogum.
^ Cite error: The named reference steinbachek-death was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference bronski21 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[1] Andrews, Marc; Isaac, Claire; Nichols, David (2011). Pop Life: Inside Smash Hits Australia 1984 – 2007. Affirm Press. p. 39. ISBN 978-0-98713-267-3.

[2] Graham, Bill (14 December 1984). "Critics Roundup 1984". Hot Press. Retrieved 28 January 2017.

[3] Soto, Alfred (18 June 2018). "50 Songs That Define the Last 50 Years of LGBTQ+ Pride". Pitchfork. Retrieved 28 July 2020.

[4] Here Publishing (November 1999). Out. Here Publishing. p. 117.

[5] Breihan, Tom (9 December 2021). "Bronski Beat's Steve Bronski Dead At 61". Stereogum.

[steinbachek-death-6] Cite error: The named reference steinbachek-death was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[bronski21-7] Cite error: The named reference bronski21 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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