Bronski Beat

by Andy Kellman
 
Londons Bronski Beat will be remembered for a number of things. Anyone who has seen the video for Smalltown Boy — which remains gripping and sobering decades later — can likely recall at least one of its scenes in vivid detail. It was only Bronski Beats first single, but it became the groups best-known, reaching the top of Billboards U.S. dance chart while peaking at number three on the U.K. pop chart. More importantly, the song was typical for the group in that it centered on singer Jimmy Somervilles experiences as a young gay man. It also exemplified the groups moody electronic-pop sound and introduced a number of people to a voice that continues to sound like no other — one that can soar into a unique falsetto while drawing from a deep pool of emotions that ranges from intense internal strife to bliss.Somerville, fellow Glasweigan Steve Bronski (keyboards), and Londoner Larry Steinbachek (also keyboards) formed Bronski Beat in 1983. They performed at venues in and around London, and scored a major coup by landing an opening gig for Tina Turner. The London label soon swept up the group, and the bandmembers almost immediately became pop stars in the U.K. Smalltown Boy proved to be a huge breakthrough. The Age of Consent, supported by that single, Why, and a cover of Donna Summers I Feel Love, went over extremely well. Not only did the album gain attention for its combination of compelling songwriting and club-friendly pop; the inner sleeve listed the legal age of consent for homosexual acts in several countries across Europe. Somerville boldly left the group a year later, before it was able to record a follow-up; he started the more overtly political Communards with Richard Coles. Bronski and Steinbachek continued with vocalist John Jon, who had previously been in Bust. The new version of Bronski Beat was quite successful as well, notching club hits in the U.K. and abroad; Truthdare Doubledare, the 1986 sophomore album, went Top 20 in the groups home country, and Hit That Perfect Beat rivaled Smalltown Boy in high chart placements. Before the years end, John Jon left the group, which eventually disbanded. Steve Bronski brought a new lineup together in the mid-90s — including vocalist Jonathan Hellyner — and recorded Rainbow Nation for the German ZYX label. Somerville enjoyed modest success in the Communards and has recorded sporadically as a solo artist since the late 80s.