1.
Derry
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Derry, officially Londonderry, is the second-largest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-largest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Old Irish name Daire meaning oak grove, in 1613, the city was granted a Royal Charter by King James I and gained the London prefix to reflect the funding of its construction by the London guilds. While the city is usually known colloquially as Derry, Londonderry is also commonly used. The old walled city lies on the west bank of the River Foyle, the city now covers both banks. The population of the city was 83,652 at the 2001 Census, the district administered by Derry City and Strabane District Council contains both Londonderry Port and City of Derry Airport. Derry is close to the border with County Donegal, with which it has had a link for many centuries. In 2013, Derry was the inaugural UK City of Culture, according to the citys Royal Charter of 10 April 1662, the official name is Londonderry. This was reaffirmed in a High Court decision in 2007 when Derry City Council sought guidance on the procedure for effecting a name change. The council had changed its name from Londonderry City Council to Derry City Council in 1984, the decision of the court was that it had not but it was clarified that the correct procedure to do so was via a petition to the Privy Council. Derry City Council since started this process and were involved in conducting an equality impact assessment report, then the EQIA held two consultative forums, and solicited comments from the general public on whether or not the city should have its name changed to Derry. A total of 12,136 comments were received, of which 3,108 were broadly in favour of the proposal, and 9,028 opposed to it. Despite the official name, the city is usually known as Derry, which is an anglicisation of the Irish Daire or Doire. The name derives from the settlements earliest references, Daire Calgaich, the name was changed from Derry in 1613 during the Plantation of Ulster to reflect the establishment of the city by the London guilds. In McCaffertys survey of language use in the city, only very few interviewees—all Protestants—use the official form, apart from the name of Derry City Council, the city is usually known as Londonderry in official use within the UK. In the Republic of Ireland, the city and county are almost always referred to as Derry, on maps, in the media and in conversation. Whereas official road signs in the Republic use the name Derry, usage varies among local organisations, with both names being used. Most companies within the city choose local area such as Pennyburn. Londonderry railway station is referred to as Waterside railway station within the city but is called Derry/Londonderry at other stations
2.
Punk rock
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Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed in the early to mid-1970s in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in 1960s garage rock and other forms of what is now known as proto-punk music, Punk bands typically produced short or fast-paced songs, with hard-edged melodies and singing styles, stripped-down instrumentation, and often political, anti-establishment lyrics. Punk embraces a DIY ethic, many bands self-produce recordings and distribute them through informal channels, the term punk was first used in relation to rock music by some American critics in the early 1970s, to describe garage bands and their devotees. The following year saw punk rock spreading around the world, for the most part, punk took root in local scenes that tended to reject association with the mainstream. An associated punk subculture emerged, expressing youthful rebellion and characterized by distinctive styles of clothing and adornment, by the beginning of the 1980s, faster, more aggressive styles such as hardcore and street punk had become the predominant mode of punk rock. Musicians identifying with or inspired by punk also pursued a range of other variations, giving rise to post-punk. At the end of the 20th century, punk rock had been adopted by the mainstream, as pop punk and punk bands such as Green Day. The first wave of rock was aggressively modern, distancing itself from the bombast. According to Ramones drummer Tommy Ramone, In its initial form, unfortunately, what happens is that people who could not hold a candle to the likes of Hendrix started noodling away. Soon you had endless solos that went nowhere, by 1973, I knew that what was needed was some pure, stripped down, no bullshit rock n roll. In critic Robert Christgaus description, It was also a subculture that rejected the political idealism. Technical accessibility and a DIY spirit are prized in punk rock, in the early days of punk rock, this ethic stood in marked contrast to what those in the scene regarded as the ostentatious musical effects and technological demands of many mainstream rock bands. Musical virtuosity was often looked on with suspicion, according to Holmstrom, punk rock was rock and roll by people who didnt have very many skills as musicians but still felt the need to express themselves through music. In December 1976, the English fanzine Sideburns published an illustration of three chords, captioned This is a chord, this is another, this is a third. The title of a 1980 single by the New York punk band Stimulators, inscribed a catchphrase for punks basic musical approach. The previous year, when the rock revolution began in Great Britain, was to be both a musical and a cultural Year Zero. As a Clash associate describes singer Joe Strummers outlook, Punk rock is meant to be our freedom, were meant to be able to do what we want to do. Scholar Daniel S. Traber argues that attaining authenticity in the identity can be difficult, as the punk scene matured, he observes
3.
Pop punk
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Pop punk is a punk rock music genre and a fusion genre that combines elements of punk rock with elements of pop music. Pop punk typically combines fast punk rock tempos, power chord changes and loud, distorted guitars with pop-influenced melodies. Pop-influenced punk rock emerged in the mid-1970s with a style that was stylistically similar to power pop. By the mid-1980s, several bands merged hardcore punk with pop music to create a new, faster pop punk sound such as Dag Nasty, Pop punk in the United States began to grow in popularity locally in California in the mid-to-late 1980s. Pop punk particularly thrived in California, where independent record labels adopted a do it approach to releasing music. By the mid-1990s, a few pop punk bands had started to sell millions of records and receive radio and television airplay. By 1994, pop punk was quickly growing in mainstream popularity, the late 1990s, exemplified by the 1999 release of Blink-182s Enema of the State, represented the genres mainstream peak, although some pop punk bands scored successful album chartings in the 2000s. In the mid-2000s, emo pop, a genre combining emo and pop punk. By the end of the 2000s, the pop sound of the 1990s had largely waned in mainstream popularity. Pop punk typically merges upbeat pop melodies with catchy hooks, catchy choruses, harmonies, speedy tempos, punk rock power chord changes and loud, distorted electric guitars. About. com has described second-wave pop punk bands as having a radio friendly sheen to their music, club, pop punk often pits sweet harmonies against bratty, rowdy riffs. Lyrical topics that are common in pop punk include love, lust, drunkenness, adolescence, cartoonish violence, some pop punk lyrics focus on jokes and humor. Some pop punk music features elements of rock, power pop. According to Ryan Cooper of About. com, pop punk is a style that more to the Beatles. It is not clear when the pop punk was first used. Protopunk and power pop bands of the late 1960s and early 1970s helped lay the groundwork for the pop punk sound, the Beatles, the Kinks and the Beach Boys all paved the way for pop punk. With their love of the Beach Boys and late 1960s bubblegum pop, the Ramones loud and fast melodic minimalism differentiated them from other bands in New York Citys budding art rock scene, but pop punk was not considered a separate subgenre until later. An early use of the pop punk appeared in a 1977 New York Times article, Cabaret
4.
Pop music
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Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form in the United States and United Kingdom during the mid 1950s. The terms popular music and pop music are used interchangeably, although the former describes all music that is popular. Pop and rock were synonymous terms until the late 1960s, when they were used in opposition from each other. Although pop music is seen as just the singles charts, it is not the sum of all chart music. Pop music is eclectic, and often borrows elements from other such as urban, dance, rock, Latin. Identifying factors include generally short to medium-length songs written in a format, as well as the common use of repeated choruses, melodic tunes. David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop music as a body of music which is distinguishable from popular, jazz, according to Pete Seeger, pop music is professional music which draws upon both folk music and fine arts music. Although pop music is seen as just the singles charts, it is not the sum of all chart music, the music charts contain songs from a variety of sources, including classical, jazz, rock, and novelty songs. Pop music, as a genre, is seen as existing and developing separately, pop music continuously evolves along with the terms definition. The term pop song was first recorded as being used in 1926, Hatch and Millward indicate that many events in the history of recording in the 1920s can be seen as the birth of the modern pop music industry, including in country, blues and hillbilly music. The Oxford Dictionary of Music states that while pops earlier meaning meant concerts appealing to a wide audience. Since the late 1950s, however, pop has had the meaning of non-classical mus, usually in the form of songs, performed by such artists as the Beatles. Grove Music Online also states that, in the early 1960s pop music competed terminologically with beat music, while in the USA its coverage overlapped with that of rock and roll. From about 1967, the term was used in opposition to the term rock music. Whereas rock aspired to authenticity and an expansion of the possibilities of music, pop was more commercial, ephemeral. It is not driven by any significant ambition except profit and commercial reward, and, in musical terms, it is essentially conservative. It is, provided from on high rather than being made from below, pop is not a do-it-yourself music but is professionally produced and packaged. The beat and the melodies tend to be simple, with limited harmonic accompaniment, the lyrics of modern pop songs typically focus on simple themes – often love and romantic relationships – although there are notable exceptions
5.
Lead vocalist
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The lead vocalist, lead vocals or lead singer in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer either leads the ensemble, or sets against the ensemble as the dominant sound. In vocal group performances, notably in soul and gospel music, and early rock and roll, as an example in rock music, Mick Jagger is the lead singer of The Rolling Stones. Similarly in soul music, Smokey Robinson was the singer of The Miracles. The practice of using a lead singer in vocal groups, however, has a longer history, songs of the late nineteenth century frequently used a leading solo voice, followed by a choral response by other singers. From these various points - including Motown - it went on to become a device in much rock. In some bands - most famously, The Beatles - the role of lead singer alternated, while in others - for example, there are as many types and styles of lead singer as there are styles and genres of music. However, the singer of a group or band is usually the main focus of audiences attention. The lead vocalist of a band is called the front man or front woman. Pink Floyd also can be considered a band with two front men, as both the guitarist David Gilmour and the bassist Roger Waters sang and wrote most of the songs. In the beginning of the career, however, Pink Floyds lead singer and guitarist was Syd Barrett. Particularly before the 1970s, many bands were named for the leader or founder, rather than the lead singer, examples include the Dave Clark Five and Harold Melvin. In modern rock music, the singer is often, but not always, also the bands leader. While lead singers or spokespersons for any musical ensembles can be called a front man, since the position commonly has an expanded role from simple lead vocalists, there have been cases in which the front man for a band is someone other than the lead vocalist. In many bands, such as The Who, Fall Out Boy, Led Zeppelin, Living Colour, Queen and Oasis, usually, this is derived from that guitarists specific role as a co-songwriter, co-founder and/or co-vocalist. Also in some cases, there are two frontmen, such as Underoath, with singers Spencer Chamberlain and Aaron Gillespie sharing vocal duties, another example is Blink-182, in which vocal duties are split between bassist Mark Hoppus and guitarist Tom DeLonge. Hoppus usually carries out most media either by himself or together with DeLonge, linkin Park has two vocalists as well, Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda, both considered as frontmen. Another example is the metal band Metallica, in which James Hetfield
6.
Virgin Records
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Virgin Records is a British-founded record label originally founded by English entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman in 1972. It was later sold to Thorn EMI in 1992, today, the operations of Virgin Records America, Inc. are still active and headquartered in Hollywood, California, as it operates exclusively under the Capitol Music Group since 2007. US artists include Knox Hamilton, LTric and Rise Against, in fact the first real store was above a shoe shop at the Tottenham Court Road end of Oxford Street. After making the shop into a success, they turned their business into a fully fledged record label, the name Virgin, according to Branson, arose from Tessa Watts, a colleague of his, when they were brainstorming business ideas. She suggested Virgin – as they were all new to business – like virgins, the original Virgin logo was designed by English artist and illustrator Roger Dean, a young naked woman in mirror image with a large long-tailed serpent and the word Virgin in Deans familiar script. A variation on the logo was used for the spin-off Caroline Records label and this was soon followed by some notable krautrock releases, including electronic breakthrough album Phaedra by Tangerine Dream, and The Faust Tapes and Faust IV by Faust. The Faust Tapes album retailed for 49p and as a result allowed this relatively unknown band to reach number 12 in the album charts, other early albums include Gongs Flying Teapot, which Daevid Allen has been quoted as having never been paid for. Under the guidance of Tessa Watts, Virgins Head of Publicity, shortly afterwards, the Notting Hill record shop was raided by police for having a window display of the Sex Pistols album Never Mind the Bollocks, Heres the Sex Pistols in the window. After modified versions of the label came the red, white and blue design introduced in 1975. The current Virgin logo was created in 1978, commissioned by Simon Draper, brian Cooke of Cooke Key Associates commissioned a graphic designer to produce a stylised signature. In 1983 Virgin purchased Charisma Records, renaming it Charisma/Virgin, then later Virgin/Charisma, before folding the label in 1986, in the process they acquired Genesis and comedy group Monty Python. The Charisma label was reactivated in the US in 1990 and enjoyed success with such as Maxi Priest, Right Said Fred,38 Special. When this Charisma label was retired in 1992, all of its artists were, as before, in 1987, Venture Records was created for new age and modern classical artists including Klaus Schulze, who had been associated with Virgin since the early 1970s. 10 Records Immortal Records Delabel Caroline Records was a label used from 1973 to 1977. The name and logo were used for some American editions of Virgin records in the 1980s and 1990s. Caroline was primarily used for independent distribution until the label was reactivated in 2013, today, Caroline Records acts as an independent label taking the place of EMI Label Services, after Virgins former parent company EMI was purchased by Universal Music Group. Front Line Records was a label for issuing Jamaican and English reggae music from 1978 to approximately 1987, a short-lived associated label, Dindisc, had Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and The Monochrome Set during its brief existence, after which its recordings became part of Virgins catalogue. Noo Trybe Records was a hip hop label that existed from 1994 to 1999
7.
A&M Records
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A&M Records was an American record label founded as an independent label by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss in 1962. Due to the success of the discography A&M released, the label garnered interest and was acquired by PolyGram in 1989. Today, A&Ms catalog releases are managed by Verve Records, Universal Music Enterprises, A&M Records was formed in 1962 by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss. Their first choice for a name was Carnival Records, under which they released two singles before discovering another label had already taken the Carnival name, the company was subsequently renamed A&M, after Alperts and Mosss initials. From 1966 to 1999, the headquarters were on the grounds of the historic Charlie Chaplin Studios at 1416 North La Brea Avenue. Marc Benno, Liza Minnelli, Rita Coolidge, Wes Montgomery, Paul Desmond, Bobby Tench, Hummingbird, Toni Basil, folk artists Joan Baez, Phil Ochs and Gene Clark also recorded for the label during the 1970s. Billy Preston joined the label in 1971, followed by Andre Popp, in the 1970s, under its manufacturing and distribution agreement with Ode Records, A&M released albums by Carole King and the comedy duo Cheech & Chong. On March 10,1977, A&M signed the Sex Pistols after the band had dropped by EMI. However, A&M dropped the band within a week, within a decade of its inception, A&M became the worlds largest independent record company. A&M releases were issued in the United Kingdom by EMIs Stateside Records label. From 1969, A&M set up their own UK base appointing John Deacon as General Manager - a post he held until 1979, A&M releases were also issued in Australia through Festival Records until 1989. A&M Records Ltd. was established in 1970, with distribution handled by other labels with a presence in Europe, A&M Records of Canada Ltd. was also formed in 1970, and A&M Records of Europe in 1977. In 1979, A&M entered an agreement with RCA Records in the USA. A&M was bought by PolyGram in 1989, Alpert and Moss continued to manage the label until 1993. In 1998, Alpert and Moss sued PolyGram for breach of the integrity clause, in 1991, A&M launched Perspective Records as a joint venture with producing team Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Jam and Lewis stepped down as CEOs of the imprint in 1997, in 1999, the label was absorbed into A&M. In the mid-1990s, A&M began distributing its PolyGram sister label Polydor Records in the USA, ceCe Peniston, Intelligent Hoodlum, Dred Scott, Ridel High and the Gin Blossoms. The company released the soundtracks Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, The Three Musketeers, Sabrina, The Living Sea, Demolition Man, and Lethal Weapon 3
8.
The Undertones
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The Undertones are a punk rock/new wave band formed in Derry, Northern Ireland, in 1974. From 1975 to 1983, the Undertones consisted of Feargal Sharkey, John ONeill, Damian ONeill, Michael Bradley, in 1999, the Undertones reformed, replacing lead singer Feargal Sharkey with Paul McLoone. The Undertones remain the most successful band to have emerged from Derry, the Undertones formed in Derry, Northern Ireland in 1974. The band members were five friends from Creggan and the Bogside, the band initially rehearsed cover versions at the home of the guitarists, brothers John and Vincent ONeill, and in the shed of a neighbour. At a later gig, Sharkey named the band Little Feat, later that year, drummer Billy Doherty proposed an alternate name for the group, The Undertones, which Doherty had discovered in a history book. The other members of the agreed to the proposal. With the arrival of rock in late 1976, the artistic focus of the band changed. Artists such as the Adverts, Sex Pistols, the Buzzcocks and, particularly, in addition to being a scout leader, Feargal Sharkey worked as a television repairman and delivery man. The van which Sharkey drove in this employment was used by the Undertones to transport their equipment to and this inspired the band to write and rehearse further material, as a means of remaining a popular act at this venue. By mid-year, the concerts the Undertones performed would include the song Teenage Kicks, the band had also sent a copy of their recordings to influential BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, requesting he play the songs on his radio programme. Peel replied to the band, offering to pay for a session in Belfast. On 16 June 1978, the recorded their debut four-song EP Teenage Kicks on a budget of only £200. The EP was engineered by Davy Shannon at Wizard Sound Studios, the title song became a hit with support from John Peel, who considered Teenage Kicks his all-time favourite song, an opinion he held until his death in 2004. Seymour Stein, the president of Sire Records – in London on business – heard John Peel play Teenage Kicks on BBC Radio 1, Stein sent a London-based representative named Paul McNally to Derry to discuss a record deal with the band. McNally saw the play live in what would ultimately prove to be their final performance at The Casbah on 29 September 1978. The following day, McNally convened with the Undertones to discuss a record contract, on 2 October 1978, Bradley and Sharkey agreed to an increased advance fee of £10,000 offered by Stein upon the recording contract and signed to Sire Records on a five-year contract. Sire Records subsequently obtained all rights to the material released upon the Teenage Kicks EP, on 26 October, the Undertones performed Teenage Kicks live on Top of the Pops. With help from Peel, Teenage Kicks peaked at number 31 in the UK Singles Chart the following month, in November 1978, the Undertones embarked on their first tour of the UK
9.
Northern Ireland
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Northern Ireland is a constituent unit of the United Kingdom in the north-east of Ireland. It is variously described as a country, province, region, or part of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland shares a border to the south and west with the Republic of Ireland. In 2011, its population was 1,810,863, constituting about 30% of the total population. Northern Ireland was created in 1921, when Ireland was partitioned between Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland by an act of the British parliament, Northern Ireland has historically been the most industrialised region of Ireland. After declining as a result of the political and social turmoil of the Troubles, its economy has grown significantly since the late 1990s. Unemployment in Northern Ireland peaked at 17. 2% in 1986, dropping to 6. 1% for June–August 2014,58. 2% of those unemployed had been unemployed for over a year. Prominent artists and sports persons from Northern Ireland include Van Morrison, Rory McIlroy, Joey Dunlop, Wayne McCullough, some people from Northern Ireland prefer to identify as Irish while others prefer to identify as British. Cultural links between Northern Ireland, the rest of Ireland, and the rest of the UK are complex, in many sports, the island of Ireland fields a single team, a notable exception being association football. Northern Ireland competes separately at the Commonwealth Games, and people from Northern Ireland may compete for either Great Britain or Ireland at the Olympic Games. The region that is now Northern Ireland was the bedrock of the Irish war of resistance against English programmes of colonialism in the late 16th century, the English-controlled Kingdom of Ireland had been declared by the English king Henry VIII in 1542, but Irish resistance made English control fragmentary. Victories by English forces in war and further Protestant victories in the Williamite War in Ireland toward the close of the 17th century solidified Anglican rule in Ireland. In Northern Ireland, the victories of the Siege of Derry and their intention was to materially disadvantage the Catholic community and, to a lesser extent, the Presbyterian community. In the context of open institutional discrimination, the 18th century saw secret, militant societies develop in communities in the region and act on sectarian tensions in violent attacks. Following this, in an attempt to quell sectarianism and force the removal of discriminatory laws, the new state, formed in 1801, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, was governed from a single government and parliament based in London. Between 1717 and 1775 some 250,000 people from Ulster emigrated to the British North American colonies and it is estimated that there are more than 27 million Scotch-Irish Americans now living in the US. By the close of the century, autonomy for Ireland within the United Kingdom, in 1912, after decades of obstruction from the House of Lords, Home Rule became a near-certainty. A clash between the House of Commons and House of Lords over a controversial budget produced the Parliament Act 1911, which enabled the veto of the Lords to be overturned. The House of Lords veto had been the unionists main guarantee that Home Rule would not be enacted, in 1914, they smuggled thousands of rifles and rounds of ammunition from Imperial Germany for use by the Ulster Volunteers, a paramilitary organisation opposed to the implementation of Home Rule
10.
A Good Heart
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A Good Heart is a single by Northern Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, from his self-titled album. It was released in 1985 on Virgin Records, the song was Sharkeys only number one single and stayed at the top of the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in November 1985. But it fared well in the US, peaking at No.74 on the Billboard Hot 100. Background vocals on the choruses were sung by Boy George. Sharkey followed up the single with the Tench-written You Little Thief and this song was about Tenchs relationship with McKee. Sharkey placed the next to each other on his debut album. A version of the song, performance credited to Kris McKay, in 2007 McKee released her own recording of the track on her album Late December. Cover design, Timothy Eames Cover photography, Nick Knight Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
11.
Teenage Kicks
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Teenage Kicks was the debut single for Northern Irish punk rock/new wave band The Undertones. Influential BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel is known to have opined Teenage Kicks to be his favourite song from 1978 until his death in 2004. The song has also ranked as the second best indie song of all time in a 2016 poll conducted by an alternative music radio station. In 2008, the served as the theme song to the ITV sitcom of the same name. On one occasion, he is known to have played the song twice in a row, with the given to his audience being. In February 2008, a headstone engraved with words was placed on his grave in the Suffolk village of Great Finborough. In 2004, a mural in tribute to Peel, featuring the line of Teenage Kicks. Teenage Kicks - The Undertones is a 2001 documentary film directed by Tom Collins, here Comes the Summer, The Undertones Story is a 2012 BBC-commissioned documentary focusing upon the Undertones. The documentary was broadcast on BBC Four in September that year and this documentary also features with interviews with current and former members of the Undertones in addition to fans, friends and additional personnel involved in the bands recordings and career. Teenage Kicks has been covered by numerous artists, bands that have performed this song include
12.
Here Comes the Summer
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Here Comes the Summer is a punk rock song originally written and recorded by Northern Irish band The Undertones. The song was inspired by the Ramones and was written in 1978 by the principal songwriter. It was included, initially as a track, on their eponymous debut LP. A faster version of Here Comes the Summer was recorded in mid-1979 and released on 13 July and it was The Undertones fourth single and, at just one minute and 45 seconds long, is their shortest single. The initial album recording of Here Comes the Summer was first released on CD by Dojo Records under the title The Undertones, the album recording was also released on the 2009 Salvo Music re-release of the Undertones eponymous debut album. Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics The Undertones official website
13.
My Perfect Cousin
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My Perfect Cousin is a punk rock song originally written and recorded by Northern Irish band The Undertones. The song — inspired by a male cousin of one of the band members — was written during the summer of 1979. My Perfect Cousin was the first of two singles to be released from the bands Hypnotised LP, and was released on 28 March 1980, the single reached number 9 in the UK Singles Chart two months later, making it The Undertones only Top 10 single. The song was the single released by The Undertones. Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics The Undertones official website
14.
It's Going to Happen!
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Its Going to Happen. is a punk rock song originally written and recorded by Northern Irish band The Undertones. The song was written in the winter of 1980 and recorded at Wisseloord Studios in the Netherlands in January,1981, the song was the eighth single released by the band, and the second single released to be co-written by lead guitarist Damian ONeill and bassist Michael Bradley. The single is notable for its inclusion of brass instruments in the recording. The song was released as a single on 21 April 1981, the single also peaked at number 7 in the Irish Singles Chart, making the single the bands highest positioning single in any singles chart. Its Going to Happen. was performed on Top of the Pops on 5 May 1981, to mark his death, Damian ONeill performed the song on Top of the Pops wearing a Black Armband. Tommy Tate & The Torpedoes was a used by Damian ONeill
15.
Yazoo (band)
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Yazoo were a British synthpop duo from Basildon, Essex, England, consisting of former Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke and Alison Moyet. Clarke went on to form Erasure, another successful and longer-lasting synthpop duo, the pair briefly reunited again in May 2011 to play three Yazoo songs at a music festival organised by their record label. For his part Clarke had seen Moyet sing live a few times, aware of her vocal abilities, he was looking for someone to sing on a demo of a song he had written called Only You. Alison happened to be advertising in a local paper so I called her, Clarke took the demo to Mute label boss Daniel Miller but recalled that at first Miller appeared to be uninterested, I tried to give it to Daniel and he didnt show much interest. I brought it in and put it on, and the time it was playing. He said he liked it, but carried on doing what he was doing—and that was it, Only when the publishers took an interest did he brighten up. Mute asked the duo to record the song as a single, Clarke had already written Dont Go but both he and Moyet felt it was too good to be the B-side of Only You so they quickly wrote the song Situation together for the singles B-side. According to Moyet the name Yazoo was taken from the specialist blues record label and this decision led to a £3. Only You was released in the UK in March 1982 and rose to number 2 on the UK singles chart, the duo recorded their debut album at Blackwing Studios in south-east London, where Clarke had recorded Depeche Modes album Speak & Spell the previous year. As the studio had already been booked out during the day by fellow Mute artist Fad Gadget Yazoo recorded most of the album during the early mornings, the album was named Upstairs at Erics in recognition of Radcliffes input. Only You was released as Yazoos second single in North America in November 1982, Upstairs at Erics was released in the UK in August 1982, peaking at number 2 on the UK albums chart and going on to sell more than 300,000 copies and achieving platinum status. The duo played 24 dates in support of the album across Europe, however, by now there was growing tension between the pair. Compounding this were issues of self-esteem for Alison Moyet, a single, Nobodys Diary, was released in May 1983 ahead of the album and reached number 3 in the UK charts, but within days of the singles release, Yazoo announced that they were splitting up. The album, ironically titled You and Me Both, was released in the UK in July 1983 and reached number 1 in the album charts, a feat it would also achieve in New Zealand. However, with no singles or live appearances to promote it, it did not sell as well as Upstairs at Erics. In the US You and Me Both peaked at number 69 on the Billboard 200, reflecting in 2008 on the groups split, both Moyet and Clarke agreed that a lack of communication between the pair had been a major reason for the breakdown of the partnership. Moyet recalled that Clarke was creatively very encouraging, very open to hearing my ideas for songs, the thing I found difficult was the lack of warmth. I wanted to feel more likeable, and you cant feel likeable if someone doesnt want to interact with you, Clarke admitted that I lacked the life-skills of communication in a relationship
16.
Depeche Mode
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Depeche Mode /dᵻˌpɛʃˈmoʊd/ are an English electronic band that formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group consists of founders Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Depeche Mode released their debut album Speak & Spell in 1981, bringing the band onto the British new wave scene. Original band member Vince Clarke, left the band after the release of the album, leaving the band as a trio to record A Broken Frame, released the following year. Gore took over the songwriting duties and, later in 1982, Alan Wilder officially joined the band to fill Clarkes spot. Depeche Mode have been a trio again since 1995, when Wilder left, the bands last albums of the 1980s, Black Celebration and Music for the Masses, established them as a dominant force on the mainstream electronic music scene. A highlight of this era was the concert at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. In the new decade, Depeche Mode released Violator, a mainstream success, now a trio once again, the band released Ultra in 1997, recorded at the height of Gahans near-fatal drug abuse, Gores alcoholism and seizures, and Fletchers depression. Depeche Mode have had 50 songs in the UK Singles Chart and thirteen top 10 albums in the UK chart, Q included the band in the list of the 50 Bands That Changed the World. Depeche Mode also rank number 98 on VH1s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, Depeche Modes origins date to 1977, when schoolmates Vince Clarke and Andy Fletcher formed a Cure-influenced band called No Romance In China, with Clarke on vocals and guitar and Fletcher on bass. Fletcher would later recall, Why am I in the band and it was accidental right from the beginning. I was actually forced to be in the band, I played the guitar and I had a bass, it was a question of them roping me in. In 1979, Clarke played guitar in an Ultravox rip-off band, in 1978–79, Martin Gore played guitar in an acoustic duo, Norman and the Worms, with school friend Phil Burdett on vocals. In 1979, Marlow, Gore and friend Paul Redmond formed a band called the French Look, with Marlow on vocals/keyboards, Gore on guitar and Redmond on keyboards. In March 1980, Clarke, Gore and Fletcher formed a band called Composition of Sound, with Clarke on vocals/guitar, Gore on keyboards and Fletcher on bass. Soon after the formation of Composition of Sound, Clarke heard Wirral band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, along with OMD, other early influences included the Human League, Daniel Miller and Fad Gadget. Clarke and Fletcher switched to synthesisers, working odd jobs in order to buy or borrow the instruments from friends. Dave Gahan joined the band in 1980 after Clarke heard him perform at a scout hut jam session, singing a rendition of David Bowies Heroes. When explaining the choice for the new name taken from a French fashion magazine, Dépêche mode, Gore said, I like the sound of that
17.
Vince Clarke
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Vince Clarke is an English synthpop musician and songwriter. Clarke has been the composer and musician of the band Erasure since 1985. Vincent John Martin was born in South Woodford, London and then he moved to Basildon and he initially studied the violin and then the piano, but he was inspired to make electronic music upon hearing Wirral synth band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. Along with OMD, other influences included The Human League, Daniel Miller. In the late-1970s, Clarke and schoolmate Andy Fletcher formed a band called No Romance in China. In 1980, he teamed up with Robert Marlow and Martin Gore to form French Look, another band, named Composition of Sound, followed in 1980 with another addition of Martin Gore and Andy Fletcher. Clarke provided vocals until singer Dave Gahan joined the band, which was renamed Depeche Mode, at that time, he adopted the stage-name Vince Clarke, by which he is currently known. The band initially adopted a slick synthesized electropop sound, which produced the album Speak and Spell, Clarke left Depeche Mode shortly thereafter. There were many rumoured reasons pertaining to his departure and he commented on Depeche Modes later material as being a little dark for his taste, but good nonetheless. Clarke also stated that he did not enjoy the public aspects of success, such as touring and interviews, Clarke was replaced by musician Alan Wilder and Depeche Mode went on to achieve international stardom. Yazoo split in 1983, and Moyet went on to have a solo career. Yazoo reformed in 2008 for a series of dates to celebrate 25 years since the duos split. Meanwhile, he founded the label Reset Records with Eric Radcliffe and they also produced an album, which was shelved but was released much later in 1999 under the name The Peter Pan Effect. In 1985, another took place with Paul Quinn of Bourgie Bourgie. However, the project never took off, and Clarke moved on to other projects, in early 1985, Clarke put an ad in Melody Maker for a singer, and one applicant was Andy Bell, who was a fan of his earlier projects. Blue Savannah, Chorus, Love to Hate You, Take a Chance on Me, in 2006, Erasure produced a country-western style acoustic album consisting of mostly non-single cuts from their previous albums. This album, Union Street was preceded by the single Boy originally included on their 1997 Cowboy album. On 26 January 2007, in a message on the official Erasure website
18.
Erasure
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Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of singer and songwriter Andy Bell and songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke. They formed in London, and entered the scene in 1985 with their debut single Who Needs Love Like That. Following the release of their fourth single Sometimes, the duo established itself on the UK Singles Chart and became one of the most successful artists of the late 1980s to mid-1990s. From 1986 to 2007, Erasure achieved 24 consecutive Top 40 hits in the UK, while having three Top 20 hits in the US, A Little Respect, Chains of Love, and Always. By 2009,34 of their 45 singles and EPs had made the UK Top 40, at the 1989 Brit Awards, Erasure won the Brit Award for Best British Group. The duo are most popular in their native UK and mainland Europe, the band is also popular within the LGBT community, for whom the openly gay Bell has become a gay icon. To date, they have penned over 200 songs and have sold over 25 million albums worldwide, as a teenager, Vince Clarke was inspired to make electronic music after hearing Wirral synth band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. He went on to become a member of Depeche Mode. After leaving the band in late 1981, Clarke forged a similarly notable career with the duo Yazoo, after two hit albums in as many years, he split with Yazoo partner Alison Moyet and formed the short-lived project The Assembly with producer Eric Radcliffe. The project spawned a UK number four hit single, Never Never, Clarke then released another single with vocalist Paul Quinn, One Day. It flopped, leading Clarke to place an advertisement in Melody Maker looking for a vocalist for a new musical project and he selected Peterborough-born Andy Bell, Clarke had been Bells hero. Erasures first three singles were commercial failures in the UK, although the third, Oh Lamour, charted well in Australia and their debut album, Wonderland, was mostly recorded in 1985 and released in June 1986. Although it only made the UK Top 75, it made an impact in Germany. It was with the release of their single, Sometimes. The song peaked at two in the UK and Germany and spent many weeks in the UK Top 40, marking the beginning of a long string of major hits for the duo. The album remained on the charts for over a year, Erasures third album, The Innocents, was released in April 1988. Preceded by the Top 10 single Ship of Fools, the hit number one in the UK on its initial release and returned to the summit a year later. It also turned platinum in the U. S. generating two Top 20 hits in Chains of Love and A Little Respect, the Innocents was the first of five consecutive number one albums for Erasure in the UK, including the greatest hits compilation Pop
19.
Never Never (The Assembly song)
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Never Never is the title of the only single released by the Vince Clarke project, The Assembly, in 1983. The song features Feargal Sharkey of The Undertones on vocals, Sharkeys performance on Never Never was a departure from the punk sound of The Undertones. The song peaked at four in the UK Singles Chart. The music video for Never Never featured on the version of Now 1. The song was featured in the 2006 video game Grand Theft Auto, Vice City Stories on the in-game radio station, Emotion 98.3
20.
Madness (band)
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Madness are an English ska band from Camden Town, London, who formed in 1976. One of the most prominent bands of the late 1970s and early 1980s 2 Tone ska revival, Madness achieved most of their success in the early to mid-1980s. Both Madness and UB40 spent 214 weeks on the UK singles charts over the course of the decade, however, Madness achieved this in a shorter time period. Madness have had 15 singles reach the UK top ten, one UK number one single, the core of the band formed as The North London Invaders in 1976, and included Mike Barson on keyboards and vocals, Chris Foreman on guitar and Lee Thompson on saxophone and vocals. They later recruited John Hasler on drums and Cathal Smyth on bass guitar, later in the year, they were joined by lead vocalist Dikron Tulane. This six-piece line-up lasted until part way through 1977, when Graham McPherson took over the vocals after seeing the band perform in a friends garden. Dikron went on to be an actor under the name Dikran Tulaine, Smyth, who left after an argument with Barson, was replaced by Gavin Rodgers, Barsons girlfriends brother. McPherson was kicked out of the band for too often choosing to watch Chelsea instead of rehearsing, Thompson left the band after Barson criticised his saxophone playing. By 1978, the band had allowed McPherson to return, after filling in temporarily for Hasler, Thompson returned after patching things up with Barson. Drummer Daniel Woodgate and bass player Mark Bedford also joined the band, replacing Garry Dovey and Rodgers, respectively. After briefly changing their name to Morris and the Minors, the band renamed itself as Madness in 1979, the band remained a sextet until late 1979, when Chas Smash rejoined and officially became the seventh member of Madness as a backing vocalist and dancer. During 1979, the band began to attract a following in London. The bands first commercial recording was the Lee Thompson composition The Prince, the song, like the bands name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers, the song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts at number 16. A performance of The Prince on popular UK music show Top of the Pops helped Madness gain public recognition, Madness then toured with fellow 2 Tone bands The Specials and The Selecter, before recording their debut album. That debut album, One Step Beyond, the album included a re-recording of The Prince and its B-side Madness, and the bands second and third singles, One Step Beyond and My Girl. The title song was a cover of the B-side of the 1960s Prince Buster hit Al Capone, stayed in the British charts for 78 weeks, peaking at number 2. After the release of My Girl, the felt that they had exhausted the material from One Step Beyond
21.
Chas Smash
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Cathal Joseph Smyth, also known as Chas Smash, is an English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Smash came to prominence in the late 1970s as the backing vocalist, trumpet player, in addition to trumpet, Smyth plays the bass guitar, acoustic guitar and other various percussion instruments. He occasionally performs the vocals, such as on the songs Michael Caine, Wings of a Dove, One Step Beyond. He was initially an occasional songwriter, but became a regular contributor over the course of Madnesss career and was credited as co-writer on the bands major international hit. Cathal Joseph Smyth was born on 14 January 1959, in Middlesex Hospital, Fitzrovia, London, England, as a child he went by the name of Carl. His father worked in the oil business and moved the family from Ireland to England, the Smyths were competitive Irish dancers, and Cathal grew up around dance, but never took much of an interest until he began to dance as a performer. In 1976, the North London Invaders recruited Smyth to play the guitar with them when he was only 17 years old. During the late seventies, Cathal became friends with members of the band Madness, in 1980, Smyth became the last of the seven original Madness members to join the band. He soon moved on to playing other instruments instead of bass, after Madness broke up in 1986, he formed a new short-lived band The Madness in 1988 along with Suggs, Lee Thompson and Chris Foreman. In 1990, Cathal became an executive for Go Discs where, at his suggestion and he was also responsible for reforming Madness in 1992 for Madstock. But he left Go Discs to reform the band, in 1989/1990, he became friends with former Smiths singer Morrissey, who had once asked him to be his manager. Smyth declined, claiming that I didnt fancy having to iron his socks, Smyth introduced Morrissey to Boz Boorer, who went on to work with him from 1991 onwards. Cathal is also the subject of the 1992 Morrissey single, Youre the One for Me and he also provided backing vocals on Morrisseys version of the Jams Thats Entertainment. Cathal also had a part in Suggs solo career, co-writing the song Green Eyes. In 1999, Smyth formed and fronted the folk-influenced band The Velvet Ghost, in 2002, Cathal started up his own record label, Rolled Gold Records, at an office in Camden Town. He released a single, Were Coming Over, with The England Supporters Band. RGR released an album and three singles by London rapper, Just Jack, the label also released material by dance and rap artists Autamata and Border Crossing. In 2004, after moving his office to Islington, he closed RGR
22.
Listen to Your Father
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Listen to Your Father is pop vocalist Feargal Sharkeys first single as a solo artist, released in 1984. The singles two tracks did not feature on Sharkeys self-titled 1985 debut album Feargal Sharkey, the single was the first release of Zarjazz Records, owned by ska/pop band Madness. Zarjazz was a sub-label of Virgin Records who released the single through themselves outside of the UK, Zarjazz was also the label that released the last singles from Madness until the band originally split by 1986. When Listen to Your Father became a hit, Feargal Sharkey left the label to sign Virgin, the a-side of the single Listen to Your Father was written by Madnesss trumpeter and backing vocalist Carl Smyth. The b-side Can I Say I Love You was written by Smyth and Feargal, the b-side is also known as For Without You. The single peaked at #23 in the UK upon release, a promotional video was created for the song. Sharkey performed the song on popular UK music show Top of The Pops along with members of Madness as backing musicians, Madness members Smyth and Mark Bedford appeared with Sharkey on UK show Saturday Starship to promote the single and the Zarjazz label. They were interviewed by Tommy Boyd, on 24 November 1985, the song was performed live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, during Madness tour to promote their Mad Not Mad album. Sharkey performed lead vocals, with Madness singer Suggs introducing Sharkey as Mr Teenage Kicks which referred to the hit song from Sharkeys ex-band The Undertones and this was the only time the song was played live
23.
Top of the Pops
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Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly between 1 January 1964 and 30 July 2006. It was traditionally shown every Thursday evening on BBC1, except for a period on Fridays in mid-1973 before being again moved to Fridays in 1996. Each weekly programme consisted of performances from some of that weeks best-selling popular music artists, additionally, there was a special edition of the programme on Christmas Day, featuring some of the best-selling singles of the year. With its high viewing figures the show became a significant part of British popular culture, although the weekly show was cancelled in 2006, the Christmas special has continued. It also survives as Top of the Pops 2, which began in 1994, in the 1990s, the shows format was sold to several foreign broadcasters in the form of a franchise package, and at one point various versions of the show were shown in nearly 100 countries. Editions of the programme from the 1970s are being repeated on most Thursdays and Fridays on BBC Four, Top of the Pops was created by BBC producer Johnnie Stewart, inspired by the popular Teen and Twenty Disc Club which aired on Radio Luxembourg. It was first aired in 1964 and was based on the Top 20. By 1970 the Top 30 was being used and the show was extended from 30 to 45 minutes duration, the show was also now shown in colour following the BBC1 upgrade in November 1969. A switch to the Top 40 was made in 1984, the show saw many changes through the decades, in style, design, fashion and taste. It periodically had some aspect of its sequence, logo and theme tune, format, or set design altered in some way. The programme had several executive producers during its run, in charge of the production of the show. When Stewart left the show in 1973, after nearly 10 years in charge, both Stewart and Nash made brief returns to the show as producer after they left, in 1976 and 1981 respectively. Stewart devised the rules which governed how the show would operate, the programme would end with the number one record. The show would include the highest new entry and the highest climber on the charts, tracks could be featured in consecutive weeks in different formats. For example, if a song was played over the chart countdown or the closing credits, when the programmes format changed in November 2003, it concentrated increasingly on the top 10. Later, during the BBC Two era, the top 20 was regarded as the main point, with the exception made for up. Singles from below the top 40 were shown if the band were up, if a single being performed was below the top 40, just the words New Entry were shown and not the chart position. Top of the Pops was first broadcast on Wednesday,1 January 1964 at 6,35 pm and it was produced in Studio A on Dickenson Road in Rusholme, Manchester
24.
Maria McKee
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Maria Luisa McKee is an American singer-songwriter. She is best known for her work with Lone Justice and her 1990 UK solo chart-topping hit and she is the half-sister of Bryan MacLean, who was best known as a guitarist and vocalist in the band Love. McKee was a member of the cowpunk and country rock band, Lone Justice, in 1982. Several compilations of previously released and unreleased material and a BBC Live In Concert album have been released since the group disbanded. Her band opened for acts as U2. When she was 19, she wrote Feargal Sharkeys 1985 UK song, A Good Heart, sharkey would later go on to also cover To Miss Someone from McKees self-titled solo debut, on his third solo album Songs From The Mardi Gras. In 1987 she was featured in the Robbie Robertson music video Somewhere Down the Crazy River and contributed vocals to his debut solo album. She released her first solo, self-titled album in 1989 and her song Show Me Heaven, which appeared on the soundtrack to the film Days of Thunder, was a number one single in the United Kingdom for four weeks in 1990. She refused to perform this song in public up until recently, following her debut, McKee has released five studio albums. The album Life Is Sweet debuted McKees lead guitar work described as feral by Mojo magazine, the raw postmodern album represented a smash up of her roots rock persona and is seen as a demarcation event in her career. It is now considered a classic and currently out of print. The later three, High Dive, Peddlin Dreams and Late December, were released independently via her own Viewfinder Records label, in 1995, Bette Midler recorded McKees tracks To Deserve You and The Last Time for her platinum album Bette of Roses. In 1998, The Dixie Chicks recorded McKees Am I the Only One, McKee was featured on the 2014 compilation Songs from a Stolen Spring that paired Western musicians with artists from the Arab Spring. On the album, McKees performance of the Tony Joe White song Ol Mother Earth was meshed with I Still Exist by the Egyptian band Massar Egbari. In addition to writing Sharkeys hit A Good Heart, McKee has also contributed to the Victoria Williams tribute album Sweet Relief, on Robin Zanders 1993 solo album she sang backing vocals for the track Reactionary Girl. She also sang backing vocals on Robbie Robertsons debut and self-titled solo album, much lesser known is her contribution of lead and co-lead vocals on two tracks on a contemporary Christian praise and worship album called Come As You Are. She performed If Love Is a Red Dress, the original song on the Pulp Fiction soundtrack. McKee also contributed a song, Never Be You, for the soundtrack to the Walter Hill movie Streets of Fire and she recorded a duet, Friends In Time, with The Golden Horde on their eponymously titled album in 1991
25.
You Little Thief
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You Little Thief is pop vocalist Feargal Sharkeys first single of 1986 and follow-up to previous hit A Good Heart. The single had a video created for promotion. The b-side for the single The Living Actor was exclusive to the single, the single was written by member of Tom Pettys band Benmont Tench about his relationship with Maria McKee who had written Sharkeys previous hit single A Good Heart, based on Tench. Sharkey placed them next to other on his debut album. This was Sharkeys second and last major hit, becoming a hit throughout Europe. A special remix 12 single was available, a version of the song remixed by Sharkey himself, daft Punks Around the World video appears to be based upon the background composition of the video to this song. Stewart Mixed By – Shelly Yakus Arranged By – Feargal Sharkey Guitar on The Living Actor – David Rose Producer on The Living Actor – Feargal Sharkey
26.
UK Albums Chart
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The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales and audio streaming in the United Kingdom. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the Official Charts Company on Fridays and it is broadcast on BBC Radio 1 and published in Music Week magazine, and on the OCC website. To qualify for the Official Albums Chart the album must be the correct length and it must be more than three tracks or 20 minutes long and not be classed as a budget album. A budget album costs between £0.50 and £3.75, additionally, various artist compilations – which until January 1989 were included in the main album listing – are now listed separately in a compilations chart. Full details of the rules can be found on the OCC website. In the 1970s the new chart was revealed at 12,45 pm on Thursdays on BBC Radio 1. Since October 1993 it has included in The Official Chart show from 4,00 –5,45 pm on Fridays. A weekly Album Chart show was licensed out to BBC Radio 2 and presented by Simon Mayo,2005 saw a record number of artist album sales with 126.2 million sold in the UK. In February 2015, it was announced that, due to the sales of albums and rise in popularity of audio streaming. Under the revised methodology, the Official Charts Company takes the 12 most streamed tracks from one album, the total of these streams is divided by 1000 and added to the pure sales of the album. This calculation was designed to ensure that the chart continues to reflect the popularity of the albums themselves. The final number one album on the UK Albums Chart to be based purely on sales alone was Smoke + Mirrors by Imagine Dragons, on 1 March 2015, In the Lonely Hour by Sam Smith became the first album to top the new streaming-incorporated Official Albums Chart. The most successful artists in the charts depends on the criteria used, as of February 2016, Queen albums have spent more time on the British album charts than any other musical act, followed by The Beatles, Elvis Presley, U2 and ABBA. By most weeks at one, however, The Beatles lead with a total of 174 weeks. The male solo artist with the most weeks at one is Presley with a total of 66 weeks. Presley also holds the record for the most number one albums by a solo artist and most top ten albums by any artist. Madonna has the most number one albums by a female artist in the UK, though this includes the Evita film soundtrack which was a cast recording, Adele is the female solo artist with the most weeks at number one, with a total of 37 weeks. Queens Greatest Hits is the album in UK chart history with 6 million copies sold as of February 2014
27.
Polydor Records
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Polydor is a British record label and company, that operates as part of Universal Music Group. It has a relationship with Universals Interscope Geffen A&M label. In turn, Polydor distributes Interscope releases in the United Kingdom, Polydor Records Ltd. was established in London in 1954 as a British subsidiary of German company Deutsche Grammophon GmbH. The Polydor label was founded on 2 April 1913 by German Polyphon-Musikwerke AG in Leipzig, during World War I on 24 April 1917, Polyphon-Musikwerke AG acquired the German Deutsche Grammophon-Aktiengesellschaft record plant and company from the German government. The German state was taken over Grammophon and the British holdings as enemies property during World War I, Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Polyphon-Grammophon-Konzern group. It was used as a label since 1924. The British and German branches of the Gramophone Company were so departed during World War I, in turn, Deutsche Grammophon records exported from Germany were released on the Polyphon Musik and Polydor labels. The new foreign branches were founded for example into Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Polydor became a popular music label in 1946, while the new Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft label was to become a classical music label in 1949. The previously used label, Grammophon, was disbanded, DGG gave, with an agreement dated 5 July 1949, an exclusive license from 1 July 1951 to use the Nipper-dog with gramophone to the original owners company Electrola, the German branch of EMI. In 1970, Polydor acquired the Hong Kong-based Diamond Records, which had owned and founded by the local Portuguese merchant Ren da Silva in the late 1950s. In 1972, The Grammophon-Philips Group reorganized to create PolyGram, the Polydor label continued to run as a subsidiary label under the new company. The name PolyGram is a portmanteau of Polydor and PhonoGram, into the 1980s, Polydor continued to do respectable business, in spite of becoming increasingly overshadowed by its PolyGram sister label Mercury Records. Polydor took over management of British Deccas pop catalog, A&R manager Frank Neilson was able to score a major top ten hit in March 1981 for the label with Do The Hucklebuck by Coast to Coast as well as signing Ian Dury and Billy Fury to the company. In 1984, the name was parodied in the rockumentary film This Is Spinal Tap. By the early 1990s, Polydor had begun to underperform, in 1994, as Island Records recovered from its sales slump, PolyGram dissolved most of PLG into it. Meanwhile, Polydor Records and Atlas Records merged, briefly called Polydor/Atlas, in 1995, Polydor/Atlas became simply Polydor Records again. Over the next few years, Polydor tried to keep itself afloat with new artist signings, new releases, in 1998, PolyGram was purchased by Seagram and absorbed into its Universal Music Group. Today, in America, the Polydor Records name and logo is used on reissues of older material from its 1960s and 1970s heyday
28.
Ofcom
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Ofcom has wide-ranging powers across the television, radio, telecoms and postal sectors. It has a duty to represent the interests of citizens and consumers by promoting competition. Some of the main areas Ofcom presides over are licensing, research, codes and policies, complaints, competition, the regulator was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002 and received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003. The creation of Ofcom was announced in the Queens Speech to the UK Parliament, the new body, which would replace several existing authorities, was conceived as a super-regulator to oversee media channels that were rapidly converging through digital transmission. It will no longer play a role in making policy, and the policy-making functions it has today will be transferred back fully to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. On 1 October 2011, Ofcom took over responsibility for regulating the postal services industry from the Postal Services Commission. In April 2015, Ofcom announced that as of 1 July, the streamlining of these charges must be printed in each customers contract and monthly bills. The change will affect over 175 million phone numbers making it the biggest overhaul of telephoning in over a decade, on 1 January 2016, the regulation of video on demand was transferred to Ofcom from ATVOD, the Authority for Television On Demand. On 13 July former Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged Ofcom to launch an investigation, on 22 July it was reported that Ofcom had begun an investigation into whether the phone-hacking scandal may have changed BSkyBs status as the fit and proper holder of a UK broadcasting licence. In the letter Richards confirmed that Ofcom considers that News Corporations current shareholding of 39, in April 2012, Ofcoms probe moved from a monitoring phase to a evidence gathering phase. Ofcom licenses all UK commercial television and radio services in the UK, broadcasters must comply by the terms of their licence, or risk having it revoked. Ofcom also publishes the Broadcasting Code, a series of rules which all broadcast content on television, the broadcasting of pornography with a BBFC R18 certificate is not permitted. In 2010 Ofcom revoked the licences of four television channels for promoting adult chat services during daytime hours. The companies involved were fined £157,250, Ofcoms jurisdiction does not cover television and radio channels which are broadcast in the UK but licensed abroad. In 2012 Ofcom lodged a complaint with the Dutch media regulator regarding the content of adult television channels which are broadcast in the UK. As the regulatory body for media broadcasts, part of Ofcoms duties are to examine specific complaints by viewers or listeners about programmes broadcast on channels that it has licensed and it does not oversee unlicensed channels broadcast to UK viewers. When Ofcom receives a complaint, it asks the broadcaster for a copy of the programme, Ofcom requests response from the broadcaster to the complaint. On the basis of response, Ofcom will mark the complaint as either upheld or not upheld
29.
Paul McLoone
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McLoone also hosted a radio program titled Another Side on TXFM, a radio station that broadcasts to Dublin City and its surrounding areas and which is also a sister station to Today FM. From March 2012 to March 2016, McLoone served as the presenter or M. C. A native of Derry City and having grown up in the Bogside and he first appeared on Gerry Andersons show on BBC Radio Foyle back in 1985. Despite gaining high praise from the Irish media, the Carrelllines broke up after releasing two singles, Bridesmaids Never Brides and Credence, a b-side to Bridesmaids Never Brides, after that, McLoone managed another band, Schtum which disbanded while the group were touring America. In March 1999, McLoone moved to the part of the country. McLoone also chose Regret by New Order as the theme music which continued to be used a few years after his own departure from The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show. In 2004, after having worked on the Breakfast Show for five years, McLoone resigned as a producer from the show, McLoone accepted and as such, eventually became a producer of Dunnes show, a role that also marked McLoones own return to Today FM. The staff accepted with McLoone becoming a presenter, abandoning his position as a radio producer altogether. At first, McLoones role was intended to last for three months until a new replacement could be found, however, due to the increasing popularity associated with McLoone and his unnamed show, McLoone later officially replaced Dunne on a permanent basis. In an interview for Derry Journal in April 2014 McLoone explains why hes a radio star. McLoones interviewer from In Dublin magazine for Radio Month 2014 introduced him as one of the most instantly recognisable voices on Irelands airwaves. In the world of animation, McLoone has been involved as a writer and creative consultant on the Jam Media series Funky Fables, McLoone also appeared in the film, Sunset Heights where he played Dingo Green. The movie which was released in 2002 was also featured in a Top 100 list for IMDB and he stars as an aspiring Elvis impersonator in the music video for Cherry Bomb, a song by Irish rock band, The Minutes which was released in March 2014. He can famously be seen singing back-up vocals for Bucks Fizz in an episode of The Little, the band with McLoone at the helm then played their first gig at the Nerve Centre in Derry which took place on November 19,1999. As such, intermittent live appearances followed including the concert in Termon Hall. McLoone had previously fronted a hotly tipped band with Undertones drummer, Billy Doherty, in the late 80s, McLoone later went on to record two studio albums with the Undertones, Get What You Need and Dig Yourself Deep. For Record Store Day,20 April 2013, the released a new single. To coincide with the launch in June 2013 of their CD/DVD An Introduction to the Undertones the band undertook a European summer tour
30.
Today FM
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Radio Ireland Ltd, trading as 100-102 Today FM is a commercial FM radio station which is available nationally in Ireland. Broadcasting since 17 March 1997, it carries music and talk, purchased by Denis OBriens Communicorp in 2007, Today FM holds a licence from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland as far as the year 2017. The station recorded pretax profits of €7.4 million on a turnover of €19.4 million in early 2009, the original Independent National Radio franchise holder in Ireland was 100-102 Century Radio, which launched in 1989 and closed down abruptly in late 1991. The Independent Radio and Television Commission did not re-advertise the contract for several years, Radio Ireland Limited, originally owned by John McColgan and Moya Doherty, won the contract when it was advertised. Since the autumn of 1998, experienced broadcaster and radio programmer Tom Hardy had been Programming Director of Today FM. He left in January 2013 and was replaced by Colm OSullivan. In 2002, Scottish Radio Holdings plc acquired Radio Ireland Limited from its shareholders, in June 2005, an agreed takeover offer for that company was made by Emap. Denis OBriens Communicorp was the highest bidder for Emaps Irish operations when that company decided to sell its stations, buying FM104, Highland Radio. In October 2007, the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland approved Communicorps proposed takeover of Today FM and Highland Radio, the deal was completed by January 2008. Due to a Competition Authority decision, Communicorp was required to sell-on FM104, the takeover closed in April 2008. The station went on air on 17 March 1997, at first the station was a mixed network, airing much talk programming and various types of music. However, following six months of ratings, and with a listenership of just 1%, the station was revamped. The station axed almost all of its programming and changed its music policy entirely, eamon Dunphys co-host was axed, with him being heavily promoted as a solo act and Ian Dempsey and Ray DArcy were poached from arch-rivals RTÉ. The IRTC went along with the changes, though in a statement soon after the relaunch said it was not entirely satisfied with the new schedule. However, within three months, the stations listenership had almost doubled, Today FM reshuffled its daytime schedule in 2004, reducing The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show to add an extra hour to The Ray DArcy Show so that it could compete directly with rival, The Gerry Ryan Show. Philip Cawleys afternoon show was reduced and Tony Fenton was given a lunchtime show, in April 2006, Ray DArcy conducted an interview with comedian Des Bishop. DArcy asked Bishop to provide an exclusive, DArcy said, Youre very comfortable with your sexuality. Bishop said, Me and Derek Mooney are doing a show, DArcy moved to a commercial break before, he said, Bishop outs anyone else
31.
Licensing Act 2003
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The Licensing Act 2003 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Permission to carry on some or all of these activities is now contained in a single licence — the premises licence — replacing several different. These authorities are required to establish a Licensing Committee, which acts in a quasi-judicial capacity under the Act. The powers of the Act came fully into force at midnight at the start of 24 November 2005. Key measures contained in the Act include, Flexible opening hours Flexible opening hours for licensed premises, with the potential for up to 24 hour opening, seven days a week, will now be available. This flexibility is intended to minimise public disorder resulting from a set closing time whereby numerous intoxicated individuals may leave licensed premises simultaneously at 23,00 and it is also an effort to decrease the culture of binge-drinking. Single premises licences The single integrated premises licence, bringing together the six existing licensing regimes with the intention of cutting down on bureaucracy, personal licences A new system of personal licences relating to the supply of alcohol is to be introduced. This will enable licence holders to move freely between premises where a premises licence is in force than is currently the case. Each local authority must set up a Licensing Committee with between ten and fifteen members and it is envisaged that most member level decisions will be made by a sub-committee of three. The Committee can and should have a scheme of delegation for different types of decision, the full Committee is expected to receive monitoring reports. The Committee is regarded as quasi-judicial, and many of the requirements of a council committee will not apply. The Committee should make its decisions in accordance with the principles of natural justice, the Act sets out four licensing objectives which must be taken into account when a local authority carries out its functions. Late night refreshment is defined as the supply of hot food or drink to the public for consumption, a premises licence is required for any premises offering licensable activities. However, once a licence is granted it is valid until it is either surrendered or lapses in accordance with the Act, in contrast to the predecessor schemes which generally had to be renewed annually. The application for a premises licence requires the completion of a schedule and the offering of conditions to be included on the premises licence. A premises licence that includes the sale of alcohol must name an individual who holds a licence granted under the Act. This person is known as the designated premises supervisor and must sign a consent form consenting to being named as that DPS and these bodies are all known as Responsible Authorities. Responsible Authorities are able to make representations to the licensing authority about an application, in addition to the Responsible Authorities the Act now allows for any other person to make representations
32.
UK Music
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Launched on 26 September 2008, Feargal Sharkey, former member of The Undertones, became Chief Executive Officer and Andy Heath, former chairman of British Music Rights became chairman. Sharkey left the organisation in November 2011, with Jo Dipple taking over as Acting CEO, UK Music confirmed on 27 January 2012 the appointment of Dipple as the next CEO. In January 2017, the announced that Dipple is to stand down as its CEO in June 2017. In his letter, Sharkey wrote. the collection of this personal Data by the Met Police in advance of a performance is not light touch. In December 2008, UK Music launched Sound Rights, an online resource for teachers. This was aimed at supporting the study of the role of music and musicians in society, the music industry and of artistic and intellectual property rights
33.
Form 696
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Form 696 is a risk assessment form which the London Metropolitan Police requests promoters and licensees of events to complete and submit 14 days in advance of an event in 21 London boroughs. Non compliance with this may result in police opposition to event licenses being granted and this form has become controversial due to its stipulation that names, stage names, private addresses, and phone numbers of all promoters, DJs and artists be listed. The form also asks for a description of the style of music to be performed, the original form asked for details of ethnic groups likely to attend the performance, but that version was revised to omit those parameters in December 2008. According to Sharkey an afternoon school charity concert in a park had been cancelled because organisers could not supply the details of the young performers. Jon McClure, lead singer with Reverend and the Makers, set up a petition on the UK Prime Ministers website to allow protest against what he alleges as racial discrimination. Music has long been a form of free expression, for people from all walks of life to create. This form appears to single out certain genres of music and ethnic audiences and we also feel that this will deter the staging of live musical events, stifle free expression and possibly penalise certain genres of music and ethnic audiences. Our members are horrified that this legislation, introduced in 2006, is being enforced under the guise of public law and we see no reason why artists and/or venue owners and managers should be forced to comply. David Isles, Detective Superintendent of the Metropolitan Police Clubs and Vice unit has stated that Form 696 is not designed to stop people having a good time, the Metropolitan Police web site describes the form as a Promotion Event risk assessment form. Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Martin stated that the form, with its questions relating to audience ethnicity was removed just because I dont think it added any value to the form. We take account of where the event is playing, what events might be playing nearby, the type of music thats being played. Weve had quite a few of what I consider higher risk events and its not about being risk averse, its about managing the risk, he said. If youre a publican and you are just having some performers to entertain your regular customers and its for when the performance is being put on to draw people in. We will never assess somebody just on the genre of music they are performing, there is a whole raft of factors that are taken into account. In September 2009, the Metropolitan Police announced that venues would no longer be asked for details of the music style. A requirement to provide the number of the performing artist will also be dropped. Feargal Sharkey described this as an exercise in semantics and called for the form to be completely scrapped and he added that it was clear that the altered version continued to target musicians from ethnic minorities and he objected strongly to a question which asks about the make-up of the patrons. Supplementary Memorandum from Feargal Sharkey, CEO, UK Music to Culture, Media and Sport committee MS Word version of form at the Metropolitan Police
34.
Metropolitan Police Service
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As of March 2016, the Met employed 48,661 full-time personnel. This included 32,125 sworn police officers,9,521 police staff and this number excludes the 3,271 Special Constables, who work part-time and who have the same powers and uniform as their regular colleagues. This makes the Metropolitan Police the largest police force in the United Kingdom by a significant margin, the post of Commissioner was first held jointly by Sir Charles Rowan and Sir Richard Mayne. The post is occupied by the now-outgoing Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe. The Commissioners deputy, the Deputy Commissioner, is currently Craig Mackey, a number of informal names and abbreviations exists for the Metropolitan Police Service, the most common being the Met. In colloquial London, it is referred to as the Old Bill. The Met is also referred to by the metonym Scotland Yard after the location of its headquarters in a road called Great Scotland Yard in Whitehall. The Mets current headquarters is New Scotland Yard, in Victoria, the Metropolitan Police Service, whose officers became affectionately known as bobbies, was founded in 1829 by Robert Peel under the Metropolitan Police Act 1829. In 1839, the Marine Police Force, which had formed in 1798, was amalgamated into the Metropolitan Police. In 1837, it also incorporated with the Bow Street Horse Patrol that had organised in 1805. Since January 2012, the Mayor of London is responsible for the governance of the Metropolitan Police through the Mayors Office for Policing, the mayor is able to appoint someone to act on his behalf, the current office-holder is Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Sophie Linden. The work of MOPAC is scrutinised by the Police and Crime Committee of the London Assembly, the area policed by the Metropolitan Police Service is known as the Metropolitan Police District. In terms of policing, the Met is divided into a number of Borough Operational Command Units. The City of London is a police area and is the responsibility of the separate City of London Police. The British Transport Police are responsible for policing of the network in the United Kingdom. Within London, they are responsible for the policing of the London Underground, Tramlink, The Emirates Air Line. There is also a park police force, the Kew Constabulary, responsible for the Royal Botanic Gardens. Officers also have limited powers in Scotland and Northern Ireland, within the MPD, the Met will take over the investigation of any serious crime from the British Transport Police and Ministry of Defence Police, if it is deemed appropriate
35.
BBC Newcastle
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BBC Newcastle is the BBC Local Radio station for Tyne and Wear and surrounding areas, broadcasting from studios on Barrack Road in Newcastle upon Tyne. The Pontop Pike transmitter broadcasts the strongest signal on 95.4 MHz and this transmitter, one of the first in the country, provides Tyneside and parts of Wearside with national radio frequencies, terrestrial television, BBC National DAB and Digital One. The 96 MHz frequency from Chatton covers most of the areas of east Northumberland. The other two FM transmitters are much weaker.2, Metro Radio on 103 and Capital North East on 105.6. The Newton transmitter also has television channels, national radio, 100-102 Real Radio on 96.4, Metro Radio on 103.2, the DAB signal comes mainly from Burnhope, and also Fenham on the Bauer Digital. The majority of the programming is produced and broadcast from Newcastle. As with all BBC Local Radio stations, it airs the networked weekday evening show, originating from BBC Radio Leeds. During the stations downtime, BBC Radio Newcastle simulcasts BBC Radio 5 Live
36.
University of Hertfordshire
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The University of Hertfordshire is a university in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. The university is based largely in Hatfield, Hertfordshire and its antecedent institution, Hatfield Technical College, was founded in 1948 and was identified as one of 25 Colleges of Technology in the United Kingdom in 1959. In 1992, Hatfield Polytechnic was granted university status by the British government, Hertfordshires enrolment has steadily increased since it was awarded university status. With a student community of over 25,130 including more than 5,200 international students that together represent 100 countries, the university has a global network of over 165,000 alumni. The university is one of Hertfordshires largest employers with over 2,700 staff,812 of which are members of staff. The university is a member of Association of Commonwealth Universities and University Alliance, the original campus for the University was at Roe Green in Hatfield, where it was founded as a technical college. The Gape family of St Michaels Manor in St Albans owned the land at Roe Green from the late 17th century. In the 1920s they sold it to Hill, a farmer, in 1944 he donated 90 acres of land at Roe Green to be used for educational purposes. The first principal W. A. J Chapman started on 1 January 1949, Hatfield Technical College opened with 1,738 students in September 1952 and in December officially opened by the Duke of Edinburgh. It was the first large technical college to be established in England after the war, Students attended the college on part-time or full-time courses. In 1958 it was renamed Hatfield College of Technology and by 1960 offered four-year sandwich diplomas in technology, in 1961 it was designated a regional college in England and Wales by the Ministry of Education. The governors purchased a computer at a cost of £29,201 in 1962 so that a computer science degree could be established. The Council for National Academic Awards was formed in 1965 and Hatfield College was recognised for 13 honours degree courses, Sir Norman Lindop became the Principal of the College of Technology in 1966. A year later L. E. Haines was made Chair of Governors, in the same year Bayfordbury is acquired for the college. The following year, L. E. Haines is appointed Chair of Governors and it was also in 1967 that Bayfordbury was acquired for the institution. In 1969 Hatfield College of Technology became Hatfield Polytechnic, offering degree courses in technology. In 1970 an observatory was built on the Bayfordbury Campus, wall Hall and Balls Park Teacher Training Colleges merged in 1976 to become Hertfordshire College of Higher Education. In the same year Hatfield Polytechnic took over Balls Park, by 1977 more than ten per cent of the 4000 came from more than forty different countries
37.
The Guardian
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The Guardian is a British daily newspaper, known from 1821 until 1959 as the Manchester Guardian. Along with its sister papers The Observer and The Guardian Weekly, The Guardian is part of the Guardian Media Group, the Scott Trust became a limited company in 2008, with a constitution to maintain the same protections for The Guardian. Profits are reinvested in journalism rather than to the benefit of an owner or shareholders, the Guardian is edited by Katharine Viner, who succeeded Alan Rusbridger in 2015. In 2016, The Guardians print edition had a daily circulation of roughly 162,000 copies in the country, behind The Daily Telegraph. The newspaper has an online UK edition as well as two international websites, Guardian Australia and Guardian US, the newspapers online edition was the fifth most widely read in the world in October 2014, with over 42.6 million readers. Its combined print and online editions reach nearly 9 million British readers, notable scoops include the 2011 News International phone hacking scandal, in particular the hacking of murdered English teenager Milly Dowlers phone. The investigation led to the closure of the UKs biggest selling Sunday newspaper, and one of the highest circulation newspapers in the world, in 2016, it led the investigation into the Panama Papers, exposing the then British Prime Minister David Camerons links to offshore bank accounts. The Guardian has been named Newspaper of the Year four times at the annual British Press Awards, the paper is still occasionally referred to by its nickname of The Grauniad, given originally for the purported frequency of its typographical errors. The Manchester Guardian was founded in Manchester in 1821 by cotton merchant John Edward Taylor with backing from the Little Circle and they launched their paper after the police closure of the more radical Manchester Observer, a paper that had championed the cause of the Peterloo Massacre protesters. They do not toil, neither do they spin, but they better than those that do. When the government closed down the Manchester Observer, the champions had the upper hand. The influential journalist Jeremiah Garnett joined Taylor during the establishment of the paper, the prospectus announcing the new publication proclaimed that it would zealously enforce the principles of civil and religious Liberty. Warmly advocate the cause of Reform, endeavour to assist in the diffusion of just principles of Political Economy and. Support, without reference to the party from which they emanate, in 1825 the paper merged with the British Volunteer and was known as The Manchester Guardian and British Volunteer until 1828. The working-class Manchester and Salford Advertiser called the Manchester Guardian the foul prostitute, the Manchester Guardian was generally hostile to labours claims. The Manchester Guardian dismissed strikes as the work of outside agitators –, if an accommodation can be effected, the occupation of the agents of the Union is gone. CP Scott made the newspaper nationally recognised and he was editor for 57 years from 1872, and became its owner when he bought the paper from the estate of Taylors son in 1907. Under Scott, the moderate editorial line became more radical, supporting William Gladstone when the Liberals split in 1886
38.
Wired (magazine)
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Wired is a monthly American magazine, published in print and online editions, that focuses on how emerging technologies affect culture, the economy, and politics. Owned by Condé Nast, it is headquartered in San Francisco, California, several spin-offs have been launched including, Wired UK, Wired Italia, Wired Japan and Wired Germany. In its earliest colophons, Wired credited Canadian media theorist Marshall McLuhan as its patron saint, from its beginning, the strongest influence on the magazines editorial outlook came from techno-utopian co-founder Stewart Brand and his associate Kevin Kelly. From 1998 to 2006, Wired magazine and Wired News had separate owners, however, Wired News remained responsible for republishing Wired magazines content online due to an agreement when Condé Nast purchased the magazine. In 2006, Condé Nast bought Wired News for $25 million, the founding designers were John Plunkett and Barbara Kuhr, beginning with a 1991 prototype and continuing through the first five years of publication, 1993–98. Wired, which touted itself as the Rolling Stone of technology, a great success at its launch, it was lauded for its vision, originality, innovation and cultural impact. In its first four years, the magazine won two National Magazine Awards for General Excellence and one for Design. The founding executive editor of Wired, Kevin Kelly, was an editor of the Whole Earth Catalog and the Whole Earth Review, six authors of the first Wired issue had written for Whole Earth Review, most notably Bruce Sterling and Stewart Brand. However, the first issue did contain a few references to the Internet, including online-dating and Internet sex, the last page, a column written by Nicholas Negroponte, was written in the style of an e-mail message, but contained obviously fake, non-standard email addresses. Wired was among the first magazines to list the email address of its authors and contributors, associate publisher Kathleen Lyman was brought on board to launch Wired with an advertising base of major technology and consumer advertisers. The magazine was followed by a companion website HotWired, a book publishing division, HardWired, a Japanese edition. Wired UK was relaunched in April 2009, in 1994, John Battelle, co-founding editor, commissioned Jules Marshall to write a piece on the Zippies. The cover story broke records for being one of the most publicized stories of the year and was used to promote Wireds HotWired news service, HotWired spawned websites Webmonkey, the search engine HotBot, and a weblog, Suck. com. In June 1998, the magazine launched an index, The Wired Index. The fortune of the magazine and allied enterprises corresponded closely to that of the dot-com bubble, in 1996, Rossetto and the other participants in Wired Ventures attempted to take the company public with an IPO. The initial attempt had to be withdrawn in the face of a downturn in the stock market, the second try was also unsuccessful. Rossetto and Metcalfe lost control of Wired Ventures to financial investors Providence Equity Partners in May 1998, Wired was purchased by Advance Publications, who assigned it to Advances subsidiary, New York-based publisher Condé Nast Publications. Wired survived the bubble and found new direction under editor-in-chief Chris Anderson in 2001
39.
Ulster University
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Ulster University, officially the University of Ulster, is a multi-campus public university located in Northern Ireland. It is often referred to informally and unofficially as Ulster, or by the abbreviation UU and it is the second largest university on the island of Ireland, after the federal National University of Ireland. Established in 1968 as the New University of Ulster, it merged with Ulster Polytechnic in 1984, the university incorporated its four campuses in 1984, located in Belfast, Coleraine, Magee College in Derry, and Jordanstown. The university has campuses in both London and Birmingham, and an extensive distance learning provision. The university rebranded as Ulster University from October 2014 and this included a visual identity. However its official name remains the University of Ulster as its charter remains unchanged and it has one of the highest further study and employment rates in the UK, with over 90% of graduates being in work or further study six months after graduation. The university is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the New University of Ulster incorporated Magee College founded in 1865 in Derry. In 1953 Magee College broke its links with Dublin and became Magee University College and it was hoped by groups led by the University for Londonderry Committee that this university college would become Northern Irelands second university after The Queens University of Belfast. The decision caused an outcry at the time, the university was built at Coleraine as part of Her Majestys Governments expansion of higher education in the 1960s. Whilst the university was established in 1968 it can trace its roots back to 1845 when Magee College was endowed in Derry, and 1849, when the School of Art and Design was inaugurated in Belfast. Campus One, the Virtual Campus of the university, was launched on 8 October 2001 which successfully facilitated the provision on undergraduate and postgraduate level courses via distance learning, the university now simply refers to this as distance learning. The university formerly had a laboratory named ‘The University of Ulster Freshwater Laboratory’ on the shore of Lough Neagh in Ballymaguigan, the Freshwater Laboratory, although not a campus was a site of the university and consisted of on-campus accommodation, classrooms and testing labs. Courses offered were in agriculture, the wildlife of Lough Neagh, water testing, the site is now owned by Magherafelt District Council. By 2010, the area had become popular with the locals for camping, fishing and sailing, in autumn 2011 Vice-Chancellor Barnett announced a programme of financial restructuring with the aim of reducing the number of staff employed by the University from 3,150 to 3,000. Four university campuses are situated in Northern Ireland in Belfast, Coleraine, Derry, additionally, two further branch campuses in both London and Birmingham in England deliver courses. An online distance learning provision also offers Ulster University courses globally, the university was subsequently selected by the European Commission to deliver the worlds first Higher Educational Programme in Hydrogen Safety Engineering. The Belfast campus is situated in the artistic and cultural centre of the city, the award-winning Law Clinic is based at the Belfast campus, offering free legal advice on social security and employment law. The campus comprises purpose-built design spaces, studios for recording and editing live and off-air television, sound recording, mixing and animation and teaching, the campus plays host to frequent fashion and art exhibitions
