EMF (BAND)

'EMF' were a British indie dance band that came to prominence at the end of the 1980s and the early 1990s. The band came from the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire. Their first single, "Unbelievable" got to number 3 in the UK charts and was a number one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Their debut album, ''Schubert Dip'', went to number 3 in the UK Albums Chart.

Contents

Band Name

Band members

Biography

Discography

Trivia

References

External links

Band Name

The name "EMF" officially stands for "Epsom Mad Funkers," but there are unofficial alternatives, such as "Every Mother's Favourite," "Eat My Fetus," "English Mother Fuckers," and "Ecstasy Mother Fuckers" (the last of which occurred in a track called "EMF", a live version of which featured on the B Side of the single "Unbelievable"). The band was signed by EMI / Parlophone after a mere four gigs, without even being asked for a demo tape. Legend has it that A&R man Nick Mander was made to jump into a river before the band would agree to sign with EMI.

Band members

★ James Atkin (vocals, guitars), born James Saul Atkin, 28 March 1969, in Birmingham.

★ Ian Dench (guitars, keyboards), born 7 August 1964, in Cheltenham.

★ Zac Foley (bass), born Zachary Sebastian Rex James Foley, 9 December 1970, in Gloucester; Died on 2 January, 2002.

★ Derry Brownson (keyboards and samples), born 10 November 1970, in Gloucester.

★ Mark Decloedt (drums), born 26 June 1967, in Gloucester.

Biography

They originally toured with DJ Milf who now has his own band called Stateside and released music under the name Jose Sanchez. All the members were relatively well known in the local music scene before forming EMF in Cinderford, UK in October 1989. Derry Brownson had formed a band called Flowerdrum with his brother Leigh but left to join Zac, Mark and James as EMF. Ian was last to join, having already tasted moderate success as a member of Apple Mosiac.
Their music mixed light techno elements with rockier sounds - EMF regularly used samplers and sequencers. It has often been argued that EMF's music was influenced by Jesus Jones. In fact, the two bands formed a close relationship. Their music has also been counted as part of Madchester and indie dance. EMF were at the time also known for their baseball caps worn sideways, and the baggy shorts they wore.
In 1990, their debut "Unbelievable" topped the charts in many countries around the world, reaching the number one in the USA in 1991. The single features sampled utterances from comedian Andrew Dice Clay. In 1991 EMF released their debut album ''Schubert Dip'' which went to number 3 in the UK. The name was explained by songwriter Ian Dench, as "If ever I'm short of a chord sequence I nick one from Schubert." Successful singles from their debut included "I Believe," "Children," and "Lies." The last one turned controversial for including a voice sample of Mark Chapman, John Lennon's murderer. Yoko Ono achieved an injunction and a modified version was included in future pressings.
In 1992, EMF returned with an EP called ''Unexplained EP'' (including a cover version of "Search and Destroy") and later their second album ''Stigma'', both of which did badly in the charts. The singles were "Getting Through," "They're Here," and "It's You." This has been explained with EMF's, lack of innovation past their first single, but also by the rise of Britpop. Until their 1995 album ''Cha Cha Cha'' EMF effectively disappeared from sight. This album featured the singles "Perfect Day" and "Bleeding You Dry." Both were highly acclaimed, but failed to sell well.
In summer 1995 EMF teamed up with Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer and recorded "I'm a Believer" (a cover song from The Monkees). This single sold better, but critics were less enthusiastic, stating desperation. The band then released ''Afro King'' which was by some regarded as a return to dance-pop origins, but the release failed to do well. After this, the band split for the first time, however, all members of the band continued to play music.
In 2001, EMF gave a reunion gig in London, UK. They also released a best of album ''.
The band's bass guitarist, Zac Foley, died on 2 January 2002, due to an overdose of non-prescribed drugs. He was aged 31. EMF played just four more gigs in late 2002, before deciding to split up for the final time.
In 2005, Kraft Foods used EMF's "Unbelievable" in their Kraft Crumbles advertisement campaign. The surviving members of EMF reconvened to re-record the tune. The original song's chorus, "It's unbelievable," was replaced with a more "crumble-centric" chorus, declaring "It's crumbelievable."

Discography

Year	Albums	UK Chart	US Charts
1991	''Schubert Dip''	3	3
1992	''Unexplained EP''	18	-
1992	''Stigma''	19	-
1995	''Cha Cha Cha''	30	-
2001	''	-	-

Year	Singles	UK Singles Chart	US Hot 100	US Modern Rock	US Dance	Album
1990	"Unbelievable"	3	1	3	9	''Schubert Dip''
1991	"Lies"	28	18	27	6	''Schubert Dip''
1991	"I Believe"	6	-	10	-	''Schubert Dip''
1991	"Children"	19	-	26	-	''Schubert Dip''
1992	"Search and Destroy"	-	-	-	-	''Unexplained EP''
1992	"Getting Through"	-	-	-	-	''Unexplained EP / Stigma''
1992	"They're Here"	29	-	27	5	''Stigma''
1992	"It's You"	23	-	-	-	''Stigma''
1995	"Perfect Day"	27	-	-	-	''Cha Cha Cha''
1995	"Bleeding You Dry"	-	-	-	-	''Cha Cha Cha''
1995	"I'm a Believer"	3	-	-	-	Non-LP Track
1995	"Afro King"	51	-	-	-	Non-LP Track

Trivia

★ Pop / rock singer Brie Larson has made a cover version of their song "Unbelievable". The song gained a studio version, and Larson sang the song on her summer 2005 tour.

★ The band Thousand Foot Krutch has recorded a cover version of "Unbelievable", although it is quite different lyrically.

★ Defunct British heavy rock band Skin made a slightly altered, but raunchier cover of "Unbelievable" for their "The Money" EP in 1994.

★ New York–based comedy group Whitest Kids U Know has a sketch based on a fictional documentary (called "Unbelievable") about EMF.

References

★ Guinness Book of British Hit Singles - 16th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-190-X

★ Guinness Book of British Hit Albums - 7th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-619-7

★ The Great Rock Discography - 5th Edition - ISBN 1-84195-017-3

★ Guinness Rockopedia - ISBN 0-85112-072-5

External links

★ EMF's official band site

★ The Dead Rock Stars