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Kane Gang

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The Kane Gang
OriginSeaham, England
Genres
Years active1982–1991
Labels
Past members

The Kane Gang are an English pop trio formed in Seaham in 1982.[3] The group comprised Martin Brammer, Paul Woods and Dave Brewis.[4] They scored several UK and US hits in the 1980s.[5] Named alluding to the movie Citizen Kane, the trio recorded for the record label Kitchenware, which was also home to Prefab Sprout. The group announced a comeback on 14 August 2024.[6]

History

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Vocalists Martin Brammer[7] (born 13 May 1957,[8] Seaham, County Durham) and Paul Woods, with multi-instrumentalist Dave Brewis, formed the trio in 1982, after meeting while in small local bands, and signed to a small record label, which led to a deal with London Records in 1984.[3]

Their debut album, The Bad and Lowdown World of the Kane Gang (released in the US as Lowdown), was released the following year.[3] It spawned two UK hit singles: "Closest Thing to Heaven" (No. 12) and a cover of the Staples Singers' "Respect Yourself"[9] (No. 21). The latter was also a hit in Australia, reaching No. 19. The album was produced by Pete Wingfield, and featured P. P. Arnold and Sam Brown as backing vocalists.[3][10]

The band's next album, Miracle, was released in 1987 and spawned two US hit singles: "Motortown" (No. 36 US / No. 45 UK) and another cover – this time of Dennis Edwards' "Don't Look Any Further"[9] (No. 64 US / No. 52 UK). The latter hit No. 1 on the US Dance Charts.[11]

Woods left the band in 1991 to attempt a solo career.[3] Woods and Brewis also worked on an album which was never released.

It was announced that the Kane Gang would reunite for a gig at Sunderland's The Fire Station music venue on 2 November 2024.[12]

Other works

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The Kane Gang performed the music for the "Ooh Gary Davies... On Your Radio" jingle for BBC Radio 1.[13] As was the fashion around that time, bands would adapt songs to provide the radio station with a jingle, and embed the hook of the track in the public's consciousness. The Gary Davies jingle was based on their track "Smalltown Creed"[13] (from the LP The Bad and Lowdown World of the Kane Gang). The same track was used as the basis for the theme tune of long-running Children's BBC television programme Byker Grove, which launched the careers of Ant & Dec (as PJ & Duncan) and Donna Air.[14]

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart
positions
UK
[15] 		AUS
[16] 		US
[11]
The Bad and Lowdown World of the Kane Gang
  • Released: March 1985
  • Label: London Records (820215-1)
  • Also: Kitchenware Records (UK, KWLP2, 1985)
 21 65 —
Miracle
  • Released: March 1987
  • Label: London Records (828057-1)
 41 82 115

Compilation albums

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Title Album details
The Miracle of the Kane Gang

Singles

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Year Single Peak chart positions
US Hot 100
[11] 		US Adult
[11] 		US Dance
[11] 		AUS
[16] 		UK
[15]
1983 "Brother Brother" — — — — —
1984 "Smalltown Creed" — — — — 60
"Closest Thing to Heaven" — — — 57 12
"Respect Yourself" — — — 19 21
1985 "Gun Law" — — — — 53
1987 "Motortown" 36 12 — 87 45
"What Time Is It?" — — — — —
"Don't Look Any Further" 64 — 1 — 52
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

See also

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Citations

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  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2007). Joel Whitburn Presents Billboard Top Adult Songs, 1961–2006. Record Research Inc. p. 146. ISBN 978-0-89820-169-7.
  2. ^ Hustle, The (29 December 2015). "Episode 34 - Martin Brammer of The Kane Gang – The Hustle – Podcast". Podtail.
  3. ^ a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Indie and New Wave Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 155. ISBN 0-85112-579-4.
  4. ^ "THE KANE GANG". Archived from the original on 20 January 2005. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  5. ^ "The Kane Gang Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Musicvf.com. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  6. ^ "After almost 40 years, The Kane Gang are reuniting for a very special hometown show at The Fire Station on Saturday 2nd November!". X.com. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  7. ^ "Martin Brammer interview". Zioshow.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  8. ^ "Martin Brammer | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  9. ^ a b "Kane Gang: Motortown". One Hit Wonder Central. Archived from the original on 19 October 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  10. ^ "Lowdown by Kane Gang". Archived from the original on 8 October 2007.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Kane Gang | Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 19 October 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  12. ^ "The Kane Gang aided & abetted by Field Music + Special Guests". Thefirestation.org.uk.
  13. ^ a b Davies, Gary (3 October 2019). "I was young, free and single and treated like a rock star... then I got fired! Now I'm back after 25 years and I'm loving it". Daily Record. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Byker Grove - History of the BBC". BBC. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  15. ^ a b c Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 296. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  16. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 163. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
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