Cutting Crew
Fronted by vocalist/guitarist Nick Van Eede (b. Nicholas Van Eede, 14 June 1958, East Grinstead, West Sussex, England), Cutting Crew was formed when he began working with Canadian guitarist Kevin Scott MacMichael (b. Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada). The duo came together when MacMichael's group Fast Forward were supporting Van Eede's unit the Drivers on a Canadian tour. The two subsequently recorded some demos in Toronto and during 1986 added Colin Farley (b. 24 February 1959; bass) and Martin Beadle (b. 18 September 1961, Hull, North Humberside, England; drums) to form Cutting Crew. The title of their debut single (I Just) Died In Your Arms was a phrase Van Eede coined after making love to his girlfriend. The memorable song reached number 4 in the UK but surpassed expectations by climbing to number 1 in the USA in the spring of 1987. A further US Top 40 hit followed with the frantic One For The Mockingbird, backed with the anti-cocaine Mirror And A Blade. The plaintive I've Been In Love Before returned them to the US Top 10 later that year, yet the single would struggle to reach the UK Top 30 the following year after its third chart entry. Despite Van Eede's competent songwriting and Sting-like good looks, the group have yet to reach the arena audiences for which much of their repertoire, arrangements and production seem ideally suited.