EMF
Pop/rock band from the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England, formed in late 1989. The band; James Atkin (b. 28 March, 1969; vocals), Ian Dench (guitar/keyboards), Derry Brownson (keyboards/samples), Zak Foley (bass), and Mark Decloedt (drums) plus DJ Milf, performed live for the first time on the 29th of December 1989. All members had previously been in local indie bands; notably Dench, the eldest, in Apple Mosaic, and Foley in the IUC's. A lot of speculation remains over the origins of the name EMF. The band claimed Espon Mad Funkers or more controversially, and more attractive to the gutter newspapers; Ecstacy Mother Fuckers. EMI countered that it stood for Every Mothers' Favourites, which is hard to give credence to with regard to the band's notorious touring antics. Their record company had actually signed them after just four gigs and without the advance warning of a demo. However, their opportunism was rewarded when the debut single Unbelievable became a big hit. The follow-up, I Believe was criticised in many quarters for being a straightforward rewrite, while many were also saying that the band had stolen Jesus Jones' pop/sample thunder. However, their ability to win over the teen-pop market hasn't dampened the enthusiasm with which they have been greeted by mainstream rock media. Together with the aforementioned Jesus Jones, the band have been particularly successful in cracking the US, where the media bracketed them as part of a new 'British Invasion'.