James (GB)

About

Few bands have built a fanbase the way James did, selling T shirts across Manchester before they ever cracked the Top 40. Formed in 1982, the group earned their stripes as a relentless live act, a reputation that outlasted label disputes, lineup shuffles, and even a years long hiatus. Their run in the 1990s was something else entirely, four top 10 UK singles including the anthemic "Sit Down" and the quietly devastating "Laid", plus nine top 10 albums and over 25 million records sold worldwide. Lead singer Tim Booth's departure in 2001 put things on ice, but the band came back together in 2007 and have kept releasing music ever since, adding seven more albums to their catalogue. The core of what makes James tick has always been the live show, big, communal, and emotionally charged. Recent uploads of live performances of "Born Of Frustration" and "She's A Star" suggest they are still very much in their element on stage.