Formed in the mid-1970s by Birmingham school friends Lol Mason (whose father, Edward J. Mason, was the creator and original scriptwriter of The Archers) and Steve Broughton, City Boy (originally called Sons Of Doloyne and then, Back In The Band) secured a recording contract with Vertigo and released their eponymous debut album in 1975.
Their debut single – Shake My Head and Leave – went largely unnoticed, but their second single, The Hap-Ki-Do Kid, earned them a spot on BBC’s Top of the Pops.
The follow-up album, Dinner at the Ritz, received rave reviews, but chart success still eluded them. Their third album, Young Men Gone West, also failed to supply a hit single.
Shortly after Roy Ward became the band’s new drummer, the album Book Early yielded the 1978 hit single, 5.7.0.5, which reached the top 10 in the UK, #27 in the US and was a major hit in many European countries.
Signing with Atlantic Records for the US and Canada in 1979, the album The Day the Earth Caught Fire received strong reviews, and the band toured heavily in Europe, the US and Canada.
Original members Broughton and Dunn left the band in December 1979 and the remaining group members released their next album, Heads Are Rolling, as a quartet in 1980.
Their final album, It’s Personal (1981), failed to attract any attention. Unable to secure a recording contract with any of the major labels, the band split up in 1982.
After the split, Lol Mason formed the short-lived group The Maisonettes which had a top ten UK hit with Heartache Avenue (1983).
Laurence “Lol” Mason died on 30 July 2019 from a heart attack at his home in Harborne, Birmingham, after complications following a kidney transplant. He was 69.
Lol Mason
Vocals Steve Broughton
Vocals, guitar Chris Dunn
Bass Max Thomas
Keyboards, vocals Roger Kent
Drums Mike Slamer
Guitar Roy Ward
Drums, vocals
Video
You May Also Like
Big In Japan Few other groups in the post-punk era can claim to have launched so many successful careers…
Geordie Often referred to as 'Newcastle's answer to Slade', Geordie scored a handful of hits across Europe…
Cake, The Formed in 1966, this trio of brash and beautiful teenage girls from New York City -…
Counting Crows Formed in San Francisco in 1991, Counting Crows released their Van Morrison-inspired tunes on the multiplatinum-selling…
Strider Taking their name from Lord of the Rings, Strider was formed by guitarist Gary Grainger, keyboard player…
Stiff Little Fingers While many of the punks with whom they shared a stage opted for a brand of…
Cosmic Psychos Formed in January 1985, The Cosmic Psychos were a mean-looking but gentle-hearted trio from Melbourne who…
Child Hailing from Yorkshire, Child was discovered in a village garage by businessman Michael Devere, who became…
