Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • TV by Decade
        • TV – 1950s
        • TV – 1960s
        • TV – 1970s
        • TV – 1980s
        • TV – 1990s
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Kids TV
      • Variety
      • News & Sport
      • Advertisements
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • Music – 1950s
        • Music – 1960s
        • Music – 1970s
        • Music – 1980s
        • Music – 1990s
      • Artists – A to K
        • Artists – A
        • Artists – B
        • Artists – C
        • Artists – D
        • Artists – E
        • Artists – F
        • Artists – G
        • Artists – H
        • Artists – I
        • Artists – J
        • Artists – K
      • Artists – L to Z
        • Artists – L
        • Artists – M
        • Artists – N
        • Artists – O
        • Artists – P
        • Artists – Q
        • Artists – R
        • Artists – S
        • Artists – T
        • Artists – U
        • Artists – V
        • Artists – W
        • Artists – X
        • Artists – Y
        • Artists – Z
      • Artists – 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • Movies – 1950s
        • Movies – 1960s
        • Movies – 1970s
        • Movies – 1980s
        • Movies – 1990s
      • Movies – 0 to 9
      • Movies – A to K
        • Movies – A
        • Movies – B
        • Movies – C
        • Movies – D
        • Movies – E
        • Movies – F
        • Movies – G
        • Movies – H
        • Movies – I
        • Movies – J
        • Movies – K
      • Movies – L to Z
        • Movies – L
        • Movies – M
        • Movies – N
        • Movies – O
        • Movies – P
        • Movies – Q
        • Movies – R
        • Movies – S
        • Movies – T
        • Movies – U
        • Movies – V
        • Movies – W
        • Movies – X
        • Movies – Y
        • Movies – Z
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Music»Artists - A to K»Artists - B
    Artists - B Music - 1980s 3 Mins Read

    Blue Aeroplanes, The

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    This unlikely answer to the Velvet Underground formed in Bristol, England, in the early 80s and endured endless line-up changes. Their original aim – a desire to mix rock and poetry and to involve as many musicians as possible in a communal manner – endured throughout their career.

    The nucleus of the band always included deadpan vocalist Gerard Langley, his brother John (drums/percussion), Nick Jacobs (guitar), Dave Chapman (multi-instrumentalist) and – aping the Velvets – dancer Wojtek Dmochowski.

    After a debut album for the Abstract label, Bop Art (April 1984), the band signed with the fledgeling Fire Records.

    Several well-received EPs followed – Action Painting and Other Original Works (1985), Lover and Confidante and Other Stories of Travel (1986) and Religion and Heartbreak (1986). These were followed by a second album, Tolerance (October 1986).

    The Aeroplanes third album, Spitting Out Miracles, surfaced in 1987. All were characterised by Langley’s monotone verse and a deluge of interesting instruments and sounds, albeit hinged around guitar.

    Veils Of Colour (1988) coincided with Night Tracks, their February 1987 session for BBC Radio disc jockey, Janice Long.

    A double album, Friendloverplane, neatly concluded their time with Fire, compiling the Aeroplanes’ progress to date.

    It was not until the start of the next decade that, following a stint supporting R.E.M. on a UK tour, the band re-emerged on the Ensign label with the single Jacket Hangs in January 1990 and a new album, Swagger, the following month.

    Both suggested a more direct, straightforward approach, and this was confirmed with May’s exploration into dance rock, And Stones.

    In 1991, an eight-piece line-up released the roundly acclaimed Beatsongs, co-produced by Elvis Costello and Larry Hirsch. This was their highest charting album, reaching #33 in the UK.

    A second compilation of rare B-sides and out-takes, Friendloverplane2 (Up in a Down World), was released in 1992.

    The follow-up to Beatsongs was delayed until 1994 when the album, Life Model was released on the Beggars Banquet label, followed by Rough Music in 1995. Broken & Mended from Life Model was the band’s last single to chart.

    A long break and another label change to ArtStar preceded the release of Cavaliers in 2000. The group then moved to EMI for a 2006 album of new material called Altitude, released on EMI’s Harvest imprint.

    They then recorded an album of cover versions of classic tracks originally recorded by artists signed to the Harvest label. The album, called Harvester, was released in 2007.

    Gerard Langley
    Vocals
    Nick Jacobs
    Guitar
    Dave Chapman
    Multi-instrumentalist
    John Langley
    Drums, percussion
    Wojtek Dmochowski
    Dancer
    Angelo Bruschini
    Guitar, bass, organ
    Caroline Halcrow
    Guitar
    John Stapleton
    Tapes
    Ruth Coltrane
    Bass, mandolin
    Ian Kearey
    Guitar, banjimer, harmonium
    Rodney Allen
    Guitar
    Simon Heathfield
    Bass
    Paul Mulreany
    Drums

    Video

    Related Posts

    • Sunday Painters
      Sunday Painters
      Peter McKinnon formed Sunday Painters in Wollongong on the south coast of NSW (Australia) with school friend Peter Raengel in…
    • Men They Couldn't Hang
      Men They Couldn't Hang
      Busking in Shepherd's Bush, Welsh singer Stefan Cush met up with bassist Shanne Hasler (who had been in The Nips…
    • Teenage Head
      Teenage Head
      Friends from an Ontario (Canada) high school formed Teenage Head in 1975 and released a self-titled album in 1979. It…
    • Bo Street Runners, The
      Bo Street Runners, The
      September 1964 saw the launch of the short-lived Ready Steady - Win!, a sister show to Ready Steady Go! aimed at finding…
    • Pale Fountains, The
      Pale Fountains, The
      Formed in Liverpool in the early 80s, these 60s-influenced melodic pop/rockers had an unusual instrumental line-up and were probably best…
    • Modern English
      Modern English
      Modern English was formed in Colchester, Essex, in 1977 by Robbie Grey (vocals), Gary McDowell (guitar, vocals) and Michael Conroy…
    • Sacred Cowboys, The
      Sacred Cowboys, The
      Comprised of former members of some of the most notorious punk and new wave bands in Melbourne (Australia), The Sacred…
    • Brewers Droop
      Brewers Droop
      Brewers Droop formed around High Wycombe in 1971. They played blues-based music and gigged extensively in the early days of…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleBalaam and The Angel
    Next Article Bobby Vinton

    Comments are closed.

    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    You May Also Like
    • Fugitive Kind, The (1960)
      This screen version of Tennessee Williams stage play Orpheus […]
    • Summer Season
      1 9 8 5 (UK) 25 x 55 minute episodes This anthology of 55-minute […]
    • Wizbit
      1 9 8 5 (UK) This BBC children’s television show featured […]
    • A Very British Coup
      1 9 8 8 (UK) 3 x 60 minute episodes A Very British Coup followed […]
    • Saint and Greavsie
      1 9 8 5 – 1 9 9 2 (UK) 25 minute episodes Ian St John and […]
    • Josie and the Pussycats
      1 9 7 0 – 1 9 7 2 (USA) 16 x 30 minute episodes […]
    Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

    OUR LATEST FACEBOOK POSTS

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64442824 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Television frontman Tom Verlaine dies at 73

    www.bbc.co.uk

    His band rose to fame in the 1970s New York punk scene, scoring UK hits including Marquee Moon.
    2 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64418847 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Mr Blobby costume sells for more than £62,000 on eBay

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The character, made famous by BBC show Noel's House Party, had been in storage since the 1990s.
    3 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Put some beefiness into your mid-week menu with these recipe ideas published in a Birds Eye advertisement from the Radio Times on 30 September 1965.

    Put some "beefiness into your mid-week menu" with these recipe ideas published in a Birds Eye advertisement from the "Radio Times" on 30 September 1965. ... See MoreSee Less

    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 3
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    They were awful. An overpowering savoury flavour that lingered in your mouth for hours. Heaven knows what unmentionable parts of a bull went into making them 😳

    More sad news 😪

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    US rock legend David Crosby dies aged 81

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Crosby, who co-founded both the Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash, had been ill for some time.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    This is what they promised us when I was a kid. What happened? 

All I have is 700 channels of rubbish on the TV in High Def, TikTok, Facebook and a phone I can take photographs with . . .

    This is what they promised us when I was a kid. What happened?

    All I have is 700 channels of rubbish on the TV in High Def, TikTok, Facebook and a phone I can take photographs with . . .
    ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 54
    • Shares: 22
    • Comments: 7

    Comment on Facebook

    I thought we would have moving pavements by now when I was a kid 😂

    Totally agree!!!

    The new Tesla, 4.6 next century.

    We got transvestite story hour instead

    We appear to be going backwards

    There's actually a very good David Graeber essay on this very topic: thebaffler.com/salvos/of-flying-cars-and-the-declining-rate-of-profit

    The Jetsons strike again.

    View more comments

    Renowned Australian singer Renee Geyer is dead at 69 following complications from hip surgery. Such a fabulous voice. RIP😢

https://nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-l-to-z/artists-r/renee-geyer/

    Renowned Australian singer Renee Geyer is dead at 69 following complications from hip surgery. Such a fabulous voice. RIP😢

    nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-l-to-z/artists-r/renee-geyer/
    ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    That is so sad to hear 😥 rest in peace 🙏 🕊 xx

    Gina Lollobrigida: Italian screen star dies at 95
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64292026

    Gina Lollobrigida: Italian screen star dies at 95
    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64292026
    ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    😍😍😍😍

    Vale Jeff Beck. Dead at 78. 😢

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Jeff Beck: British guitar legend dies aged 78

    www.bbc.co.uk

    One of rock's most influential guitarists, he was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice.
    3 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 1
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Hi everyone. Were in the process of moving www.nostalgiacentral.com to new dedicated servers to better cope with the volumes of traffic. Please ignore any SSL security errors you may receive when visiting the site over the next 24 hours while the move completes.

    Hi everyone. We're in the process of moving www.nostalgiacentral.com to new dedicated servers to better cope with the volumes of traffic. Please ignore any SSL security errors you may receive when visiting the site over the next 24 hours while the move completes. ... See MoreSee Less

    3 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 5
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 2

    Comment on Facebook

    Ironically, this post has jumped off the page at me. You'll probably get most traffic today because everyone will want to see what they might be missing!

    Martin Platt

    RIP Fred White, drummer with Earth, Wind and Fire, who has died aged 67. 😢

    RIP Fred White, drummer with Earth, Wind and Fire, who has died aged 67. 😢 ... See MoreSee Less

    4 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 2
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    Great band

    Load more
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Popular Tags
    1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1975 1976 Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games Britpop Canada Crime Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen Labels Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Power Pop Pub rock Punk Radio Scotland Ska Soul music Sport Surf music
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.