Biography by Yahoo!
This UK indie band was formed
in London, England, in the summer of 1987, by songwriters David Gavurin (b.
4 April 1963, England; guitar) and Harriet Wheeler (b. 26 June 1963, England;
vocals), who had already gained prior singing experience in a band called Jim
Jiminee. Later joined by the rhythm section of Paul Brindley (b. 6 November
1963, England; bass) and Patrick Hannan (b. 4 March 1966, England; drums), the
Sundays' debut live performance at the seminal Falcon "Vertigo Club"
in Camden Town, London, in August 1988, sparked off abnormally excessive interest
from both media and record business circles. Playing what many perceived to
be a delicate, flawless mix of the Smiths' guitars and the Cocteau Twins' vocal
acrobatics, the band's high profile ensured a Top 50 place in the UK pop charts
for their debut single, "Can't Be Sure", in early 1989. The song topped
the independent charts for two months. Despite this dramatic arrival, the Sundays
did not capitalize on their success until exactly a year later, when Reading,
Writing And Arithmetic took everyone by surprise by entering the UK pop chart
at number 4. Despite these rapid advances, the Sundays are notorious for being
slow songwriters - legend has it that their label, Rough Trade Records, wanted
to release a single from the album but the band did not have any other material
for a b-side. This was to be their last release for two years, as touring commitments
took the quartet to Europe, Japan and the equally reverential America, where
Rolling Stone magazine had voted the Sundays Best Foreign Newcomer and their
debut album had broken into the Top 40. Financial difficulties at their label
also held-up proceedings. They sought a new record contract, eventually signing
to Parlophone Records in January 1992. A second album was not completed until
October of that year, and reactions, though not unkind, lacked the fervour that
had greeted their debut (reissued on Parlophone Records in 1996). After an even
longer sabbatical the band returned in 1997 with a surprise hit single, "Summertime",
and Static And Silence, which showed little sign of any musical progress. Wheeler's
vocals still floated effortlessly over the music, but critical reaction saw
the band as an anachronism. A cover version of the band's "Here's Where
The Story Ends" by UK dance music act Tin Tin Out, featuring the vocals
of Shelley Nelson, reached UK number 7 in March 1998.