Funkapolitan

Last updated

Funkapolitan
Origin London
Genres
Years active1980–82
Labels London
Past membersNick Jones
Toby Anderson
Kadir Guirey
Sagat Guirey
Guy Pratt
Simon Olivierre
Tony Dixon [1]
Greg Craig
Doria Craig

Funkapolitan was a British soul band active in the 1980s.

Contents

Overview

The band was formed in 1980, by lyricist Nick Jones and musician Toby Anderson, in Anderson's bathroom, where he kept a Vox organ, [2] with the aim of "forming a hard funk outfit which would render current disco obsolete." [3] Jones and Anderson chose the name by portmanteauing the band Funkadelic and the magazine Cosmopolitan. [4] Percussionist Greg [5] and backing vocalist Doria Craig [6] were siblings of Mikey Craig of Culture Club, and guitarists Kadir and Sagat Guirey were White Russian royalty. [7]

The band's first gig was at Kensington Market later in the year [8] and, with the band earning high-profile support slots with The Clash and Simple Minds, [9] as well as coverage from Peter York in Harpers & Queen, [10] the band signed to London Records, which teamed them with August Darnell as producer, [11] and Roxy Music stylist Antony Price as tailor. [12]

The band's first single, "As Time Goes By", penned by Anderson and Jones, was released in July 1981. In September, despite the single only being at number 47 in the UK Singles Chart, the band was invited to perform the playout on Top Of The Pops, [13] although the publicity was not enough to send the single into the top 40.

London released two more singles and a self-titled album in 1982, but none reached the charts, and the band broke up. Two members formed Loansharks [14] and bassist Tom Dixon became an industrial designer who was awarded the MBE. [15] Anderson continued as a songwriter and co-wrote all of the tracks on the Curiosity Killed The Cat album Keep Your Distance . [16]

Discography

Albums

Singles

YearSinglePeak chart positions
UK
[17]
1981"As Time Goes By"
41
1982"In The Crime Of Life"
–
1982"Run Run Run"
–
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

References

  1. ↑ Betts, Graham (2004). Complete UK Hit Singles. UK: Collins. p. 303.
  2. ↑ "Rocking the nation". South Wales Argus: 4. 22 August 1981.
  3. ↑ "Sounds funky". Manchester Evening News: 13. 8 September 1981.
  4. ↑ Mills, Simon (7 October 2021). "Are you a 'jiving funkapolitan?". The Times.
  5. ↑ "Mikey's culture shock". Harlow Star: 15. 17 November 1983.
  6. ↑ "The real swing". Evening Standard: 149. 11 July 1989.
  7. ↑ "Toff of the pops". Sunday Telegraph: 144. 6 July 1997.
  8. ↑ "James Lebon". Independent: 34. 26 January 2009.
  9. ↑ Cooke, Rachel. "Tom Dixon: 'I design for longevity, and I want something to be anti-fashion". Guardian. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  10. ↑ May 1981 issue
  11. ↑ "Taking the rap". Evening Advertiser (Wiltshire): 4. 4 June 1982.
  12. ↑ Mills, Simon (7 October 2021). "Are you a 'jiving funkapolitan?". The Times.
  13. ↑ "03/09/1981". Top of the Pops Archive.
  14. ↑ "Cowboy congress". Evening Standard: 36. 4 May 1988.
  15. ↑ Law, Katie (16 September 2015). "Copper king". Evening Standard: A48.
  16. ↑ Phillips, Matt. "Curiosity Killed The Cat: Keep Your Distance 30 Years On". Moving the river. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  17. ↑ "Funkapolitan". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
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