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Martin Kelly (born 17 July 1965, RAF Akrotiri, Akrotiri and Dhekelia) is a musician, music manager, record label boss, music publisher and author. Best known as Jeff Barrett's partner at Heavenly Recordings, a British independent record label run by the pair between 1993 and 2009.
Kelly was born in Cyprus, the son of an RAF Squadron leader Michael "Manx" Kelly, who would later go on to form the Rothmans aerobatic display team.
The family relocated to the UK when his father was posted to Bomber Command in 1968, Kelly grew up near Princes Risborough in Buckinghamshire. The death of his father in May 1976 and the advent of punk rock profoundly affected him, and by the late 70s he was obsessed with music and had begun playing guitar and bass in various school bands.
In 1983, aged 17, Kelly formed a new group Episode Four with his brother Paul Kelly, Johnny Wood and Spencer Smith. Episode Four managed only one EP release, the 1986 12" 'Strike Up Matches' which has gone on to become one of the most collectable singles of the C86 indie era.
In late 1986 Episode Four crossed paths with Head Records boss and Creation Records PR man Jeff Barrett. Barrett wanted to sign the band to Head but suggested they came up with a new name first. The debut East Village single was recorded just as the Head label folded in 1987. Barrett then launched the new label imprint Sub Aqua and East Village released two EPs in 1987 and 1988. In 1989 the band began work on their debut album "Drop Out". Regarded by some as a lost classic, the album was released in 1993, two years after the band had split. Prices on original Episode Four and East Village records continue to rise and the band have achieved something of a cult status.
During the later part of his time with East Village Kelly began working for Jeff Barrett at his independent press company Capersville, assisting with PR duties for a wide range of artists including the Happy Mondays, Primal Scream, New Order and My Bloody Valentine. During this time Barrett and Kelly became close friends and in 1990 Barrett hatched the idea for a new label Heavenly. [1] [2] Over the next 20 years Heavenly would launch the careers of Saint Etienne, Manic Street Preachers, Beth Orton, Ed Harcourt, Doves and The Magic Numbers. After a brief stint in 1992 when Kelly worked for Alan McGee at Creation Records, in 1993 Barrett asked him to become his partner at the label. At that time Kelly had begun managing one of the labels key acts, Saint Etienne, something he does to this day. In 1994 Kelly was involved in starting up The Heavenly Social club with Jeff Barrett, Robin Turner and Nick Dewey. The Social proved to be a pivotal moment in London club culture as it spawned a musical genre, big beat. Kelly is still a partner in The Social, a 7 days a week, nightclub and bar in central London. In 2009 Kelly switched his focus from recorded music to song publishing and set up Heavenly Songs Limited via Bucks Music in early 2010.
June 2010 saw the publication of Kelly's first book Fender: The Golden Age 1946–1970. [3] Written by Kelly and Terry Foster, designed and photographed by his brother Paul, the book is a detailed account of the early years of Fender musical instruments, when the company still had connections with its creator Leo Fender. It has been published in several languages around the world. November 2021 saw the publication of Kelly's second book: Rickenbacker Guitars: From the Frying Pan into the Fireglo, written by Kelly and designed and photographed by his brother Paul, with a foreword by Ron O'Keefe. Kelly is currently researching a new book on the subject of Vox guitars manufactured during the 1960s.
As manager of Saint Etienne, Kelly was involved in the production of three feature-length films made by the band and Paul Kelly between 2004 and 2008. The first Finisterre, a documentary about London (directed by Paul Kelly and Kieran Evans), was released to coincide with Saint Etienne's album of the same name and met with huge critical acclaim. What Have You Done Today, Mervyn Day? (2005) and This Is Tomorrow (2007) both directed by Paul Kelly further cemented the team's reputation for producing high quality documentaries. In autumn 2010 brothers Paul and Martin set up Heavenly Films Limited with Bob Stanley from Saint Etienne and Kieran Evans with the intention of producing a series of new documentary films.
Kelly married Sarah Cracknell of Saint Etienne in 2004.
Saint Etienne is an English band from Greater London, formed in 1990. The band consists of Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs. Commonly associated with the indie dance scene of the 1990s, their music blends club culture with 1960s pop and other disparate influences.
Heavenly Recordings is a London-based independent record label founded by Jeff Barrett in 1990. Heavenly released the first albums from Saint Etienne, Beth Orton and Doves, and early singles by Manic Street Preachers. Current Heavenly artists include Stealing Sheep, Mattiel, The Orielles, Confidence Man, audiobooks, Pip Blom, H. Hawkline, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Gwenno Saunders, Amber Arcades, Tapir!, Working Men's Club, Katy J Pearson and CHAI.
Freddy Fender was an American Tejano singer-songwriter, known for his work as a solo artist and in the groups Los Super Seven and the Texas Tornados. His signature sound fused country, rock, swamp pop and Tex-Mex styles.
Tales from Turnpike House is the seventh studio album by English alternative dance band Saint Etienne, released on 13 June 2005 by Sanctuary Records. It is a concept album in which the songs depict characters who all live in the eponymous block of flats in London.
Finisterre is the sixth studio album by English alternative dance band Saint Etienne, released on 7 October 2002 by Mantra Records. A double-disc deluxe edition was released on 3 May 2010 by Heavenly Records.
Sarah Jane Cracknell is an English singer-songwriter and lead singer of the electronic music band Saint Etienne.
Sound of Water is an album by Saint Etienne, released in 2000. Sound of Water was developed as Saint Etienne's ambient and trip hop statement.
Foxbase Alpha is the debut studio album by English band Saint Etienne, released on 16 September 1991 by Heavenly Recordings.
Bob Stanley is a British musician, journalist, author, and film producer. He is a member of the indie pop group Saint Etienne and has had a parallel career as a music journalist and author, writing for NME, Melody Maker, Mojo, The Guardian and The Times, as well as writing several books on music and football. His second publication, Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!: The Story of Modern Pop, was published by Faber & Faber in 2013. His third publication Let's Do It: The Birth of Pop Music: A History was published by Pegasus in 2022. He also has a career as a DJ and as a producer of record labels, and has collaborated on a series of films about London.
Peter Stewart Wiggs is an English musician and DJ from Reigate, Surrey.
Ian Catt is a British record producer and multi-instrumentalist associated with several popular indie groups, including Saint Etienne, with whom he has been a touring member. He has also collaborated with Saint Etienne's vocalist Sarah Cracknell on her solo album, Lipslide. Catt also produced several albums for Heavenly and is a long-standing collaborator of Bobby Wratten, working with his groups The Field Mice, Northern Picture Library, Trembling Blue Stars and Occasional Keepers. He was also an official member of the latter group for a short time. His solo project, Katmandu, released a single and album on the Vinyl Japan label in 1994.
Dolly Mixture were an English rock band, formed in 1978 by the bassist and vocalist Debsey Wykes, guitarist and vocalist Rachel Bor, and drummer Hester Smith. They had a taste of top 40 success performing backing vocals for the Captain Sensible hit "Wot", a top 10 hit with Sensible on "Glad It's All Over", and a UK No. 1 hit backing Sensible on his 1982 cover of "Happy Talk". Rachel Bor also featured on the Animus/Loose Records single "Wot NO Meat?" also by Captain Sensible in 1985. Bor and Wykes performed together on 24 April 2013 at the Islington Assembly Hall in London.
Formed in the mid-1980s by two brothers, Martin and Paul Kelly, East Village were an indie pop band from Princes Risborough, England.
Shawn Lee is an American musician, producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist. He is the co-founder of London-based yacht rock duo Young Gun Silver Fox, along with Andy Platts. He is known for creating the entire score for the acclaimed video game Bully. His song, Kiss the Sky, was featured in the Telltale video game Tales from the Borderlands. He is currently working on an upcoming album Janktone Productions, composed primarily of cheap and fun home-made instruments. There is no set release date. He currently lives in London, England.
Kevin Pearce is a music journalist and author. He is best known for the cult music book, Something Beginning With O, published by Heavenly Records in May 1993.
Moira Lambert is a British singer and recording artist. She collaborated with the electronica group Saint Etienne on the Neil Young cover "Only Love Can Break Your Heart".
Paul Kelly is an English film director, musician, photographer and designer.
Words and Music by Saint Etienne is the eighth studio album by English alternative dance band Saint Etienne, released on 18 May 2012 by Heavenly Recordings. The band announced the album in a Christmas message on their official website on 11 December 2011. The album features collaborations from longtime Saint Etienne associate Ian Catt, as well as Richard X and former Xenomania members Tim Powell and Nick Coler.
Kieran John Evans is a Welsh film director and screenwriter whose work includes music videos, film and documentaries. His 2012 film Kelly + Victor, produced by Janine Marmot, saw Evans awarded the BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer at the 2014 BAFTAs.
James Walbourne is a British singer, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist. He is the current lead guitarist in The Pretenders as well as one-half of The Rails.
https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-observer/20190317/281689731140914
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