About The Real People
The Real People are an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1986. The band currently consists of Tony Griffiths , Chris Griffiths , Martin Lappin , Tony McGuigan , and James Breckon .
Formed in 1986 by the Griffiths brothers, the band was initially known as JoJo and the Real People with Dave Reilly , Jay Norton , Phil Coxon , and Gordon Morgan , although Norton departed from the band prior to any studio recordings. They released a few singles which were not a success. Following the shortened name change, Tony Elson replaced Reilly on drums, and Sean Simpson replaced Morgan and Coxon on guitars. After a debut album in 1988, The Real People found success in 1991 with their self-titled album.
Despite a few singles charting in the UK, the band's follow-up album in 1992 was cancelled by the band's label, and Simpson departed from the band. The Real People then discarded the material and focused on another album, which was released in 1996. Around that time, the lineup changed numerous times, until the band went on a hiatus in 1998. They reformed for a few live shows in 2002, followed by another reunion in 2008 which eventually spawned two albums in 2010 and 2016.
Initially called JoJo & the Real People, the band started playing in local clubs and later toured as support act for the Inspiral Carpets, Ocean Colour Scene, the Pixies, Simple Minds, David Bowie, and others throughout the 1990s and onwards.
The group signed a management deal with local entrepreneur Mick Swift of Whitehouse Management, Bold Street, Liverpool in 1986. Their first record deal was brokered with Polydor Records in 1987, after Swift had persuaded Eddie Lundon of Kirkby band China Crisis to produce the demo of their debut single "One by One". The band also signed a publishing deal with Polygram. After "One by One", which would become a Top 10 hit for Cher in 1996, the band released a cover of Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan's "Lady Marmalade", which was produced by Phil Harding at PWL with Stock Aitken Waterman acting as executive producers. Even though both songs would provide Top Ten hits for other artists in the 1990s, neither song charted for JoJo & The Real People in the 1980s.
The band self-released Mini L.P. in 1988. The following year, now managed by Jeffrey Abbotts, they were signed as the Real People by CBS on the Columbia label, although CBS were subsequently bought out by Sony. During this time, under the management of Jeffrey Abbotts, they toured extensively, including a major tour of the US, Japan, Europe, etc. etc. They released their self-titled major label debut album The Real People on 6 May 1991. All the songs were written by Chris and Tony Griffiths. This reached the number 59 in the UK Albums Chart. They recorded the follow-up album, Marshmellow Lane, for CBS, but although the Chris Allison produced "Believer", the first single from the album, charted at No. 38 and another single, "Too Much Too Young", appeared soon afterwards, the album was never actually released. Several tracks subsequently appeared on a two band compilation album called Liverpool – The Calm Before the Storm, released in 1996 on the Columbia label. Tony and Chris Griffiths went on to set up their own recording studio in Birkenhead, Wirral, and started their own label Egg Records.
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