About The Real People
The Real People are an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1988. The band currently consists of Anthony "Tony" Griffiths , Chris Griffiths , Martin Lappin and Tony McGuigan .
Formed in 1987 by brothers Christopher and Anthony Griffiths, the original line-up consisted of Chris Griffiths , Tony Griffiths , Dave Reilly , Jay Norton , and Gordon Morgan . Tony Elson replaced Dave Reilly on drums and was later replaced by Garry Ford. Gordon Morgan was replaced by Phil Coxon, Sean Simpson, followed by Alan Gillibrand, then by Ian 'Sitar'.
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.
Their next album, What's on the Outside, was released independently under their own label on 4 November 1996. It was critically acclaimed but failed to make the charts. Although another album called Closer was reported to be in preparation in 2002, it was never released.
Map & Directions To Venue
