The Chameleons

The atmospheric pop outfit the Chameleons came together in Manchester, England, during 1981, assembled from the remnants of several area outfits. Vocalist and bassist Mark Burgess had previously played in the Cliches, guitarists Reg Smithies and Dave Fielding came out of the Years, and drummer John Lever—quickly stepping in for original member Brian Schofield—had started with the Politicians. Following a string of prominent BBC sessions that raised their profile, the Chameleons landed a deal with Epic and issued their taut, brooding debut single “In Shreds,” helmed by producer Steve Lillywhite, in March 1982.

Dropped by Epic shortly afterward, the group moved to Statik and delivered its first album, Script of the Bridge, in 1983. What Does Anything Mean? Basically appeared two years later, revealing a heightened emphasis on polished production values. Geffen subsequently signed the quartet, which unveiled Strange Times in 1986. That intricate, shadowy release became the band’s last statement when it disbanded after the unexpected passing of manager Tony Fletcher. Burgess and Lever carried on together in the Sun & the Moon, while Smithies and Fielding later formed the Reegs. Burgess issued his debut solo album, Zima Junction, in 1993 and, with his group the Sons of God, toured the United States the next year.

Throughout the remainder of the decade the four musicians maintained both their individual projects and personal contact, making a return to collective work feel unavoidable. They regrouped in January 2000 to prepare three May performances in England. The acoustic, self-released Strip reached audiences at those shows, though only in limited quantities. More European concerts took place over the summer, and by autumn the Chameleons UK performed their initial American dates in close to fifteen years. A handful of live documents surfaced soon after. Why Call It Anything? arrived in 2001 as the band’s first studio album since Strange Times, followed two years later by This Never Ending Now.