Age of Chance
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Headquarters | Leeds , England |
Area served | United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Age of Chance was a British band from Leeds, England, active between 1983 and 1991, known for merging alternative rock with dance elements. They gained recognition primarily for their distinctive metallic reinterpretation of Prince's "Kiss", which topped the UK Indie Chart in 1986 and reached number 50 on the UK Singles Chart in January 1987. Although they signed with major label Virgin and received considerable support from UK music press, they did not secure a major UK chart hit. However, their track "Don't Get Mad… Get Even" climbed to number 8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play chart.
Their sound was an eclectic fusion of punk, hip hop, industrial rock, and Northern soul. Vocalist Steven E was known for his unique nasal delivery, frequently amplified through a megaphone. The band’s eye-catching cover designs were produced in partnership with The Designers Republic, a studio renowned for pioneering graphic design. Notably, Age of Chance became the first group to be remixed by Public Enemy’s Hank Shocklee and Carl Ryder, who reimagined the track "Take It" from their 1988 album 1000 Years of Trouble. Their contemporaries included early UK acts such as Pop Will Eat Itself, Coldcut, and the JAMMs, all of whom combined rock guitar riffs with dance rhythms and sampling techniques.
History
The band was founded by Steve Elvidge, a native of Leeds and alumnus of St Michael's College. Guitarist Neil Howson also originated from Leeds and studied at Jacob Kramer College of Art. Geoff Taylor, from Liverpool, and Jan Perry, hailing from Stockport, both attended Leeds Polytechnic (now Leeds Beckett University).
Age of Chance first attracted nationwide attention in 1985 when their debut single "Motorcity/ Everlasting Yeah," released on their own Riot Bible label, received strong support from BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel. This exposure led to a Peel session recorded at Maida Vale Studios, featuring tracks such as "Going, Going Gone Man" and "I Don't Know and I Don't Care," which were subsequently re-recorded for the compilation Gunfire and Pianos.
Their second independently financed single, "Bible of the Beats" / "Liquid Jungle" (January 1986), secured them inclusion on the influential NME C86 compilation with the song "From Now On, This Will Be Your God." The band made their London debut during ICA Rock Week in July 1986 and recorded a second Peel session that included "Kiss," coinciding with the single’s chart success.
Signing with Sheffield-based independent label Fon allowed the release of "Kiss," its remixes, and the six-track mini-album Crush Collision. The track "Kiss" achieved number 2 in John Peel's Festive Fifty for 1986.
In January 1987, Age of Chance joined Virgin Records and embarked on a UK tour. They recorded a session for Janice Long featuring "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Noise," then collaborated with producer Howard Gray on their Virgin debut single "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Noise/Big Bad Rap," followed by the album One Thousand Years of Trouble. Their second single under Virgin, "Don't Get Mad, Get Even," released in October 1987, gained further visibility as Channel 4’s theme tune for American Football from 1988 through 1991. Recording sessions for their sophomore Virgin album took place at Rockfield Studios in Wales.
Original frontman Steven-E left the group in September 1988 during the recording sessions for their second album. Charles Hutchinson was brought in January 1989 to re-record vocals on the album, which was eventually released as Mecca in 1990. Its lead single "Higher Than Heaven" reached number 53 on UK charts despite being selected as BBC Radio 1 breakfast show listeners’ record of the week. After Hutchinson’s departure, Jan Perry briefly took over vocal responsibilities before the band dissolved in 1991.
Cover art
The band crafted a distinctive visual style, beginning with their unique cycling jerseys—an idea sparked by observing a cyclist at The Faversham pub in Leeds—and extending to their album artwork. Their initial singles showcased punk-inspired collage graphics featuring phrases such as "Stay Young!! Say Yeah!! Call Each Other Bay-Beah!!" and "You CAN live forever with the Age of Chance." These creative concepts were handed over to The Designers Republic, who produced memorable cover designs for the Kiss releases and the 1987 Virgin Records editions. The sleeve for Don't Get Mad ... Get Even earned a spot in Q magazine's list of the 100 Best Record Covers of All Time (2001), lauded for its complex, provocative imagery combining slogans with bar codes, cruise missiles, and a portrait of Valentina Tereshkova.
Designer Ian Anderson remarked that the visual approach embodied a philosophy merging punk ethos with disco flair to elicit strong audience reactions. He acknowledged the band’s role in shaping the visual vocabulary that made the covers appear almost self-designed.
Line-up
- Steven Elvidge (vocals)
- Geoff Taylor (bass guitar)
- Neil Howson (lead guitar)
- Jan Perry (percussion)
- Charles Hutchinson (vocals on Mecca)
Albums
- Kiss Crush Collision (mini LP, 1986) – reached No. 4 on the UK Indie Chart
- One Thousand Years of Trouble (1987)
- Mecca (1990)
Singles
- "Motorcity" (1985) – UK Indie No. 26
- "Bible of the Beats" (1986) – UK Indie No. 3
- "The Twilight World of Sonic Disco EP" (a compilation of first two 7" singles, 1986)
- "Kiss" (1986) – UK Indie No. 1 (reissued 1987), UK No. 50, NZ No. 21
- "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Noise" (1987) – NZ No. 34
- "Don't Get Mad ... Get Even" (1987)
- "Take It!" (1988)
- "Time's Up" (1989)
- "Higher Than Heaven" (1990)
- "Playing with Fire" (1990)
- "Slow Motion Riot" (1991)
- "She Is Filled with Secrets" (1991)