Deuce (band)
| Company type | Pop ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Tom Watkins |
| Defunct | 1997 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Music recordings, singles, albums |
Deuce was a UK-based pop ensemble active between 1994 and 1997, recognized for achieving four singles within the top 30 of the UK charts during 1995 and 1996. The group consisted of two male and two female members, initially assembled by manager Tom Watkins alongside Kelly O'Keefe, who took on lead vocal duties. Other members included Lisa Armstrong, Craig Robert Young, Paul Holmes, and Amanda Perkins.
Career
Established in 1994 by Watkins—who had previously managed prominent acts such as the Pet Shop Boys and East 17—Deuce featured a boy/girl band dynamic combined with O'Keefe's unique vocal style. Their first release, "Call It Love", reached number 11 on the UK Singles Chart in January 1995. The subsequent single, "I Need You," participated in the UK's Eurovision selection process and climbed to number 10 in April 1995. Another track, "On the Bible", attained position 13, while their album On the Loose! peaked at number 18.
A fourth single titled "Let's Call It a Day" was planned but ultimately shelved following O'Keefe's exit from the band in late 1995. Deuce also took part in the charity record "The Gift of Christmas" as members of Child Liners; this single reached number 9 in the UK and supported the British charity Childline. Additionally, they recorded "Life on the Street" for the Coronation Street anniversary compilation.
Following O'Keefe's departure, Deuce was dropped by London Records but later signed with Mike Stock's Love This label. Amanda Perkins joined as the new lead singer. Their July 1996 single "No Surrender" peaked at number 29. Towards the end of 1996, they focused efforts on the Australian market with moderate success for "On the Bible" and issued a remix of "No Surrender" in 1997 that did not achieve significant chart impact. Prior to their Australian launch, Craig Young departed and was replaced by Clinton. Shortly thereafter, Deuce disbanded; an Australian double CD edition of On the Loose! was released featuring additional tracks and remixes.
After the group's dissolution, Craig Young pursued acting roles including appearances on MTV UK and television series like Dream Team and Lost. Lisa Armstrong transitioned into a professional make-up artist career. Paul Holmes became a songwriter for international pop performers such as Robin Gibb. In 2017, On the Loose! saw a digital re-release which revived interest in their musical catalog.
Albums
- On the Loose! (1995) – Reached No. 18 on the UK Albums Chart
Singles
| Year | Single | Highest chart positions | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | AUS | IRE | ISR | |||||
| 1995 | "Call It Love" | 11 | — | 14 | 1 | On the Loose! | ||
| "I Need You" | 10 | — | 14 | 2 | ||||
| "On the Bible" | 13 | 27 | — | 2 | ||||
| 1996 | "No Surrender" | 29 | 115 | — | — | non-album single | ||
| "—" indicates singles that did not chart or were not released. | ||||||||