Flowered Up

Flowered Up

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1989
Headquarters	London , England
Products	Indie pop, alternative dance music

Flowered Up was a London-based English band from Camden Town, established in 1989, known for their contributions to the indie pop and alternative dance scenes during the baggy era. Their notable single "Weekender", lasting 13 minutes, achieved a position within the UK top 20 charts. The group disbanded in 1994 amid struggles with substance abuse. After an unsuccessful reunion attempt in 2007 and a collapsed solo contract, lead vocalist Liam Maher passed away due to a heroin overdose in 2009, with his brother Joe dying in 2012 from prolonged health complications.

Career

The band originated in mid-1989, founded by vocalist Liam Maher alongside his longtime associate Darren 'Des' Penney, who contributed to lyric writing and managed the group. The original members also included drummer John O'Brien, guitarist and bassist Joe Maher, and guest keyboardist Simon Gannon. Subsequent lineup alterations led to the inclusion of keyboardist Tim Dorney and drummer John Tuvey, while dancer Barry Mooncult joined to elevate their live performances.

After releasing two modestly successful singles—"It's On" and "Phobia"—under Heavenly Records, Flowered Up secured a deal with London Records and produced their only album, A Life with Brian, in 1991. This record featured reworked versions of earlier tracks alongside popular live numbers; notably, "Take It" incorporated lyrics penned by Joe Strummer. Prior to the album launch, the band graced the covers of both Melody Maker and NME magazines.

Their most prominent offering was the extended 13-minute single "Weekender", released through Heavenly Records with a music video directed by W.I.Z., starring actors Lee Whitlock and Anna Haigh. Despite resisting edits suitable for conventional radio formats—issuing only two ineffective shortened versions—the track became their highest-charting single, reaching number 20 on the UK Singles Chart. Following high-profile struggles with drug use and unproductive recording sessions, Flowered Up ultimately dissolved. Keyboardist Tim Dorney went on to establish Republica.

London Records later re-released A Life with Brian under the title The Best of Flowered Up, which included the original version of "Weekender". Plans for a reunion tour in 2007 were abandoned after Dorney chose not to participate.

Liam Maher succumbed to a heroin overdose in October 2009 at age 41; Joe Maher died three years later in November 2012.

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of "Weekender," Heavenly Records issued a limited edition vinyl pressing in 2021 alongside the publication of the book Believe in Magic. In 2019, director W.I.Z. updated the iconic "Weekender" video for its anticipated debut on DVD.

The restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic facilitated the creation of I Am Weekender, a documentary examining the song’s cultural significance, featuring insights from Lynne Ramsay, Irvine Welsh, Jeremy Deller, among others. Directed by Chloe Raunet, it premiered in June 2023 via BFI and Heavenly Films before screening at venues across Glasgow, London, Glastonbury, Belfast, and New York.

Additionally, A Life with Brian received a remastered release in 2023.

Albums

Title	Release date	Label	UK Albums Chart
A Life with Brian Best Of	26 Aug 1991 1992	London Records London Records	23 n/a

Singles

Title	Release date	Label	UK Singles Chart
"It's On"	1990	Heavenly Records	54
"Phobia"			75
"Take It"	1991	London Records	34
"It's On" (re-recorded) / "Egg Rush"			38
"Weekender"	1992	Heavenly Records/Colombia-Sony Heavenly Records	20
"Don't Talk Just Kiss" (from The Fred EP)			26
"Better Life" (limited to 500 copies)	1994		n/a

Videos

• Live (1990)

External links

• Heavenly Records artist profile