G.I. Orange
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1983 in St Albans, England |
| Founder | Karl Whitworth, Simon Whitworth, Mark Whitworth, Gary Holt |
| Headquarters | St Albans , England |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
G.I. Orange was a British band associated with the New Wave and pop genres, established in the mid-1980s by the Whitworth brothers: Karl (lead vocals, guitar), Simon (bass, vocals), Mark (keyboard, vocals), alongside Gary Holt (drums, vocals). Their most notable commercial achievements occurred in Japan, where they released an album as well as multiple EPs and singles.
History
Originating in 1983 in St Albans, G.I. Orange toured across the UK, supporting artists such as Bucks Fizz and David Essex. The band secured a contract with EMI for £5,000 after drawing attention from Nonaka Norio, who aimed to promote them within the Japanese market under the label "Western Music." In 1985, they launched singles "Fight Away the Lover" and "Psychic Magic" in Japan; notably, "Psychic Magic" remained on the Oricon Chart for 14 weeks, reaching a peak position of number 35. The UK release of "Fight Away the Lover" was met with moderate critical reception. Their eponymous album—also referred to as Psychic Magic—was produced by Tim Palmer and climbed to number 20 on Japanese charts by August 1985. This success was followed by a nationwide tour beginning in Kumamoto. Although they generated ¥8 million in royalties and cultivated a loyal fanbase, the sales figures did not support producing a follow-up album.
By 1990, members had embarked on individual paths. Karl Whitworth shifted to music education in Hertfordshire, while Simon Whitworth pursued careers as an author and songwriter based on the Isle of Wight. Mark Whitworth took charge of managing G.I. Orange's activities and also resides on the Isle of Wight. The group reunited for live shows in Tokyo during 2015 to celebrate their 30th anniversary. Subsequently, in 2016, Karl Whitworth and Gary Holt revived G.I. Orange for live performances and new musical projects.