Graduate (band)

Graduate

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1978 in Bath, England
Headquarters	Bath , England
Area served	United Kingdom, Spain
Key people	Roland Orzabal, Curt Smith, John Baker, Steve Buck, Andy Marsden
Products	Music albums and singles

Graduate was a British band associated with the new wave and mod revival movements, established in 1978 in Bath, England. Their discography includes the single "Elvis Should Play Ska" and the album Acting My Age. While their commercial impact was modest, the group is recognized for including future Tears for Fears members Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.

Band history

The lineup of Graduate, formed in 1978, consisted of Roland Orzabal, Curt Smith, John Baker, Steve Buck, and Andy Marsden. After securing a publishing agreement with Tony Hatch in 1979, they signed with Pye Records. Their first album, Acting My Age, was recorded at Crescent Studios in Bath during January 1980. The single "Elvis Should Play Ska" peaked at number 82 on the UK Singles Chart in April 1980 and reached the Top 10 in Spain.

Following an extensive touring period, the band disbanded in 1981.

After Graduate

In 1981, Orzabal and Smith went on to establish the new wave group Tears for Fears, which subsequently enjoyed considerable commercial success.

Personnel

• Roland Orzabal – lead guitar, vocals
• Curt Smith – bass guitar, vocals
• John Baker – rhythm guitar, vocals
• Steve Buck – keyboards
• Andy Marsden – drums

Albums

Title	Album details
Acting My Age	Released: 1980 Debut studio album; reissued with additional tracks in 2001.
Ambitions	Project cancelled prior to completion; its material was incorporated into the 2001 expanded reissue of Acting My Age.
Graduate	Released: 1991 Issued exclusively in Germany; includes selections from Acting My Age alongside alternate takes of "Shut Up" and "I See Through You" from the unfinished Ambitions album.