Mega City Four
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | Wiz, Danny Brown, Gerry Bryant, Chris Jones |
| Defunct | 1996 |
| Headquarters | Farnborough , United Kingdom |
| Products | Indie rock music, albums, singles |
Mega City Four was a British indie rock group originating from Farnborough, Hampshire, who rose to prominence during the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s.
The band consisted of guitarist and lead vocalist Wiz, his brother Danny Brown on rhythm guitar, bassist Gerry Bryant, and drummer Chris Jones. According to Uncut magazine, the ensemble "developed a global reputation as a dynamic live act."
Initial Beginnings
Wiz and Bryant first collaborated in a school ensemble named 'Stallion'. Seeking greater artistic direction, Wiz established 'Capricorn' in June 1982 with Bryant, Danny Brown, and drummer Martin Steib. Capricorn produced a four-track demo in 1982 and issued a demo titled The Good News Tape in 1985 before disbanding in 1986 due to creative disagreements.
Transition from Capricorn to Mega City Four
Continuing their partnership, Gerry, Danny, and Wiz enlisted Chris Jones, formerly of the local band Exit East, to create Mega City Four in 1987—a name originally proposed during their Capricorn days. They started performing locally and released their first vinyl single "Miles Apart"/"Running in Darkness" in September 1987. This exposure led to tours alongside punk-influenced groups such as Senseless Things and Snuff.
In 1988, "Miles Apart" and "Running" were reissued by the independent label Decoy, accompanied by "Distant Relatives" and "Less Than Senseless". By this stage, they had cultivated a loyal fanbase and frequently played to sold-out crowds. Their debut album, Tranzophobia, arrived in 1989.
The band extensively toured throughout the UK, Europe, and North America, sharing stages with bands like Les Thugs, Ned's Atomic Dustbin, Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine, and Doughboys. Their sophomore album Who Cares Wins (1990) coincided with appearances at the Reading Festival. A compilation of early singles entitled Terribly Sorry Bob followed in 1991.
After signing with a major record company, they released two studio albums: Sebastopol Rd. (1992), recorded at London's Greenhouse Studios under Jessica Corcoran's production, and Magic Bullets (1993). Singles from Magic Bullets such as "Wallflower" and "Iron Sky" reached #69 and #48 respectively on the UK Singles Chart. Following disagreements with their label, they moved to Fire Records for their final studio album, Soulscraper (1996). Their catalogue also includes a live album, a Peel Sessions release, and numerous singles. In 1993, music writer Martin Roach published a biography titled Mega City Four: Tall Stories and Creepy Crawlies.
Conclusion
After more than ten years together, the group disbanded in early 1996. Wiz moved to Montreal, Quebec, joining Canadian alternative rock outfit Doughboys. He and Bryant continued working together in Wiz's subsequent projects Serpico and later Ipanema, which remained active until late 2006.
Post Mega City Four
Shortly following a U.S. tour, Wiz suffered a collapse during rehearsal and passed away on 6 December 2006 at St George's Hospital, Tooting, South London due to a cerebral blood clot.
Gerry Bryant currently operates The Rooms Rehearsal Studios located in Farnborough, Hampshire.
The British band Muse paid tribute by covering Mega City Four's track "Prague" as a b-side on their single "Resistance" (released 22 February 2010), dedicating it to Wiz to honor his impact.
In September 2013, Sebastopol Rd. was reissued by 3 Loop Music featuring previously unreleased demos and John Peel session recordings to mark its 21st anniversary.
Members
- Darren 'Wiz' Brown – lead vocals, lead guitar (1987–1996; deceased 2006)
- Danny Brown – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1987–1996)
- Gerry Bryant – bass guitar, backing vocals (1987–1996)
- Chris Jones – drums (1987–1996)
'Four for Wiz' Tribute Concerts
- Steve Croom – lead vocals (2006)
Studio Albums
- Tranzophobia (June 1989) (UK Chart Position: 67)
- Who Cares Wins (October 1990)
- Terribly Sorry Bob (April 1991)
- Sebastopol Rd. (February 1992) (UK Chart Position: 41)
- Inspiringly Titled (Spring 1992, Live recording)
- Magic Bullets (1993) (UK Chart Position: 57)
- Peel Sessions (1993)
- Soulscraper (1996)
Singles and EP Releases
- "Miles Apart" / "Running in Darkness" (March 1988)
- "Clear Blue Sky" (November 1988)
- "Less Than Senseless" (March 1989)
- "Awkward Kid" (October 1989)
- "There Goes My Happy Marriage / Finish EP" (1990)
- "Words That Say" (September 1991) (UK Chart Position: 66)
- "Stop" / "Stop (Live)" (January 1992) (UK Chart Position: 36)
- "Shivering Sand" / "Shivering Sand (Live)" (May 1992) (UK Chart Position: 35)
- "Iron Sky" (May 1993) (UK Chart Position: 48)
- "Wallflower" / "Wallflower Live EP" (July 1993) (UK Chart Position: 69)
- "Skidding" (September 1995)
- "Superstar" / "Chrysanth" (1995)
- "Android Dreams" (February 1996)