Menswear (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 in Camden, London, England |
| Founder | Johnny Dean, Stuart Black |
| Defunct | 1998 (initial disbandment) |
| Fate | Disbanded in 1998; revived in 2013 by Johnny Dean as sole original member |
| Headquarters | London , England |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Menswear was an English indie rock group established in 1994 in Camden, London. Their initial album, Nuisance, was released in 1995 through Laurel, a short-lived subsidiary of London Records, alongside several singles. Although a follow-up album was recorded, it was rejected by the label and eventually saw release exclusively in Japan under a different company. The band disbanded in 1998.
In 2013, lead vocalist Johnny Dean revived Menswear as the only original member, stating that "as long as the singer's singing, it doesn't really matter who's playing the instruments".
Formation through disbandment
Johnny Dean and bassist Stuart Black founded the band after meeting at the Blow Up Club in 1993. Dean then enlisted guitarist Chris Gentry from their hometown of Southend-on-Sea. They developed a friendship with Blur’s guitarist Graham Coxon, who frequently hosted them in Camden. The original drummer Todd Parmenter was replaced by Matt Everitt, and an additional guitarist, Simon White, joined the lineup. Under the management of Adrian Webb, the group attracted early media attention with a Melody Maker cover before issuing their first single.
The band adopted a mod-inspired fashion style, wearing suits tailored by Mark Powell from Soho. Musically, they drew inspiration from Blur’s Modern Life Is Rubbish and Elastica. After only five live performances, they secured a contract with London Records following a competitive bidding process that included an advance of £90,000 plus 18.5% of gross earnings. In addition, they landed a £500,000 publishing deal despite having limited material available.
Their debut single "I'll Manage Somehow" was followed by an appearance on Top of the Pops. The subsequent single "Daydreamer" climbed to number 14 on the UK Singles Chart, though it faced allegations of copying from Wire. Dean later admitted that "Daydreamer is ripping off Wire. Not Elastica," clarifying that it was influence rather than plagiarism.
The 1995 album Nuisance yielded five singles, including "Being Brave," which became their only top ten hit. Drummer Everitt departed due to personality conflicts—a decision Dean later regretted as it indicated instability to their record label.
In 1996, they released the standalone single "We Love You," signaling a change in their musical direction. While working on their second album ¡Hay Tiempo!, the lineup shifted with Everitt replaced by Darren Tudgay and keyboardist Paul Fletcher added. Dean described this album as "a cocaine and heroin record," expressing mixed feelings about its quality and noting that internal disputes and management problems weakened the group’s unity.
Menswear was dropped by their UK label in 1997; however, ¡Hay Tiempo! was issued exclusively in Japan through Polydor in 1998. Their final live show took place that year at London's Camden Palace.
Looking back on the breakup, Dean highlighted widespread personal challenges among members—including mental health struggles, substance abuse, and internal friction—that contributed to their demise.
Activities after disbandment
Following his departure from Menswear, original drummer Todd Parmenter performed with acts such as Heck, Lungleg, The Beal, Evan Dando, and The Beatings. Matt Everitt joined The Montrose Avenue in 1996 before becoming part of BBC 6Music’s team. Stuart Black formed Messiah until 2000, while guitarist Chris Gentry played with Vatican DC. Simon White worked as both a touring and studio musician for artists including Finley Quaye.
Dean received a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome in 2008 and subsequently began advocating for the National Autistic Society. In 2013, he returned to live performance for the first time in 15 years with the Nuisance Band, delivering David Bowie covers and raising thousands for charity.
Reunion with revised lineup
In 2013, Dean revived Menswear as the only founding member, supported by The Nuisance Band. Their first performance after a 15-year hiatus took place on 16 August 2013, in aid of the mental health organization PMA Sport's Academy and the #TimeToChange initiative.
Menswear introduced their new track "Crash '14" on 26 March 2014 during their initial headline concert at London's Bush Hall. The single was officially issued on 26 May through Nuisance Recordings & POST/POP Records in limited edition 7" vinyl, cassette, and digital formats.
In November 2015, Menswear appeared at the Shiiine On Weekender festival alongside acts such as Happy Mondays, Peter Hook, The Wedding Present, 808 State, and The Orb. This event marked the final show for the reassembled lineup and commemorated two decades since their debut album *Nuisance*. By May 2016, Dean commended the professionalism and enjoyable rehearsals of this formation but announced the group's dissolution on Twitter in August 2016.
Dean later distanced himself from this lineup in 2020, expressing that he felt exploited by opportunists and no longer associated with the project.
After Menswear, Dean launched his solo venture Fxxk Explosion, releasing the *In The Beginning* EP in 2017.
The Menswear Collection (2020)
On 3 June 2020, Menswear revealed plans to release The Menswear Collection, a comprehensive 4-CD box set scheduled for 23 October. This anthology spans their entire musical journey and includes remastered editions of Nuisance and ¡Hay Tiempo!—the latter available outside Japan for the first time—along with b-sides, demos, and rare tracks. Prior to the box set’s release, the band issued “Wait for the Sun” from ¡Hay Tiempo! as a digital single.
Reflecting on the collection, Johnny Dean stated: "It's unusual—I never imagined 'Menswear' and 'box set' would go together. But I’m pleased because it highlights how much material we recorded. I thought those demos for ¡Hay Tiempo! were lost somewhere in an attic, yet London Records preserved them despite them being our property." He also mentioned that although the original members had reconciled, a reunion was improbable due to their current professional commitments. He added that "that initial Menswear album captured a teenage meltdown sound. It feels quite different attempting that in your '40s."
Studio albums
| Title | Album information | Highest chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | JPN | ||||
| Nuisance |
|
11 | 25 | ||
| ¡Hay Tiempo! |
|
— | — | ||
| "—" indicates no chart entry or release in that region. | |||||
Singles
| Title | Release Year | Highest Chart Position | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | |||
| "I'll Manage Somehow" | 1995 | 49 | Nuisance |
| "Daydreamer" | 14 | ||
| "Stardust" | 16 | ||
| "Sleeping In" | 24 | ||
| "Being Brave" | 1996 | 10 | |
| "We Love You" | 22 | Non-album singles | |
| "Crash '14" | 2014 | — |
Band members
- Johnny Dean (lead vocals, 1994–1998, 2013–2015)
- Chris Gentry (guitarist, 1994–1998)
- Simon White (guitarist, 1994–1998)
- Stuart Black (bass guitar, 1994–1998)
- Todd Parmenter (drummer, 1994)
- Matt Everitt (drums, 1994–1996)
- Darren "Tud" Tudgay (drummer, 1996–1998)
- Paul Fletcher (keyboardist, 1996–1998)