Pele (English band)
| Company type | Indie rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Founder | Ian Prowse, Andrew Roberts |
| Defunct | 1995 (initial breakup) |
| Headquarters | Ellesmere Port , England |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Pele was an indie rock group originating from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, England, established in 1990 by guitarist and lead vocalist Ian Prowse alongside keyboard player Andrew Roberts. The lineup also featured Dally on drums, Jimmy McAllister handling bass duties, and Nico on violin. Despite not breaking into the UK Top 40 charts, the band cultivated a dedicated fanbase through their live performances before disbanding in 1995 amid contractual conflicts with their record company.
Biography
Following a series of performances in Chester and Liverpool, Pele secured a deal with M&G Records, a label supported by Polgram, after the A&R head expressed interest upon hearing their demo track "Megalomania." Their debut album, Fireworks, was produced by Gary Langan and recorded at Metropolis Studios in London.
The band launched their first single, "Raid the Palace," while embarking on tours across European universities such as Kingston University and the University of Wales during 1995. Although their second single, "Megalomania," did not chart within the UK Top 40, it achieved the number one spot in South Africa and gained chart recognition in Portugal. Their third single, "Fair Blows the Wind for France," also failed to enter the UK Top 40.
Subsequently, Pele supported acts like Del Amitri and The Pogues on tour before heading to Rockfield Studios in Wales to record their sophomore album with producer Jon Kelly. The lead single from this album, "Fat Black Heart," once again missed UK Top 40 placement. However, their sixth single, "Don't Worship Me," found chart success in both the Netherlands and Germany and preceded the release of Sport of Kings in early December.
Tensions escalated between Pele and their record label due to ongoing legal disputes and the label’s eventual insolvency, which ultimately led to the band's breakup despite issuing a live recording titled A-Live A-Live-O. Following Pele's split, Ian Prowse went on to form Amsterdam, releasing its first album in 2005 and achieving UK chart presence with the single "The Journey."
In 2009, Pele reunited for several performances in Liverpool and London, culminating with a final concert at the Cavern Club. Ian Prowse later toured to commemorate the 25th anniversary reissue of Fireworks, with plans announced for a similar anniversary edition of Sport Of Kings slated for early 2018.
After nearly three decades since its creation, Pele unveiled their third studio album, This Time Next Year, on 10 March 2023.
Albums
- Fireworks (April 1992)
- Sport of Kings (December 1993)
- A-Live A-Live O (June 1994)
- This Time Next Year - Bootleg Version (December 2001)
- This Time Next Year - Release Version (February 2023)
Singles
- "Raid the Palace" (October 1991)
- "Megalomania" (February 1992) – UK No. 73
- "Fair Blows the Wind for France" (June 1992) – UK No. 62
- "Fireworks" (September 1992)
- "Fat Black Heart" (July 1993) – UK No. 75
- "Don't Worship Me" (November 1993)