Seven (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1989 in Bournemouth, United Kingdom |
| Founder | Mick Devine, Keith McFarlane, Pat Davey, Simon Lefevre, Austin Lane |
| Headquarters | Bournemouth , United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Seven is a British AOR group established in Bournemouth during the 1990s. They released two singles through Polydor Records that attained modest recognition in the UK market. In 2014, a tribute album featuring previously unreleased tracks was issued to critical praise, followed by a fresh studio album in 2016.
History
The band was created in 1989, consisting of Mick Devine (lead vocals), Keith McFarlane (guitar and vocals), Pat Davey (bass guitar and vocals), Simon Lefevre (keyboards and vocals), and Austin Lane (drums).
Originally, the band members evolved from the South African act "Face to Face," where McFarlane and the Lefevre siblings had achieved considerable success. Upon returning to the United Kingdom, Devine joined as the lead singer, with Ross Elliot initially filling the drummer role before his departure. Managed by Mike Parker, the group moved to Bournemouth and recorded demos produced by Mark Eden. These recordings attracted interest from John Parr and his manager John Wolff, resulting in a studio production agreement and shared management under Wolff.
Seven gained exposure by supporting Brother Beyond on national tours, developing a fan following bolstered by radio airplay from Phillip Schofield. Their increasing profile culminated in a deal with Polydor Records, secured through strong live shows and industry endorsements.
Within the Parr-Wolff production framework, Seven released two singles licensed to Polydor. Their first single, "Inside Love" (January 1990), written by McFarlane and Lefevre and produced by Parr, reached number 78 on the UK Singles Chart. The second single, "Man With a Vision" (June 1990), co-written by Parr, McFarlane, and Lefevre, peaked at number 91. John Parr later recorded his own rendition of "Man With a Vision" for his 1992 album.
Although they created additional demos and amassed material equivalent to a full album, internal disagreements caused the band's dissolution. Contrary to some reports, Seven never secured an album contract with Polydor; their official releases remained limited to two singles.
Following the breakup, members pursued diverse paths: Lane took charge of the Drum Dept at Absolute Music in Poole; McFarlane and Lefevre returned to South Africa; Devine relocated to Market Harborough; Davey stayed in Bournemouth where he teaches bass guitar and performs jazz music.
In 2014, sparked by interest from British rock label Escape Music's Khalil Turk and collaboration with Swedish guitarist/producer Lars Chris, Seven released their self-titled debut album featuring original members. This was succeeded by Shattered in 2016, which featured Mick Devine as the only remaining original member. Devine also issued his solo record Hear Now'again through Escape Music in October 2019.
Past members
- Keith McFarlane (guitar/vocals)
- Pat Davey (bass guitar/vocals)
- Simon Lefevre (keyboards/vocals)
- Austin Lane (drums); died 2023
Studio albums
- 7 (2014)
- Shattered (2016)
Singles
- "Inside Love" (1990)
- "Man With a Vision" (1990)