The Flaming Mussolinis
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1984 in Middlesbrough, England |
| Defunct | 1988 |
| Headquarters | Middlesbrough , England |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
The Flaming Mussolinis were a pop/rock ensemble originating from Teesside during the 1980s, known for issuing two studio albums and achieving modest UK chart success with their single "My Cleopatra".
History
Established in 1984 in Middlesbrough, the lineup featured musicians who had previously performed with local Teesside groups such as Basczax. In 1985, they secured a contract with CBS's Portrait Records, positioning them for potential commercial breakthrough. Their discography includes five singles: "Swallow Glass", "My Cleopatra" (which reached UK chart position #79), "Masuka Dan", "Girl on a Train", and "Different Kind of Love". They released two albums titled Watching the Film (1986) and Charmed Life (1987). Notably, their song "Angels Fall Down" was selected as a finalist at the 1986 World Popular Song Festival.
Reviews from critics were varied; in 1986, Billboard described them as "a band with something new to say," whereas Fanfare commended Watching the Film for its unique sound characteristic of the post-1987 era.
The band dissolved in 1988. Following this, Alan Savage pursued a career in education, while Craig McClune found commercial recognition as a drummer supporting David Gray.
Members
- Alan Savage – vocals and guitar
- Kit Haigh – guitar
- Jeff Fogarty – saxophone and keyboards
- Doug Maloney – bass guitar, keyboard programming, backing vocals
- Craig McClune – drums
Albums
Singles
- "Swallow Glass" (1985), Portrait
- "My Cleopatra" (1985), Portrait – reached No. 79 on the UK
- "Masuka Dan" (1986), Portrait
- "Different Kind of Love" (1987), Epic
- "Girl on a Train" (1987), Epic