The Honey Buzzards
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Headquarters | Norwich , England |
Area served | United Kingdom, Scandinavia |
Key people | Ian Thompson, Simon Shaw, Matthew Wayne, Nate Ingram, John Evans |
| Products | Music singles, compilation tracks, BBC sessions |
The Honey Buzzards were a band originating from Norwich, England, who gained significant recognition within the independent music scene during the early 1990s before their dissolution in 1994. They earned praise from prominent publications such as The NME and Melody Maker and recorded a BBC Session with David Bowie.
Career
Established in 1988 by Ian Thompson (vocals/guitar), Simon Shaw (bass), and Matthew Wayne (drums) while attending Norwich School, the group solidified their most consistent lineup in 1991 by adding guitarists Nate Ingram and John Evans. Their band name was derived from a British painting dating back to the 17th century. Musically, they were influenced by art school culture and drew inspiration from artists like The Velvet Underground, Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, and The Stone Roses.
They issued two singles through Manchester-based Sheer Joy Records: "Sympathy (For Two Girls)" in 1991 and "Starhappy" in 1992, both of which entered the UK Indie Chart Top 20. A promotional single included remixes crafted by The Orb. Songs such as "Pale Horse" and "Did You Fall?" featured on various indie compilation albums. Their most robust commercial performance occurred in Scandinavia, particularly Sweden. Even fifteen years after their breakup, "Starhappy" was celebrated as an indie classic by Cloudberry.
Their initial single was produced by Michael Johnson, noted for his collaborations with New Order. In 1991, the band recorded two sessions for the BBC: one for Radio 1’s Mark Goodier Evening Session and another for BBC Radio 5’s Hit the North program. John Peel was an influential advocate for their releases.
Additionally, the band contributed tracks to the soundtrack of the 1993 film Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me.
Following the group's split, John Evans found commercial success as a guitarist with The Divine Comedy and remains active touring with them.