The March Violets
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1981 in Leeds, England |
| Headquarters | Leeds , England |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
The March Violets are a post-punk and gothic rock group originating from Leeds, England, established in 1981. They are distinguished by their dual male and female vocal approach, the use of drum machines, and electric guitars with heavy echo effects, reminiscent of their Leeds contemporaries, the Sisters of Mercy. The band achieved seven singles on the UK Indie Chart, and their 1984 compilation Natural History reached the third position.
History
The band was formed in December 1981 at Leeds University with a founding lineup consisting of guitarist Tom Ashton, bassist Laurence "Loz" Elliot, male singer Simon "Detroit" Denbigh, and female vocalist Rosie Garland. Their percussion was handled by a drum machine known as "Dr. Rhythm," a typical feature within the Leeds music scene. Their initial EP, Religious as Hell, was released in August 1982 on Merciful Release, the label owned by Andrew Eldritch of the Sisters of Mercy, who also supported them. Later that year came the single "Grooving in Green."
Launching their own label named Rebirth, they issued "Crow Baby" in April 1983. In December 1983, Cleo Murray joined as an additional female vocalist for the single "Snake Dance," which became a significant club favorite and is regarded as a gothic rock staple. After this release, Garland departed, leaving Murray as the sole female voice for the August 1984 single "Walk Into the Sun." Their first compilation album, Natural History, was released in October 1984 and included early singles alongside recordings from a 1983 BBC Peel Session.
As the band gravitated toward a more pop-oriented sound, Denbigh exited in early 1985 prior to their inaugural US tour. He still featured on "Deep," a single released in May 1985 but recorded earlier. The US compilation Electric Shades gathered tracks from recent singles and featured a piano remix of "Snake Dance."
Upon signing with major label London Records, they incorporated drummer Andy Tolson into their lineup. February 1986 saw the release of "Turn to the Sky" on London Records (still carrying the Rebirth imprint). Their rendition of the Rolling Stones’ "Miss Amanda Jones" appeared on the soundtrack for the 1987 film Some Kind of Wonderful, which also showcased a live performance by the band. The group dissolved later that same year.
In 1993, Jungle Records in the UK and Cleopatra Records in the US issued The Botanic Verses, a CD compilation encompassing their complete output from 1982 to 1984.
Other projects
Prior to the breakup, Ashton performed live guitar duties for both The Sisters of Mercy and the Danse Society. In 1991, he joined Clan of Xymox for their US tour supporting Phoenix and subsequently relocated to America. He later composed soundtracks for independent films and currently produces musical acts in the Southeastern United States, including Vision Video and Tears for the Dying.
Cleo Murray briefly led Lovecraft during the early 1990s, releasing two singles in 1993 titled "Hungry" and "Medicine."
Simon Denbigh went on to form the Batfish Boys and D-Rok.
Rosie Garland pursued a career as a poet and cabaret artist under the name Rosie Lugosi. Following her survival of a stalking incident covered by the Manchester Evening News, she published multiple poetry collections. Her debut novel, The Palace of Curiosities, was published by HarperCollins in 2013, garnering awards and earning a place on the longlist for the Desmond Elliott Prize.
Reformation and subsequent activity
On 8 October 2007, March Violets reunited for a special one-off performance in Leeds, featuring original members Denbigh, Garland, Ashton, alongside Mat Thorpe on bass. Although this event was well-received, additional concerts were postponed following Garland's diagnosis with throat cancer in 2009.
Once she had recuperated, the group recommenced live appearances, starting with a secret show in Whitby in October 2010 and their first London performance in a quarter-century at the O2 Academy Islington in November 2010. This lineup included new bassist Joanna Moy, formerly of Screaming Banshee Aircrew.
In November 2010, March Violets initiated a Pledge Music campaign to finance their debut full-length album. The effort attracted pledges from over 600 supporters, achieving 196% of the fundraising goal. Proceeds also supported several charities, including Friends of the Earth, Cloth Cat, and Macmillan Cancer Support. During the recording process, they released promotional materials such as digital singles for "Tokyo Flow," a remix of "Dandelion King," and an exclusive "gigeo" video.
A brief live tour in 2012 introduced new material to audiences. In April 2013, the album Made Glorious was digitally delivered to pledgers, comprising original songs alongside remixes from previous EPs. Physical editions accompanied by merchandise were issued in June 2013, featuring a special two-CD set with twelve extra remixes.
To support Made Glorious, March Violets played shows in late 2013 and embarked on a tour in April 2014. They headlined the Convergence 20 event in Chicago—marking their first United States appearance since reforming—followed by a West Coast tour in June.
Joanna Moy officially departed the band in August 2015; William Faith then joined as bassist for an American tour scheduled for October.
After completing the Mortality tour in October, the band revealed plans for a new album entitled Mortality, again funded through PledgeMusic and achieving 167% of its target. Ten percent of the funds were donated to Macmillan Cancer Support. The initial digital release was made available to supporters on Christmas Day and primarily featured reimagined older compositions alongside the title track. Saxophonist Mars Williams of the Psychedelic Furs contributed to the recordings. However, anticipated physical releases including remixes were never issued.
Following an early 2016 remix release for pledgers, Denbigh experienced a stroke that required prolonged hospitalization.
On 16 July 2021, March Violets issued a limited edition double vinyl album titled Big Soul Kiss: The BBC Recordings through Jungle Records. Released as part of Record Store Day UK, it sold out within three weeks. A repress occurred in 2022 along with a new compilation called Play Loud Play Purple and an extensive five-CD box set named The Palace of Infinite Darkness, containing previously unreleased tracks.
The band announced on 7 October 2022 that they would reunite for touring and new studio work during 2023 and 2024. This lineup featured Rosie Garland, Tom Ashton, and William Faith from their prior live performances. In January 2024, William Faith exited the group and was succeeded by Mat Thorpe on bass and vocals.
Studio albums
- Made Glorious (2013), self-released
- Mortality (2015), self-released
- Crocodile Promises (2024), Metropolis Records
Compilation albums
- Natural History (1984), Rebirth (UK Indie chart peak: number 3)
- Electric Shades (1985), Relativity Records
- The Botanic Verses (1993), Jungle Records/Cleopatra Records
- Big Soul Kiss: The BBC Recordings (2021), Jungle Records
- Play Loud Play Purple (2022), Jungle Records
- The Palace of Infinite Darkness (2022), Jungle Records
Singles and EPs
| Year | Title | UK[1] | UK Indie[2] | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | March Violets (EP) | - | 32 | Merciful Release |
| 1982 | "Religious as Hell" | - | - | Merciful Release |
| 1982 | "Grooving in Green" | - | 14 | Merciful Release |
| 1983 | "Crow Baby" | - | 6 | Rebirth |
| 1984 | "Snake Dance" | - | 2 | Rebirth |
| 1984 | "Walk into the Sun" | - | 1 | Rebirth |
| 1985 | "Deep" | - | 2 | Rebirth |
| 1986 | "Turn to the Sky" | 84 | - | Rebirth |
| 2007 | Trinity (EP) | - | - | Self Released |
| 2011 | Love Will Kill You (EP) | - | - | Self Released |