Luke James (English singer)

Luke James
Born January 1952
Other names Luke Sky
Occupation Musician, writer
Known for Singer and guitarist of Fàshiön Music
Writer based in San Francisco, California
Children Zoe and Vincent
Website

Luke James (born January 1952) is an English singer, guitarist, and writer who formed part of the new wave scene in Birmingham as the lead singer and guitarist of post-punk band Fàshiön Music from 1978 to 1980. After leaving the band, he left Britain and, since 1988, has lived in San Francisco where he is currently dedicated to writing.

Biography

Early years & Fàshiön Music

Brought up in Birmingham, England, James, along with bassist/keyboardist John Mulligan and drummer Dik Davis, formed the band Fàshiön Music in 1978 and created their own "Fàshiön Music" label. On this label, they released their first three singles, "Steady Eddie Steady", "Citinite", and "The Innocent". Later signed to I.R.S. Records, they released their Product Perfect album in 1979. During those days, they formed part of the local Birmingham punk and new wave scene along with Duran Duran (who opened some of their gigs), UB40, Steel Pulse and others, and touring also with The Police, John Cooper Clarke, Squeeze, The B-52's, and U2.

In June 1980, after the release of the "Silver Blades" single and a gig in London with U2, James departed and moved to the USA. Mulligan and Dik revived the band simply as Fashion in 1981 with another singer and guitarist, and their style became more synthpop and New Romantic, causing them to become more commercially successful. The band The Photos, wrote and released a song in reference to him, called "Luke Come Back".

Travelling the world, San Francisco and writer

In London, he auditioned to replace the departed Stan Ridgway in Wall Of Voodoo.[1]

He travelled and lived in Bordeaux, London, Los Angeles, and Charlottesville, Virginia. During those travels, he worked as a train washer, a restaurant crooner, a night watchman on a car ferry, a street singer, a barman, and an antiques restorer.[2]

In 1988, he arrived in San Francisco, California, where he still lives. In 2002, he played blues with a band called Wild Dogs.[3]

Current life

He now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, is married with two children. In addition to writing and recording new Fàshiön-style material, he is also working on an acoustic recording project and studying Flamenco guitar. He supports Amnesty International, NRDC, and Doctors Without Borders.[2]

Books

  • Public House (edited with Alan Black) - an anthology of San Francisco writers
  • Stairway to Nowhere

References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 April 2005. Retrieved 2009-01-23. Lûke, who once auditioned to be Stan Ridgway's replacement in Wall Of Voodoo (...)
  2. 1 2 Luke James. "Luke James's Biography | Red Room - Where the Writers Are". Red Room. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
  3. ↑ "Fashion Discography, Biography and Links at Mr Bill's I.R.S. Records Corner". Irscorner.com. Archived from the original on 31 December 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-23.

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