Ph.D. (band)

PhD
Jim Diamond and Tony Hymas, 1981.
Background information
Origin United Kingdom
Genres New wave, pop rock, blue-eyed soul, synthpop
Years active 1981–1983
2006–2015
Labels Atlantic (US)
Warner Bros. (Canada)
wea
Voiceprint
Associated acts Jeff Beck
Bandit
Past members Jim Diamond
Tony Hymas
Simon Phillips

PhD were a British group best known for their UK Top 10 hit "I Won't Let You Down" in April 1982,[1] although the song had been a hit the previous year throughout Europe. The band took its name from the initial letters of its three founding members' surnames; Phillips, Hymas and Diamond. The name was written so as to be a visual pun on the letters denoting a degree of the same name.

Band history

Singer Jim Diamond formed the group with former Jeff Beck Group members Tony Hymas and Simon Phillips in the early 1980s. Their self-titled début album, originally released in 1981, spawned a hit with their ballad "I Won't Let You Down" which peaked at number three in the UK Singles Chart in 1982,[1] and number five in Australia. Following the single's success the album was re-issued and finally entered the UK Albums Chart.[1]

Their video for "Little Suzi's on the Up" was notable for being the fifth video shown on MTV's first broadcasting day, being 1 August 1981 in parts of the US.

Phillips left the group sometime during the recording of their second album; he drums on four tracks. Ph.D., now officially a duo of Diamond and Hymas, released their second album Is It Safe? in 1983. The first single, "I Didn't Know," failed to make the UK Top 40, but did well in Europe.

A short time later Diamond contracted hepatitis. Prevented by his illness from touring, the group disbanded. Diamond returned some time later as a solo artist and scored a UK No. 1 single in November 1984 with "I Should Have Known Better".

Hard rock band Tesla's cover version of "Little Suzi's on the Up" (as "Little Suzi") was an American radio hit in 1986.

Hymas appeared on Diamond's self-titled 1988 album.

Diamond and Hymas reformed the group as a duo in 2006.

Diamond confirmed that the two studio albums could be added to iTunes. Reissues of the first two albums were released by Voiceprint Records. The label also released Three on 2 February 2009.

Jim Diamond died on 8 October 2015, effectively dissolving the band.[2]

Band members

Discography

Albums

Year Album UK[1]
1981 PhD 33
1983 Is It Safe? -
2009 Three -

Singles

Year Song UK[1] Album
1981 "Little Suzi's on the Up" - PhD
1982 "I Won't Let You Down" 3
1982 "There's No Answer To It" -
1983 "I Didn't Know" - Is It Safe?
1983 "Fifth of May" -
2009 "Drive Time" - Three

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 414. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. ↑ "Singer-songwriter Jim Diamond dies – BBC News". BBC. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
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