The founder members of the band, Richard Hammerton and Michael Brown, originate from UK seaside town Gorleston -on -Sea near Great Yarmouth. They formed their first band ‘The Needles’ in 1977 and like many new bands of that era were heavily influenced by punk.

During the Eighties they had some success with their bands Redstar Belgrade and the War Party, getting Radio 1 airplays and an evening session for several of their ‘single’ releases. During the mid Eighties the War Party got a publishing deal with Tritec (Duran Duran management company). This gave them a valuable insight into the music business and a gig at the famous London Wardour Street Marquee Club.

In 1987 they won a day in the Rolling Stones mobile studio and this was featured in a BBC 2 documentary program. During that same year they won a Radio 1 competition to have an audition at the famous John Henry’s rehearsal studio’s in London, being interviewed by the then young Simon Mayo.

By the late Eighties Hammerton and Brown reformed Redstar Belgrade and added bass player Derek O’Sullivan to the line up. Soon afterwards, he invited friend Karl Goodbody to join on rhythm guitar. The band had grown to six members, made an album and played a few gigs, but a change of direction was needed. Two of the members left leaving Richard, Michael, Derek and Karl. It was decided to return to the punk roots and from this a new band was born.

Richard remained vocalist, Michael guitarist, Derek moved to drums and Karl moved to bass together they became STARE.

STARE

1990 - 91

The band spend 6 months rehearsing in an old railway carriage converted to  a rehearsal room. There, Stare created indie power pop guitar driven songs with great melodies and hooks. Early ’91’ they recorded a 4 track demo at vocalist Richards, Purple Studio’s. This would be later released by Big Life as recorded...it was that good!

Latter part of 1990 the band gigged extensively in the

Norfolk area, gaining a steady following. The 4 track

demo was sent to the Mean Fiddler in London to get a

gig, after two of the members had seen a band there.

The promoter at the venue was so impressed with the

demo he offered to send them to contacts he had in the

music business. By the spring of ’91’ Stare had several

major labels keeping an eye on the band. One of the

demo’s went to GLR radio and DJ Gary Crowley’s

sunday afternoon show had a section called ‘demo

clash’. Demo’s of unsigned bands would be played and

the audience would ring in and vote on their favourite.

Stare won 4 weeks running. This came to the attention

of Big Life Records after an A&R man heard the track in a taxi. The company got in touch and watched the band at London’s Covent Garden venue, the ‘Rock Garden’.

Big Life offered to release the self recorded ‘Stare ep’ and make a video to

accompany the lead track ‘Stare’. In November 1991 the debut ‘Stare ep’ was released and the there was great enthusiasm towards it. Within several

weeks of its release the song ‘Stare’ was hitlisted for 2 weeks on Radio 1 getting regular daytime plays, after the video had been shown on ITV’s chart show. This took everyone by surprise as the release was originally intended

to be ‘low key’ and the band were to ‘work’ the record through gigging. A few

adverts were placed in the music press.Unfortunately ‘ the machine’ was not in place to support the release and the level of exposure it was receiving. The record was unavailable in the shops and most ofthe band were still at work. A great opportunity missed! From then on the Stare were chasing it.

The band had no management and therefore no one who had a strategy for the release.

There were highlights of course, the day the video was shown on TV, Stare supported Big Country at Norwich’s University of East Anglia that night.

The EP did quite well but should have charted in the lower regions if the ‘business end’ had been in order.

Big Life were pleased with the  ‘Stare EP’ and in November/December ’91’ Stare recorded their 2nd EP ‘Work’ at the Greenhouse Studios in London.

1992

Early ’92’ things were going well...Stare played a double header with the Verve at London Borderline club and Big Life, being very impressed with the

second EP and live performances, sent the band to Bath to make an album.

This was made between Jan and April of that year and named ‘The Luxury of Anger’.

The 2nd EP ‘Work’ was released in April to coincide with a radio 1 live performance at Norwich’s The Waterfront for ‘Sound City 92’ and a second guitarist Dave Donley joined for that gig and a forthcoming tour. Other bands on the sunday night bill were Carter, the Farm, Nick Cave and Bad Seeds, Catherine Wheel.

Reviews followed in national newspapers and Melody

Maker did a feature on the  the band. April 92 Stare

embarked on their first UK tour. The Work EP didn’t do as

well as everyone expected and Radio1 did not give it the

level of support as it did for the Stare EP.

Touring continued during ’92’ and in September the 3rd

release ‘Mood EP’ (taken from the album) was released.

The radio was favourable towards this and the reviews

were good. The band continued promoting until the end of

the year doing photo shoots, radio shows etc.

Big Life had been trying to get the album released in the US, but found it difficult because of Stare’s low profile in the UK.  As a result, the album did not get released in the UK either.

1993

Stare were still with Big Life in 1993 and working on another single, but because of the financial climate at the time they decided to drop a couple of acts and Stare, unfortunately were one of them. It had been a long struggle with a lot of highs and lows, but by the end of 1993 Stare had disbanded, fighting a court case because of a management issue.

Perhaps the band should have picked themselves up and touted the album around other record companies, but it had run out of energy.

The album full of great pop songs would have fitted quite neatly in the upcoming ‘Britpop’ era, remained unheard.

2012

Stare perform their first show for 20 years at the Waterfront Norwich, marking anniversary of playing Radio 1‘s Sound City and the launch of  the album ‘ The Luxury of Anger’.

Album released on 7th May 2012 on cd and digital format.