Marseille

Marseille are a Liverpool-based British hard rock and NWOBHM group formed in 1976, active until 2019. The band’s core members include Neil Buchanan and Paul Dale, and the group is associated with classic rock, glam rock, hard rock, heavy metal, NWOBHM and rock.

Origins and early line-up

The original line-up includes Neil Buchanan on guitar, Andy Charters on guitar, Paul Dale on vocals, Keith Knowles on drums and Steve Dinwoodie on bass. The band starts in Liverpool, England, and becomes part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene.

Recordings and releases

The debut album, Red, White and Slightly Blue, appears on Mountain in 1978. It is noted for limited release, weak promotion and raunchy lyrics. Marseille follow it with a self-titled release, issued by RCA in the United States, which receives radio play in both the UK and the USA and broadens their audience. Their third album, Touch The Night, comes out in 1984 on Ultranoise, with Sav Pearse on vocals and Marc Railton on guitar.

Tours and live work

Marseille tour the UK in 1978 and 1979 with UFO, Whitesnake, Ian Gillan and Judas Priest. They are also the first NWOBHM band to tour the United States, beginning a two-month run supporting Nazareth and Blackfoot in May 1980. After returning to the UK, the band is delayed by legal and financial problems linked to Mountain Records, with its equipment left in the USA and the group off the road for nearly two years.

Line-up changes and reunion

During that period, Neil Buchanan, Andy Charters and Paul Dale leave to pursue other careers. Buchanan later becomes known in television as the creator and presenter of Art Attack! In late 2008 the original members reunite for a show at the Rock Garden club in London. Nige Roberts joins on vocals in early 2009, and the four-track EP FourPlay follows. Marseille appear at HardRockHell III in December 2009. In 2010 Keith Knowles and Steve Dinwoodie leave because of family and business commitments and are replaced by Gareth Webb on drums and Lee Andrews on bass.