The Chameleons

The Chameleons are a post-punk group from Middleton, United Kingdom, formed in 1981. The line-up consists of Mark Burgess on vocals and bass, Reg Smithies and Dave Fielding on guitars, and John Lever on drums. On some American releases, the group is credited as The Chameleons UK.

Style and recognition

The band is associated with post-punk, new wave, dream pop and gothic rock. Their early work receives strong critical acclaim, and their influence continues to be noted within alternative music, despite never matching the commercial profile of some of their contemporaries.

Albums and activity

The Chameleons release three studio albums in the 1980s. After their third album, Strange Times, the band breaks up in 1987 following the death of manager Tony Fletcher. After a long period of inactivity, they return with a final studio album, Why Call It Anything, in 2001. The group then ends again in 2003 after a reunion tour that takes in Europe and the United States.

Related projects

After The Chameleons, Dave Fielding forms The Reegs, who issue a couple of EPs. In 2003 he also forms Coconut Dogfuck, a trance techno dance project with Ralph on percussion, Paul Didge on didge, and Fielding on guitar and dulcimer; the group releases an EP and plays festivals and gigs around the UK. Andy Clegg, who also plays keyboards with The Chameleons, joins Mark and Andy Whittikar in Sun and the Moon, and both Andys also perform with Manchester band B.F.G.