# Ian Prowse

Ian Prowse (born 10 January 1964) is an English singer-songwriter, currently frontman of Amsterdam and previously of Pele.

## Biography
### Pele

Prowse formed Pele in 1989 along with Dally (drums), Robbo (Hammond), Nico (violin), and Jim McCallister (bass). Signed by Michael Levy, Baron Levy in March 1991 to M&G Records/Polydor, the band went on to release two studio albums (Fireworks & The Sport Of Kings), one live album, and six singles.
Pele's first three singles, "Raid the Palace," "Megalomania," and "Fair Blows the Wind for France," all received heavy rotation on the BBC Radio 1 playlist. However, none of the singles reached the Top 20 in the UK Singles Chart, with it being often remarked that Pele sold more of their famous primary colour T-shirts than they did records. However, they scored a number one single in South Africa with "Megalomania". They had other hits in Holland, Portugal, and Belgium.
After nine tours of the UK, including those with Del Amitri and The Pogues, they split in 1996 due to problems with the record company, whose efforts to make Prowse record as a solo artist were resisted by the singer.
Prowse celebrated the 25th anniversary of their first album, Fireworks, with a UK tour in early 2017, with a 25th-anniversary tour for The Sport of Kings announced for 2018.

### Amsterdam

Prowse went on to form Amsterdam in 1999 with former Blow Monkeys drummer Tony Kiley and cousin Johnny Barlow. After releasing two mail-order-only albums, Attitunes and The Curse, in 2001 and 2002, it was not until September 2004 that the band managed to secure a record deal in the form of London-based Beat Crazy. They released one album, The Journey, in February 2005 and three singles, "The Journey" (which hit number 32 in the UK Singles Chart) and "Does This Train Stop on Merseyside," which also hit the lower reaches of the chart. The partnership was dissolved by mutual consent in 2006.
The band then signed to The Stranglers’ management company and released their next album, Arm in Arm, on CIA Recordings in 2008. DJ Janice Long played the lead-off single "Home" for 20 consecutive nights on her BBC Radio 2 show.
The band toured the UK as special guests of The Wonder Stuff (2005/2006), The Icicle Works (2008), and The Bluetones (2009).
"Does This Train Stop on Merseyside" regularly elicited an emotional response from BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel live on air. Peel's widow, Sheila Ravenscroft, gave a Radio 1 interview after the DJ's death and confirmed that "he was incapable of playing it without crying." The song itself got a further lease of life in 2009 as one of the centrepieces of Christy Moore's album Listen, which spent five weeks at the top spot in his home country.
A documentary film starring Elvis Costello, Christy Moore, Steve White, Paul Du Noyer, and Damien Dempsey discussing the song’s journey and impact is due for release in February 2025.
During 2002, the band struck up a friendship with Elvis Costello, who used them as his backing band on the Jonathan Ross television show as well as a support act on several occasions.

## Discography
### Albums

* Does This Train Stop On Merseyside: The Very Best Of Ian Prowse (CIA Recordings) 2012
* Who Loves Ya Baby (IRL) 2014
* Companeros (Learpholl Recordings) 2015
* Here I Lie (Kitchen Disco Records) 2019
* The Story of Ian Prowse (Kitchen Disco Records) 2020
* One Hand On The Starry Plough (Kitchen Disco Records) 2021

### Singles

* "Rosalita" (with Steve White)/ "Cecilia" 7" – Feat. Dan Donnell) (80's Vinyl Records) 2013
* "God & Man" Digital/Video Single (IRL) 2014
* "I Did It For Love" Digital/Video Single (IRL) 2014
* "Lest We Forget" Video Single (IRL) 2014
* "Mississippi Beat" Digital/ Video Single (Feat. Pauline Scanlon (Learpholl) 2015
* "You Can't Win Em All Mum" Digital/ Video single (Learpholl) 2015

## Solo career

Prowse began releasing his songs under his name in 2014 with Who Loves Ya Baby (IRL Records), which followed the release in April 2012 of the career-spanning Does This Train Stop On Merseyside: The Very Best Of Ian Prowse.
Prowse and former Style Council drummer Steve White released a version of Bruce Springsteen's song "Rosalita" in 2013 for the 'Check 'em Lads' testicular cancer charity. Prowse has a young daughter named after the song.
In 2009, Prowse graduated with a **BA (Hons) History Degree** and completed a **master's degree in Irish Studies** in 2010 at the University of Liverpool. His master's thesis was entitled Locating the Role of Christy Moore in Irish Folk and Traditional Music.
Prowse released his second solo album, Companeros, in 2015, a project that rediscovered long-lost songs from the British Isles. The second single, "My Name Is Dessie Warren," saw Prowse become involved in the successful campaign to clear **Dessie Warren’s name**, along with 24 other pickets from **Shrewsbury 1972**.
Upon hearing Prowse’s third solo LP, Here I Lie, Elvis Costello invited Prowse to be his special guest on the Just Trust UK Tour in 2020. The tour finished prematurely at the Hammersmith Apollo following the global COVID-19 pandemic. Upon the resumption of live shows, Costello invited Prowse to open up the 2022 **"Boy Named If"** tour.
During the pandemic, Prowse performed 40 free live shows on his Facebook page, which led to a BBC Radio 4 program about his entrepreneurial spirit.
Prowse released his fourth solo LP, One Hand on the Starry Plough, in March 2024, followed by a full-band tour with **AGMP**. In 2024, he signed to Midnight Mango Agency following tours with The Wonder Stuff, The Blow Monkeys, Damien Dempsey, and a third UK tour with Elvis Costello. The high-energy shows have led journalists to label Prowse "The Scouse Springsteen."
Prowse will be opening for The Levellers during their Spring 2025 UK tour as well as celebrating the 20th anniversary of "Does This Train Stop On Merseyside" with a full-band tour.
A fifth solo LP is currently being recorded.