Diagram Brothers

The Diagram Brothers were a post-punk band from Manchester, England, active between 1979 and 1982. The band comprised Andy Diagram (bass guitar), Fraser Diagram (vocals, guitar), Lawrence Diagram (guitar), Jason Diagram (bass), and Simon Diagram (drums) (not actually brothers). Andy Diagram was also a member of Dislocation Dance from 1978 to 1982, and in 1985, and was a member of The Pale Fountains and James.
Andy Diagram explained the band's approach: "We called the music 'Discordo'. The music was made to a strict formula or set of rules. All the guitar chords were based on discordant notes, all the beats were very simple rock or disco, and all the words were very very straightforward and down to earth." Music journalist Stuart Maconie described them as "funny, slightly scary and like no one else in the world".
The band's first release was a 7" EP on the Construct label in 1980. They were then signed by Buzzcocks' New Hormones label, who issued a single, "Bricks", an album, ‘Some Marvels of Modern Science’, and a 10" EP, ‘Discordo’, before the band split up.
(Read more at Wikipedia.)
== Links To Peel ==
Peel was a huge fan of the Diagram Brothers in the early 1980s, won over by the band’s “dazzling set” at a John Peel Roadshow gig with Elti Fits at Manchester University in the second month of the new decade. The first of three sessions was swiftly recorded and would eventually be broadcast five times. Heavy airplay soon followed for debut single ‘Animals’, as it did for all subsequent releases in the band’s short career.
On 14 April 1980, the DJ enthused:
"When I do win the pools, bands like the Diagram Brothers will work as often as they want to. I shall establish a chain of venues all over the country."
Despite Peel's continuing support, the student band didn't survive beyond graduation, although Andy Diagram did record further sessions, with Florists (with Lawrence Diagram), Dislocation Dance, Pale Fountains and James.
== Festive Fifty Entries ==
*None
== Sessions ==
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Three sessions. All released on The Peel Sessions, CD, 2011 (LTM). Lawrence and Andy Diagram also one session with Florists (1983); Andy Diagram also two with Dislocation Dance (1981, 1982), one with Pale Fountains (1982) and one with James (1990).
1. Recorded 1980-03-17. First broadcast 27 March 1980. Repeated 14 April 1980, 03 June 1980, 30 June 1980, 06 August 1980, 13 November 1980.
*Animals / Bricks / Bikers / There Is No Shower
2. Recorded 1981-01-27. First broadcast 03 February 1981. Repeated 27 January 1982, 19 February 1981.
*Postal Bargains / Those Men In White Coats / I Didn't Get Where I Am Today By Being A Right Git / My Bad Chest Feels Much Better Now
3. Recorded 1982-06-26. First broadcast 22 July 1982. Repeated 09 August 1982, 18 October 1982, 09 June 1983.
* Hey Dad! / Tracey / You've Got To Pick A Pocket Or Two / The Expert / You'll Never Walk Alone
;Florists
1. Recorded 1983-07-13. First broadcast 25 July 1983.
* Top Models Know / Our Much Loved Daughter / Julia /The Longest Hour
== Other Shows Played ==
;1980
*24 September 1980: We Are All Animals (7") Construct
*29 September 1980: We Are All Animals (7") Construct
*04 October 1980 (BFBS): We Are All Animals (7") Construct
*04 October 1980 (BFBS): There Is No Shower (7" - We Are All Animals) Construct
*11 October 1980 (BFBS): I Would Like To Live In Prison (7" - We Are All Animals) Construct
*21 October 1980: unknown
*01 November 1980 (BFBS): We Are All Animals (7") Construct
;1981
*25 January 1981 (BFBS): We Are All Animals (7") Construct
*16 April 1981: Postal Bargains
*21 April 1981: Bricks (7" -Bricks / Postal Bargains) New Hormones
*23 April 1981 (BFBS): Bricks (7") New Hormones
*26 April 1981 (BFBS): Bricks (7" -Bricks / Postal Bargains) New Hormones
*27 April 1981: Postal Bargains (7” – Bricks) New Hormones
*04 May 1981: Bricks (7" - Bricks / Postal Bargains) New Hormones
*06 May 1981: Bricks (7" - Bricks / Postal Bargains) New Hormones
*17 November 1981: Those Men In White Coats (album - Some Marvels Of Modern Science) New Hormones
*17 November 1981: My Bad Chest Feels Much Better Now (album - Some Marvels Of Modern Science) New Hormones
*17 November 1981: Seals / Furcoats (album - Some Marvels Of Modern Science) New Hormones
*17 November 1981: Put It In A Bigger Box (album - Some Marvels Of Modern Science) New Hormones
*22 November 1981 (BFBS): Those Men In White Coats (album - Some Marvels Of Modern Science) New Hormones
*22 November 1981 (BFBS): What's In The Bigger Box? (album - Some Marvels Of Modern Science) New Hormones
*29 November 1981 (BFBS): My Bad Chest Feels Much Better Now (album - Some Marvels Of Modern Science) New Hormones
*06 December 1981 (BFBS): Bikers (album - Some Marvels Of Modern Science) New Hormones
*17 December 1981 (BFBS): I Didn't Get Where I Am Today By ... (album - Some Marvels Of Modern Science) New Hormones
;1982
*06 January 1982 (BFBS): Litter (album - Some Marvels Of Modern Science) New Hormones
*27 January 1982 (BFBS): Those Men In White Coats (album - Some Marvels Of Modern Science) New Hormones
*08 June 1982: Fondue Soiree (10" - Discordo 45) New Hormones ORG 21
*11 July 1982 (BFBS): My Dinner (10" - Discordo 45) New Hormones ORG 21
*18 July 1982 (BFBS): Discordo (10" - Discordo 45) New Hormones ORG 21
*29 July 1982: Fondue Soiree (10" - Discordo 45) New Hormones ORG 21
*29 July 1982 (BBC World Service): My Dinner (10" - Discordo 45) New Hormones ORG 21
*05 August 1982 (BBC World Service): Fondue Soiree (10" - Discordo 45) New Hormones ORG 21
*13 October 1982: Fondue Soiree (10" - Discordo 45) New Hormones ORG 21
;1983
*16 March 1983 (BFBS): I Didn't Get Where I Am Today By Being A Right Git (German Version) (7" - German E.P.) Outatune
*19 May 1982 (BFBS): I Would Like To Live In Prison (7" - We Are All Animals) Construct
*24 September 1983 (BFBS): I Didn`t Get Where I Am Today By Being A Right Git (German Version) (12" - German E.P.)
;later
*18 October 1988: Those Men In White Coats (LP – Some Marvels Of Modern Science) New Hormones
*06 August 1990: Bricks (7" EP 'German') Outatune (Fall In August, 1980)
*15 March 1992 (BFBS): My Bad Chest Feels Much Better Now (LP - Some Marvels Of Modern Science) New Hormones
== See Also ==
*Cover Versions
*Gigography 1980
*Dale Griffin: Peel Sessions produced
*Manchester: Sessions
*You'll Never Walk Alone
*Gigography 1980
*Sounds
== External Links ==
*Wikipedia
*Discogs
*LTM Recordings
Category:Artists