The Godfathers rose from the ashes of the Sid Presley Experience. SPE lasted from late 1983 through early 1985, released a few singles, and was a rising underground band, but it is said that they liked to brawl more than they liked to play. SPE featured the Coyne brothers along with guitarist Del Bartle and drummer Kev Murphy. After the breakup, Del and Kev went on to form the band Unholy Trinity, which released a record called Rise to The Occassion (1985 UK). That album contains a few tracks that SPE used to perform live, but that were never officially released.
After the breakup, the Coynes' new band did a short American tour under the SPE moniker, but due to fights over the name, changed the name to the Godfathers. The lineup was: Peter Coyne on vocals, Chris Coyne on bass, Kris Dollimore (lead) and Mike Gibson on guitar, and George Mazur on drums.
1985 saw the Godfathers release a number of singles on their own independent Corporate Image label - including This Damn Nation and I Want Everything. The songs on these singles were compiled on 1986's Hit by Hit, put out by Link Records. A cover of John Lennon's 'Cold Turkey' is often called the gem of the collection. ('Cold Turkey', along with the originals 'I Want You' and 'Can't Leave Her Alone', dated from the SPE era.)
The rise of the Godfathers continued after being signed to Epic Records. "Birth, School, Work, Death" in 1987 led off their major label release of the same name, and was a high charting single in England. The song was also a nominee in 1988 for MTV's Video Music Awards for "Best New Artist In A Video". (They lost to Gun'N'Roses "Welcome to the Jungle"). 'Cause I Said So' was also released as a single off the album. 'Love Is Dead' is another of my favorites on that album.
1989 saw the release of "More Songs About Love and Hate", which featured the college-radio hit "She Gives Me Love". To me, this album also solidified the band as a certifiable institution - hard driving rock done their own way, and done well. Exhibit 1: The single for I'm Lost And Then I'm Found, also off this album.
In 1990, Kris left the band and was replaced by Chris Burrows (former member of the Presidents of Explosion) who started playing shows almost immediately. (Kris is now with Del Amitri, since 1997. He also played on the Damned's Not of This Earth and some other stuff.)
However, the band kept on rolling with 1991's Unreal World, featuring the title hit of the same name. (See good reviews of the album on the articles page.) With the departure of Chris and the death of long-time producer Vic Maile, the sound of that album is slightly different, but only enough to keep it all interesting. Also in 1991, the band also toured Australia for the first time.
Maybe the powers that be did not view the Godfathers with the icon status that fans and college-radio bestowed upon them, because Unreal World was the last Epic Release. But that has not stopped the band. In 1992 a live album was released (Dope, Rock'n'Roll, and Fucking in the Streets).
In 1993, a self-titled album (a.k.a. Orange because of the cover art) was released on Intercord Records (out of Europe). The lineup of the band changed a bit by then. Ali Byworth replaced George on drums and Gibson had also departed. Compared to the hints of psychadelica of Unreal World, Orange marked a return to four-on-the-floor rock'n'roll.
In 1995, Afterlife was released, also on Intercord records. This time out, the Coynes were backed by Ricky Newson on guitars aka Ronnie Rocka, Paul Ronney on guitars, and Grant Nicholas on skins. 'That Special Feeling' is among the best tunes on the album and was released as a single. The album opener (as usual per the Godfathers) is another rocker (Love is Real), and the closer is the wistful 'Afterlife.' Unfortunately, the band did not tour the United States this time around.
A "best of" retrospective of the three Epic-albums (with a tune or two from Hit by Hit) was released in 1996, with liner notes by Peter and Chris Coyne. For some inexplicable reason it is also titled "Birth School Work Death." (with the best of subtitle). However, the album, containing 18 tracks, does give a good overview of the band's work for those newly initiated to the band. It contains all the hit singles in addition to some b-sides not readily available (at least in the U.S.), such as Angela, Miss That Girl, and the original Corporate Image version of Love Is Dead.
Since Afterlife, the band soldiered on, playing a select number of shows yearly, especially to a core crowd of fans in Europe. The lineup of the band continued to alter. Paul Ronney departed in early '97, and James Stirling was added as a guitarist at some point. Les Riggs was put on the drumkit. Still not to be missed was the Annual Infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre Show. Photos from an April 99 show are available on the photos page. Unfortunately, the 2000 V.Day show was cancelled for reasons I can't fathom.
A number of European shows were played in spring of 2000. (pics) The lineup of the band morphed again due to unforseen circumstances including the fact that James Stirling was unavailable, Les Riggs was stuck in the United States, and Ricky Newson suffered a collapsed lung (he later recovered!). So Peter set out with a old bandmate Paul Ronney on guitar along with the rhythm section of Paul's new band Q-Sling, namely Sam Powell on Bass and 'Igor' on the drumkit. Sam, at age 17 at the time, beat out Kris Dollimore as the youngest ever Godfather (who was 18 when he joined I believe). This 4-piece lineup did 20 shows. A few more festival shows were done in Belgium later in 2000 along with James Stirling to make the band a five piece again.
In August 2000, the band played what was probably their last official show in Mechelen, Belgium. Reports tell me that it was a rocker, as usual. Peter Coyne, I am told, surfaced in October 2000, on the British version of Who Wants to Be A Millionaire. Hey, its his life.
Fans hold out hope for an occassional reunion gig, or perhaps---please!!---a parting bring-down-the-house single release to make a proper exit.
I am sad to report that in Feb of 2001, Sam Powell, bassist on the spring 2000 tour, committed suicide. On February 26, 2001, the Godfathers appeared at a London tribute concert for Sam. The lineup was: Peter, Paul Ronney, James Stirling, Igor, and Gary Mills on drums. (pic) The band performed BSWD and I Wanna Be Your Dog. There is a full report about the show on the Q-Sling website.
No matter what the future brings, however, the music will live on.
This biography is (hopefully) to be continued! Be sure to see the articles page for the ramblings of better writers than I for more details on the band (at least for the 1985-1991 era).