The Chameleons are the ultimate cult band. Some might say, the stadium band that never played stadiums. Post punk’s most influential “Lost” group who’ve had genre defining impact over their lifetime but with little commercial success. To fans of their music though, the group is something almost sacred and spiritual. This quartet hailing from the north of Manchester, England released their seminal album, Script of the Bridge, in 1983. Followed by subsequent critically acclaimed records such as 1985’s What Does Anything Mean? Basically and Strange Times from 1986. The British music press often used terms such as “sonic architects” or “sonic cathedrals” when describing the band’s celebration of atmospheric sound. The Chameleons’ musical influence is woven throughout the sound of modern bands like The Killers, Interpol, The National and Flaming Lips to 90s acts like The Verve. Noel Gallagher, songwriter for Oasis, said in 2018, that he listens to the album Strange Times almost every day and that “It must have influenced my early songwriting ”because “ I can hear ME in it everywhere!”
On their way to Los Angeles to co-headline the Substance Festival with The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Chameleons will be performing at the Coconino Center for the Arts on Tuesday October 18th at 7 pm. Presented by Mudshark Recording Studios, opening the show will be local act Le Trebuchet.
