McAlmont & Butler
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McAlmont & Butler are an English rock/soul music duo, comprising singer David McAlmont and guitarist Bernard Butler.<ref name="Larkin90">Template:Cite book</ref>
History
Formed in 1994, David McAlmont and Bernard Butler had already experienced individual success: Butler as the guitarist in Suede, and McAlmont as a solo singer as well as part of the duo Thieves.<ref name="Larkin90"/>
The duo was formed after Butler met McAlmont at the Jazz Café in Camden. He presented the singer with the beginnings of the song "Yes", which was then an instrumental. The single, released in May 1995, was described as "a conceptual masterpiece"<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> and the production likened to that of Phil Spector.<ref name="Buckley 1999 152">Template:Cite book</ref> In support of "Yes", the duo appeared at London's Hanover Grand in May 1995 (supported by Edwyn Collins<ref name="Irish News 2015">Template:Cite news</ref>) and on Later... With Jools Holland the following month.<ref name="Larkin90"/><ref name="Sinclair">Template:Cite news</ref> "Yes" reached number 8 in the UK Singles Chart,<ref name="Larkin90"/> and its success encouraged the duo to write and record more material.<ref name="Buckley 1999 152" /> The follow-up single, "You Do", was released in October 1995. The same month, McAlmont was interviewed by the NME – apparently intoxicated<ref name="Buckley 1999 152"/> – in which he highlighted how his and Butler's working relationship had deteriorated and they had little communication,<ref name="NME 2991">Template:Cite magazine</ref> as well as accusing Butler of homophobia;<ref name="Independent 2013">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Petridis 2002">Template:Cite news</ref> he later retracted his comments and issued Butler an apology.<ref name="Buckley 1999 152"/> In November, The Sound Of... McAlmont & Butler was released as a compilation of the group's recording sessions.<ref name="Larkin90"/>
The duo split following the release of the album; the split has been attributed to either McAlmont's NME interview or that from the outset the duo planned to have a limited duration.<ref name="Murphy 2015">Template:Cite news</ref>
Reformations
After pursuing solo careers for several years, the duo reunited in 2002 and released Bring It Back and two singles – "Falling" and "Bring It Back".<ref name="Murphy 2015" /> The group toured in promotion of the album.<ref name="Thompson AMG">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Preparations for a third album were made, although negotiations with EMI Records fell through and the label dropped the band.<ref name="Murphy 2015" /><ref name="Lapatine 2006">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Despite this, the song "Speed" – taken from the album sessions – was released by Rough Trade Records in 2006.<ref name="Lapatine 2006" />
In 2014, Butler organised two special shows as McAlmont & Butler in aid of the Bobath Centre, a cerebral palsy treatment organisation. The performances were held at the Union Chapel and the Assembly Hall, both in Islington. The duo were supported by The Magic Numbers, and the shows received positive reviews; both The Guardian and the Evening Standard rating them four stars.<ref name="Sullivan 2014">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Paine 2014">Template:Cite news</ref>
In November 2015, the group headlined a UK tour.<ref name="Official Shows 2015">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | UK Albums Chart<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">Template:Cite book</ref> |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The Sound Of... McAlmont & Butler | No. 33 |
| 2002 | Bring It Back | No. 18 |
Singles
| Year | Single | UK Singles Chart<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "Yes" | No. 8 | The Sound Of... McAlmont & Butler |
| "You Do" | No. 17 | ||
| 2002 | "Falling" | No. 23 | Bring It Back |
| "Bring It Back" | No. 36 | ||
| 2006 | "Speed" | No. 193 | Non-album single |