View source for When in Rome (band)

{{Short description|English synth-pop/new wave group}}
{{About|the English band||When in Rome (disambiguation){{!}}When in Rome}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name              = When in Rome
| image             = File:When in Rome 1985.jpg
| caption           = When in Rome in 1987 (from left to right): Clive Farrington, Andrew Mann and Michael Floreale.
| image_size        = 
| background        = group_or_band
| alias             = 
| origin            = [[Manchester]], England
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Synth-pop]]<ref name="Farrington"/>|[[New wave music|new wave]]<ref>{{cite web|first= Erik |last= Hage |title= When in Rome – Artist Biography |publisher= [[AllMusic]]. [[All Media Network]] |access-date= 27 April 2016 |url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/when-in-rome-mn0000247250/biography}}</ref>}}
| years_active      = 1987–1990
| label             = [[Virgin Records|10 Records/Virgin]]<br/>Spectra Records<br/>August Day Recordings
| website           = {{URL|https://www.farrington-mann.com/}}
| current_members   = '''When in Rome II'''<br/>Michael Floreale<br/>[[Tony Fennell]]<br/>Chris Willett<br/>Jack Ivins<br/>'''When in Rome UK'''<br/>Clive Farrington<br/>Andrew Mann<br/>Rob Juarez
| past_members      = Andy O'Connell<br/>John Ceravolo
}}

'''When in Rome''' were an English [[synth-pop]]/[[New wave music|new wave]] group, which originally consisted of vocalists Clive Farrington and Andrew Mann, and keyboardist Michael Floreale. They are best known for their 1988 single "[[The Promise (When in Rome song)|The Promise]]", which was their only top 40 hit on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in the US. As of July 2012, there were two bands using the When in Rome name, although the original lineup has been disbanded since 1990.<ref name="Farrington">{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/mar/13/when-rome-original-lead-singer-clive-farrington-di/ |title=When in Rome's Clive Farrington 'fires back' |author=Valcourt, Keith |work=[[The Washington Times]] |date=13 March 2016 |access-date=13 August 2017}}</ref><ref name="Gaydos">{{cite web |url=http://citizensvoice.com/arts-living/singer-clive-farrington-shares-humble-beginnings-of-when-in-rome-uk-1.1345227 |title=Singer Clive Farrington shares humble beginnings of When in Rome UK |author=Gaydos, Kristen |publisher=[[The Citizens' Voice]] |date=19 June 2012 |access-date=14 August 2017}}</ref><ref name="Pollstar">{{cite web |url=https://www.pollstar.com/article/when-in-rome-name-dispute-19967 |title=When in Rome Name Dispute |author=Amendola, Tina |publisher=[[Pollstar]] |date=27 May 2011 |access-date=14 August 2017}}</ref>

==History==
===Formation===
Michael Floreale and Andy O'Connell were recruited by Clive Farrington to replace departed members of his Manchester-based group Beau Leisure.<ref name=KIOS/>{{cn|date=March 2025}} Floreale and Farrington began to write songs together. Later, Farrington and Floreale saw Andrew Mann, a beat poet, and had him join their performances.<ref name=KIOS>{{cite web|url=http://oldschool.tblog.com/post/1970110112 |title=Back to the 80s: Interview with Michael Floreale & Clive Farrington of When in Rome|publisher=Kickin' it Old School|date=10 February 2011}}</ref> O'Connell left the group; the remaining trio recorded some demos – sometimes including Mann's friend [[Corinne Drewery]] of [[Swing Out Sister]] – while seeking a recording deal.<ref name=KIOS/> Farrington and Floreale came up with the band name after using the [[When in Rome, do as the Romans do|famous proverb]] to note the cultural differences between Manchester and London.<ref name="Gaydos"/> The band was signed to [[Elektra Records]] for a month before the label closed its London office, forcing the band to leave due to the time difference with the U.S.<ref name="Cryptic Rock">{{cite web |url=http://crypticrock.com/interview-clive-farrington-rome-uk/ |title=Interview – Clive Farrington of When in Rome UK |publisher=Cryptic Rock |date=26 May 2017 |access-date=19 August 2017}}</ref>

===Debut album===
The band was signed to [[Virgin Records|Virgin UK]] subsidiary 10 Records, and their first release in 1987 was The Promise. The 7" release  flopped and did not achieve success, while the original 12" dance mix had a minor dance club hit.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/97649-When-In-Rome-The-Promise#:~:text=Notes,for%20the%201988%20re%2Drelease. |title=When in Rome - The Promise |access-date=7 June 2025}}</ref> An album followed in 1988, as their [[When in Rome (When in Rome album)|self-titled debut album]] was released on 3 May 1988. Producers Ben Rogan (who had worked with [[Sade (band)|Sade]]) and [[Richard James Burgess]] took special interest in the trio's song "[[The Promise (When in Rome song)|The Promise]]", issued first as a 12" dance disc. When the song became popular, hitting the top of ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''{{'}}s Dance Club Play chart, Virgin ordered an album. A remixed version of "The Promise" was the album's first single. It was an instant success, barely missing the top ten in the United States, peaking at No.&nbsp;11.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.professorofrock.com/the-promise-by-when-in-rome/ |title=The Promise by When in Rome |website=Professor of Rock |access-date=2 June 2019}}</ref> The re-released single still failed poorly in the UK with No. 86 on January 1989 and No. 58 in February. Months later, the trio reached ''Billboard''{{'}}s pop chart's lower reaches for the last time with "[[Heaven Knows (When in Rome song)|Heaven Knows]]" (No.&nbsp;95 on US and 14 on US Dance, Feb 1989). Additional singles did little on the charts, like "Everything" and "Sight of Your Tears" (40, US Dance, May 1989) and the group ultimately faded away.

===Breakup, reformation, and legal issues===
In 1990, Floreale was fired by Farrington and Mann over creative differences and When in Rome disbanded shortly after Virgin Records dropped them in 1993.<ref name="Farrington"/><ref name="Cryptic Rock"/> Floreale moved to the United States, and now lives in [[Dallas]], [[Texas]], where he composes music for television and film.<ref>[http://www.lasysinc.com/Pop_Music/British_Pop_Music/JAYDEN_FROST_WHEN_IN_ROME_Blue.html L.A.S.Y.S. Inc.] Artist Summary: Jayden Frost. Frost's album ''Blue'' was produced by Floreale.</ref> Tensions arose between the members again in 2003, when "The Promise" was used in the 2004 film ''[[Napoleon Dynamite]]'' and Floreale made sole claim to the song, despite the trio receiving equal royalties.<ref name="Farrington"/><ref name="Cryptic Rock"/>

Floreale reformed the band in 2006 with vocalist and guitarist John Ceravolo under the name "When in Rome II".<ref name=KIOS/><ref name="Floreale">{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/feb/10/when-rome-ii-revives-promise-hit-revitalized-band/ |title=When in Rome II: 'Keeping the Promise' |author=Valcourt, Keith |work=[[The Washington Times]] |date=10 February 2016 |access-date=13 August 2017}}</ref> Since then, the band has toured the United States and South America with various other 1980s groups.<ref name=KIOS/><ref>{{cite web | author=Jacquelyn Carberry | title=Musical memories: It's time for the 1980s to get the nostalgia treatment with the Lost '80s Live tour  | url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2007/09/21/features/story03.html | publisher=Honolulu Star Bulletin | date=21 September 2007 | access-date=11 April 2009 }}</ref> Farrington and Mann reformed in 2009, under the name "When in Rome UK".<ref>[http://www.mdmarchive.co.uk/archive/showartefact.php?bid=1078 Manchester Direct Music Archive:] When in Rome (submitted by Clive Farrington)</ref> Floreale, however, had trademarked the name "When in Rome" in 2010,<ref name="Pollstar"/><ref name="Farrington"/><ref name="Floreale"/><ref name="Gaydos"/> which was unsuccessfully challenged by Farrington and Mann.<ref name="Farrington"/><ref name="Floreale"/> According to a ''[[Pollstar]]'' article in May 2011, the US trademark has been acknowledged: "In order to comply with the legal claim, the UK members, are billed as "Clive Farrington and Andrew Mann formerly of When in Rome" for U.S. gigs.<ref name="Pollstar"/> In addition, Floreale filed an infringement claim against Rob Juarez, an associate of Farrington and Mann who attempted to trademark his [[Tribute act|tribute band]] name "When in Rome Revisited".<ref name="Pollstar"/>

===Present day===
On 10 May 2016, Farrington, with Pat Flanagan, published his autobiography ''Confessions of a One Hit Wonder: "The Promise" ... And the Aftermath''.<ref name="Gaydos"/>

As of 2019, When in Rome UK performs in the U.S. as "Farrington+Mann Original Members of When in Rome UK".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lost80slive.com/artist/clive-farrington-original-vocals-rome/ |title=Farrington + Mann Original Members of When in Rome UK |website=Lost 80s Live! |access-date=2 June 2019}}</ref>

In 2019, When In Rome II reformed with former [[Ultravox]] singer and [[Enuff Z'Nuff]] guitarist, [[Tony Fennell]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=BIO |url=https://www.wheninrome2.com/bio |access-date=2022-05-24 |website=When In Rome II |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Totally '80s Live |url=https://www.qromag.com/totally-80s-live/ |access-date=2022-05-24 |website=QRO Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2020, Farrington+Mann, in collaboration with the [[City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra]] and Slovenia Symphonic Film Orchestra, released a 30th anniversary orchestral edition of their hit song "The Promise" on both CD and vinyl.<ref>{{cite web |title=ADAY062 Farrington And Mann "The Promise" |url=http://www.augustday.net/aday062.html |website=August Day |access-date=17 April 2020}}</ref>

==Members==
===Original line-up (1987–1990)===
*Clive Farrington – vocals
*Andrew Mann – vocals
*Michael Floreale – keyboards

===When in Rome II (2006–present)===
*Michael Floreale – keyboards
*[[Tony Fennell]] – vocals, guitar
*Chris Willett – drums
*Jack Ivins - drums

===When in Rome UK (2009–present)===
*Clive Farrington – vocals
*Andrew Mann – vocals
*Rob Juarez – drums

== Discography ==
===Studio albums===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title
! rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Details
! colspan="2"| Peak chart positions
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! style="width:45px;"| [[Sverigetopplistan|SWE]]<br><ref>{{cite web|author=Steffen Hung |url=http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=When+In+Rome&titel=When+In+Rome&cat=a |title=When in Rome – When in Rome |publisher=swedishcharts.com |access-date=8 December 2012}}</ref>
! style="width:45px;"| [[Billboard 200|US]]<br><ref>{{cite web|author=When in Rome |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/when-in-rome-mn0000247250/awards |title=When in Rome – Awards |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=8 December 2012}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[When in Rome (When in Rome album)|When in Rome]]''
| 
* Release date: 3 May 1988
* Label: [[Virgin Records]]
| 42
| 84
|-
! scope="row"| ''When in Rome II''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lightfinderpr.com/when-in-rome-ii-album-releases-through-spectra-music-group/ |title=When in Rome II album releases through Spectra Music Group |publisher=Lightfinder |date=11 August 2015 |access-date=13 August 2017}}</ref>
| 
* Release date: 11 August 2015
* Label: Spectra Records
| —
| —
|-
| colspan="15" style="font-size:8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart
|}

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Single
! colspan="3"| Peak chart positions
! rowspan="2"| Album
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! style="width:35px;"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book| first= David| last= Roberts| year= 2006| title= British Hit Singles & Albums| edition= 19th| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London| isbn= 1-904994-10-5}}</ref>
! style="width:35px;"| [[Hot 100|US]]<br><ref name=billboard>[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=when in rome|chart=all}} Billboard.com Artist Chart History, When in Rome]</ref>
! style="width:35px;"| [[Hot Dance Club Play|US<br>Dance]]<br><ref name=billboard/>
|-
| 1988
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[The Promise (When in Rome song)|The Promise]]" 
| 58
| 11
| 1
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="4"| ''When in Rome''
|-
| rowspan=2| 1989
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Heaven Knows (When in Rome song)|Heaven Knows]]" 
| —
| 95
| 14
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Everything" 
| —
| —
| —
|-
| 1990
| style="text-align:left;"| "Sight of Your Tears" 
| —
| —
| 40
|-
| 2020
| style="text-align:left;"| "The Promise (Orchestral Version)"<br><small>(as Farrington+Mann)</small> 
| —
| —
| —
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="1"| Non-album single
|-
| colspan="15" style="font-size:8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart
|}

==See also==
* [[List of number-one dance hits (United States)]]
* [[List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://wheninrome2.com/}} (When in Rome II)
*{{Facebook|wirofficial|When in Rome II}}
*{{Facebook|farringtonandmanntheoriginalwheninromeuk|When in Rome UK}}

{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:When In Rome (Band)}}
[[Category:English new wave musical groups]]
[[Category:English synth-pop new wave groups]]
[[Category:English musical trios]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Manchester]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1987]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1990]]
[[Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2006]]
[[Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2009]]
[[Category:Virgin Records artists]]
[[Category:English synth-pop groups]]