Born on 11 May: Mark Burgess is a true chameleon

He was born in Manchester in 1960 and has never loved anything other than alternative rock under a myriad of different names.

This was certainly not his very first experience but, formed in 1981 with guitarist Dave Fielding, The Chameleons have lived through several incarnations. Firmly holding the bass, Mark Burgess also took on the role of singer and songwriter with a penchant for introspective lyrics. Drummer John Lever helped him maintain an unrelenting rhythm while Reg Smithies, a second guitarist, contributed to hits such as "Don’t Fall", "Up Down The Escalator" and "Second Skin"; all three hits are found on their first album "Script Of The Bridge" in 1983. Their debut effort aligned with the economic crisis and social instability experienced by the Manchester region and England at that time. Before initially disbanding in 1987 due to the usual disagreements centred around individual egos, The Chameleons produced "What Does Anything Mean? Basically" (1985) and "Strange Times" (1986). After a 17-year hiatus and a string of other musical activities, Burgess reformed The Chameleons in 2000 with the original drummer but the albums "Strip" (2000) and "This Never Ending Now" (2002), acoustic versions of old tracks, signify the nostalgic nature of the approach. Despite no longer being concerned with adding new anthems to his group’s repertoire and following Lever’s passing in 2017, Burgess continues to tour clubs with the same fervour. After all, whether it’s The National or Editors, there are many today who claim the influence of the Manchester group.

Whether with The Sun And The Moon (1988), The Sons Of God (1993), Invincible (1999) or Black Swan Lane (since 2007), he multiplies recordings and still seems in search of an inner truth that he struggles to reach. The latest album to date, the aptly named "Vita Eterna", is a fine example in this respect...

(MH with Stéphane Soupart - Photo: © Christophe Dehousse / Music Belgium Photos)

Photo: Mark Burgess with The Chameleons in Venlo (Netherlands) on 2 February 2025