Section 1.0 - The Band
1.1 - Who are Delirious?
Delirious? is a five-piece band from Littlehampton, which is a town on the south coast of England. The band members are:
| Martin Smith | Lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitars |
| Stuart Garrard | Electric guitars, backing vocals |
| Jon Thatcher | Bass Guitar |
| Stewart Smith | Drums and percussion |
| Tim Jupp | keyboards, Hammond organ, programming |
1.2 - How and when did the band start?
The band went full-time as Delirious? in April of 1996. They had existed as the Cutting Edge Band since in 1992 and are celebrating their tenth anniversary this year (2002). On August 30th 1996 Martin was involved in a serious car crash with his wife, Anna, and Jon, which landed him in the hospital for a couple of weeks. During this time, he was faced with the reality of death, preciousness of life and the question of what to do with his life. He decided that he was to go full-time with the Cutting Edge Band and to raise the flag high for Jesus Christ.
1.3 - What is Cutting Edge
?
Cutting Edge was a monthly meeting that was geared towards young
people. It was an event put together to draw young people to the
church and to give them something to do. Martin was in charge of the
music and led on his guitar. Stewart and Tim backed him along with
various other people. Stu became their lead guitarist at the end of
1994. During this time, Martin had written many songs. Over the
course of 2 years, they recorded these songs on 4 separate
mini-albums. These cassettes were usually sold-out within 2 weeks of
the first run. As this was going on, the band (which was unofficially
known as The Cutting Edge Band
) received many offers to do gigs
all around England. The band had to fit in the gigs at the weekends
so that they could work. In 1995, Jon became the band's full-time
bass player. By 1996, the band had quit their jobs, changed their
name to Delirious?, and the rest is history.
1.4 - What were the band members doing before Delirious?
Martin was a producer and engineer at a recording studio he helped to run with Tim. Stu G was an electrician in London before moving to Littlehampton. Jon was a first year university student studying art. Stew was a graphic designer running his own business. And Tim ran a recording studio that produced many albums.
1.5 - Where did the band's name come from?
The idea for the name Delirious? came when they stumbled across the word in the dictionary. They thought that it summed up how they were feeling at the time and their relationship with God.
1.6 - What record labels are Delirious? signed to?
Delirious? Are signed to their own label called Furious? Records. They formed this label back in the Cutting Edge days when they were selling the Cutting Edge tapes. All album and single releases in the UK are handled by Furious? Records.
All releases in the US so far have been through Sparrow, except for Mezzamorphis which was released through both Sparrow and Virgin. However, Furious? have recently established a US office, together with their distribution arm, Fierce! Future Delirious? releases in the US will be though Furious? in partnership with Chordant who, like Sparrow and Virgin, are owned by EMI.
1.7 - Who is Delirious? manager?
Delirious? is managed by Tony Patoto at Furious?
1.8 - Do they have families?
Yes. They are all married and all have children. Martin is married to Anna, and they have three children named Eli, Noah and Indi-anna. Tim is married to Becca; they have four kids Rosie, Harry, Milly and Poppy-May. Stewart is married to Sarah, and they have 2 girls named Abigail and Jemimah. Jon is married to Kristen and they have one daughter, called Winona. Lastly, Stu G is married to Karen, and has two daughters Katlyn and Eden.
1.9 - Are any members related?
David Thatcher is an Elder at Arun Community Church, and is married to Heather. They have five children; Becca, Sarah, Anna, Jon and Ben. Jon is the Jon that we all know and love while Becca, Sarah, and Anna are the wives of Tim, Stew, and Martin. This makes four of them brothers-in-law which no doubt makes Christmas very interesting. Stu G is the only one who is not related to the other members.
1.10 - What's their relationship with Neil Morrissey?
Neil Morrissey, the British television star of the show Men Behaving Badly is a friend of the band's. Martin and Stu met him on the beach in California in early 1999. They invited him to a Virgin Records party and he's been friends with the band ever since. He doesn't have the same beliefs as the band but does dig the music.
1.11 - What equipment do they use?
The most complete and up to date list of equipment used by Delirious? is to be found at Damo'z World on the official Delirious? web site (http://www.delirious.co.uk/dw_index.html).
1.12 - Why is there a question mark at the end of Delirious?
The question mark is there because of the path that they have taken both as a band and individually. The band has some uncertainties as to where they are headed. Every step is a journey and nobody knows where God will take them.
1.13 - What's the deal with the "5" in the name?
In the early days, the logo spelled Delirious? with a 5 like this:
deliriou5?
These days the 5 has been taken from the logo and
name so it is simply (?) Delirious?
Why the 5 in the first
place? According to Stew, the original designer, There wasn't an
or s
on the keyboardit's just a design thing.
1.14 - Have Delirious? sold out
?
Ever since King of Fools was given its first UK release
many people have accused d: of selling out
in order to make it
big in the mainstream. As evidence they cite the lack of references
to Jesus in later material and the fact that it is now very rare for
Martin to preach from the stage. This belief that the band had become
too soft in expressing their Christianity cumulated in Sparrow nearly
leaving the song It's OK off the US release of
Mezzamorphis because of the use of the phrase pretty
as hell.
There were many heated discussions upon this topic.
There have been many thoughts posted on this matter, but perhaps the
most deserving of our attention is that of Martin Smith himself. A
copy of Martin's letter to the fans regarding this issue can be found
at: http://www.sphericalbowl.co.uk/amdfaq/letter.shtml.
It is left up to you to decide whether you think we have the right to judge another's faith. It is also recommended that if you value your mailbox you do not ask this question on the newsgroup.