One Of The Three - The James Band Archive

Folklore: The James Timeline

This page is a scrollable timeline of key events in the James timeline. It starts in 1980.  History is continually evolving and we may not have got everything, so contact us if you see anything that you think is missing.

February 2024

James release Our World, the second single to be taken from Yummy.

Tim, Saul, Jim, Dave and Andy play Music Feeds at Manchester Apollo with an orchestra arranged and conducted by Joe Duddell. Rowetta accompanies them on backing vocals. The event, organised by Saul, raised funds for The Trussell Trust.

January 2024

James release Is This Love and announce that their 18th studio album Yummy will be released on April 12th.

November 2023

James announce their next studio album for release in April 2024 alongside a June 2024 UK arena tour with Razorlight and two headline orchestral shows with Orca 22 and The Manchester Inspirational Voices Gospel Choir at Bedford Summer Sessions and Lytham Festival for July 2024.

October 2023

James headline the Absolute Radio 15th Birthday Party at Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London after their rescheduled dates with Orca 22 and The Manchester Inspirational Voices Gospel Choir in Bath and Nottingham

July 2023

James perform an orchestral set with Orca 22 and the Manchester Inspirational Voices Choir at the Acropolis in Greece as well as at Latitude Festival and Leicester De Montfort Hall.

They headline outdoor shows in Liverpool, Halifax (x2), Thessaloniki and Dundee as well as headlining Forest Fest in Co Laois, Ireland and performing at Y Not Festival.

1990 James Singles, the first of a digital streaming series of b-sides from their years with Mercury Records, is released featuring tracks taken from the How Was It For You?, Come Home and Lose Control singles.

June 2023

Tim performs Sit Down with Coldplay at two nights of their Music Of The Spheres tour at a sold-out Etihad Stadium in Manchester

May 2023

James are awarded an Ivor Novello Icon award for songwriting. Tim, Jim, Mark and Saul were reunited with Larry for the ceremony in London where they were presented the award by Jo Whiley.

James finish off their orchestral tour with shows in Glasgow, Newcastle, Sheffield, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester (x2), Blackpool and London. Shows in Nottingham and Bath are postponed due to illness.

April 2023

James release a brand new song, Love Make A Fool, from the Be Opened By The Wonderful orchestral album.

The tour in support of the album kicks off with shows in Brighton, Cardiff, York and Edinburgh.

March 2023

James announce the release of their orchestral album Be Opened By The Wonderful and preview it with a reworking of their 1997 single She’s A Star.

January 2023

James spend four days at Blueprint Studios in Salford with the Orca 22 orchestra and Manchester Inspirational Voices choir recording songs from throughout their career for release in June as an album entitled Be Opened By The Wonderful.

November 2022

James announce a fifteen date show with the Orca 22 orchestra and Manchester Inspirational Voices choir for Spring 2023. All dates sell out in day.

July 2022

James recreate their 1992 Alton Towers show at Castlefield Bowl in Manchester, playing all 22 songs from that show in a different order before adding an encore of four post-1992 songs.  They headline Rhyl Events Arena before playing Mares Vivas Festival in Portugal and Tramlines in Sheffield.

June 2022

James play a series of outdoor shows at Bath Racecourse, London Kenwood House, Edinburgh Highland Centre Big Top (replicating the 1998 Barrowlands set) and Black Deer Festival. They finish the month with a War Child gig at Warrington Parr Hall.

April 2022

James head to Portugal for their two postponed shows at Porto’s Superbock Arena and Lisbon’s Campo Pequeno supported by The Slow Readers Club and Surma.

They contribute a Conservatory Version of Beautiful Beaches to EarthPercent’s Earth Day Campaign.

December 2021

James complete their UK and Ireland tour with shows in Dublin, Manchester and London. Their Portuguese tour is postponed to April 2022 after two members contract COVID at the end of the UK tour.

November 2021

James release the Campfire EP – a four-track CD and download of tracks recorded at their Broughton Hall get-together in May.

They kick off their UK tour with dates in Wolverhampton, Leeds, Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow.

September 2021

James headline Lancaster’s Highest Point, Warrington Neighbourhood festivals as well as playing Isle Of Wight and Playground festivals and headline shows in Scarborough, Newcastle and Margate.

August 2021

James record two tracks – Maria’s Party and All Good Boys – live to vinyl at Metropolis Studios in London

June 2021

All The Colours Of You is released on June 6 and reaches number 3 in the UK album charts.

A video for Getting Myself Into, recorded at Broughton Hall in Skipton the previous month featuring the band wearing animal masks, is released.

A major show at Kenwood House in London to celebrate the post-COVID return of live music is postponed as restrictions are extended.

Tim Booth appears on Channel 4 news and BBC Breakfast to talk about the impact of the restrictions on the band.

May 2021

James meet for the first time in 20 months at Broughton Hall near Skipton in Yorkshire to rehearse for their summer dates and to record promotional sessions for the release of All The Colours Of You.

They release two further singles from All The Colours Of You – Recover and Isabella

April 2021

James release the lead track Beautiful Beaches from their All The Colours Of You album.

They perform the track, All The Colours Of You, Say Something and a cover of I’m A Believer, recorded in isolation, for Jo Whiley’s BBC Radio 2 Sofa Sessions

March 2021

James announce the release of their sixteenth studio album All The Colours Of You and reveal the title track through an exclusive play on BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq show

January 2021

Two James tracks are featured on the Music Feeds online festival curated by Saul’s Everybody Belongs Here initiative. The first is a soundcheck recording of I Wanna Go Home from Philadelphia in 2018 and the second is the first reveal of a track called Recover from the All The Colours Of You album, recorded in Costa Rica, Scotland, Portugal and London and edited together exclusively for the festival.

October 2020

James announce the release of Live In Extraordinary Times on CD / DVD / Vinyl / download for December.

The variety of formats include a photobook and the album includes shows from their 2018/9 Living In Extraordinary Times tours.

May 2020

Jim bucks the trend of artists performing live from home by reading bedtime stories from his armchair on Facebook Live.

April 2020

Tim emerges from lockdown to perform an Isolation Session of three tracks with neighbour Joel Shearer from his home in Topanga and another online set as part of a dance workshop featuring five tracks from James, Booth And The Bad Angel and his solo career.

Four festival appearances for the summer of 2020 are cancelled due to the Coronavirus.

September 2019

James round off their UK festival season headlining Bingley Live before heading to Iberia for a headline set broadcast live from Lisbon’s Rock In Rio anniversary celebrations and shows at Madrid’s La Riviera and Porto’s Parque Pastelaria. A scheduled performance at the Visor Festival in Benidorm is cancelled due to storms.

They announce that the band will go on a hiatus before regrouping to complete the studio album that were in the middle of writing.

August 2019

James headline Lakefest, Hardwick Live and Cool Britannia festivals as well as playing their own headline shows in Edinburgh Princes Gardens and at Doncaster Racecourse and travelling to France to the Cabaret Vert festival where they are joined on stage by Patti Smith Band’s Lenny Kaye who produced their debut album Stutter.

July 2019

James head to North America for a 24-date co-headline tour with The Psychedelic Furs that runs into August culminating at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.

June 2019

James kick off the UK festival season playing The Great Estate Festival before heading to Greece to play a headline show in Thessaloniki and a festival in Athens.

From there they head to Malta for their first ever show there which is almost cancelled as Jim is taken ill shortly before stage time but the band soldier on.

They head back to the UK to play the Isle Of Wight Festival and support Courteeners at their massive hometown Heaton Park show in Manchester.

April 2019

James play two intimate sold-out Portuguese shows in the coliseums of Porto and Lisbon.

March 2019

James tour the UK supporting themselves with a thirty minute acoustic slot on dates in Margate, Bath, London, Cambridge, Nottingham, Southampton, Stoke, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Carlisle and Hull. Tim injures himself during the tour and plays part of the shows seated in a chair.

December 2018

James finish off the year with four arena shows at Glasgow SECC, London Wembley Arena, Manchester Arena and Leeds First Direct Arena supported by The Charlatans.  Both Tim and Andy make guest appearances during The Charlatans set at the London and Manchester shows.

November 2018

James played a series of international dates in Auckland and Christchurch (New Zealand), Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth (Australia), Dubai and Kirstenbosch and Pretoria (South Africa).

They also announced a twelve-date UK tour for March 2019 with them supporting themselves with a half-hour acoustic set.

October 2018

Acoustic versions of Many Faces and Backwards Glances are released.

September 2018

Acoustic versions of Coming Home (Pt 2) and Leviathan are released as well as a live video of Many Faces recorded at their Halifax show in May.

August 2018

James’ fifteenth studio album Living In Extraordinary Times is released on CD, deluxe CD, cassette, standard black vinyl, webstore only white vinyl, independent store only magenta vinyl and white label test pressing. It reaches number 6 in the UK charts.

They celebrate the release with an acoustic set and signing at Manchester’s HMV store as well as radio sessions for BBC Radio 2, BBC 5 Live and Absolute Radio as well as appearing on Zoe Ball’s ITV show.

They play festival sets at Grande Monte Verde in the Azores, Linlithgow Party In The Park, Scarborough Open Air Theatre, Festival de Vilar de Mouros in Caminha, Spain and Electric Fields in Scotland.

July 2018

An edited version of Many Faces is released as a single ahead of the release of the Living In Extraordinary Times album.

A live video for Hank, recorded at their show in Halifax in May, is revealed.

James headline the 6 Music Stage at Latitude Festival and also play Bilbao BBK and Kendal Calling.

June 2018

James appear on Later With Jools Holland on BBC2 performing Many Faces, Hank, Coming Home (Pt 2) and Sit Down across two episodes.

Coming Home (Pt 2) is released a single with an accompanying video shot by Leif Tilden at Tim’s home in California.  A live video for Better Than That, recorded at their show in Halifax in May, is also revealed.

They play at Rock In Rio Festival in Lisbon, Portugal.

May 2018

The Better Than That EP is released on May 18th on CD and vinyl and reaches number 1 in the UK Vinyl Singles chart.

James play a seven-date tour to coincide with the release in Llandudno, Warrington, Blackburn, Halifax, Middlesbrough, Oban and Scunthorpe before co-headlining the Southampton and Oxford legs of the Common People festival.  During the tour they reveal seven songs – Hank, Coming Home Pt 2, Leviathan, Many Faces, Better Than That and What’s It All About – from their forthcoming Living In Extraordinary Times album.

April 2018

The Better Than That EP is announced for release on 10″ vinyl / CD / download on May 18th and the title track is premiered by Steve Lamacq on BBC 6 Music.

March 2018

As a warm up to the summer festivals and their upcoming album, James announce a short 7-venue tour. The ‘Better Than That’ tour focuses on smaller venues (less than 2,000) and sells out almost instantly.

February 2018

The band announce a series of summer festival dates in the UK and Spain. On Twitter Tim says that the new album will be released in July.

James issue the following statement to mark the passing of The Fall’s Mark E. Smith: “Not only musically inspiring a hunt for originality, where melody meets grit and ideas, but also a bloody minded, fuck-you Manc attitude. The Fall gave us so many support slots. It’s where we fumbled around trying to find our feet. In a parallel universe The Fall are quite rightly the biggest band on the planet. Immeasurable thanks and praise.”

December 2017

Five albums from the back-catalogue are re-released, all on double heavyweight vinyl. Gold Mother, Seven and Whiplash are all reissues although the first two have revised tracklistings, but it is the first time that Millionaires and Pleased To Meet You are available on vinyl.

On Twitter Tim indicates that he’s finished recording all the vocals for the band’s new album.

James top off their year with a stunning, two-set intimate gig at their home-town’s Albert Hall to benefit the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund, the first featuring two new songs Mask and Many Faces with a string quartet arranged by long-term collaborator Joe Duddell.

Tim announces that Ron Yeadon is taking paternity leave from the band.

October 2017

James start recording new songs for the upcoming album including one called Mask that Tim references on Twitter. Composer and producer Beni Giles joins Charlie Andrews for the production.

The band announces a special concert to benefit the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund at the city’s Albert Hall. Tickets sell out in minutes.

August 2017

The end of the summer tour is marred by the chaotic Liverpool Hope and Glory Festival, where James headline the first day. A lack of preparation and oversight by the event promoter leads to crowd safety issues and the second day being cancelled including Tim’s planned performance of Moving On with the Hacienda Classical.

Tim, clearly frustrated on behalf of fans, gets into a Twitter spat with the tour promoter.

Between gigs the band works on new material for a 2018 album at Yellow Arch Studios in Sheffield.

July 2017

James release remastered versions of Stutter and Strip-mine as a double CD named Justhipper. It also contains non-album singles, B sides and different mixes.

The band starts their UK summer festival season with a warm-up gig in Leicester, where they premier two new songs, Busted and Overdose.

Their packed Castlefield Bowl gig is their first hometown performance since the terrorist attacks at Manchester Arena earlier in the year. For the gig the band produces a unique ‘Manchester Bee’ t-shirt, with each sale providing a donation to the Manchester Emergency Fund.

Further shows at Kew Gardens, Pennfest and Newcastle Times Square see them play two more new songs Backward Glances and Trouble. At Newcastle Tim and Jim join support act Peter Hook And The Light for a one-off version of the Joy Division classic Love Will Tear Us Apart.

April 2017

At the Roxy Fest in Guadalajara, James play second on the bill to their old friend Morrissey.

March 2017

James play their first gig of 2017 in El Plaza Condesa in Mexico City and debut a new song called Trouble.

Sit Down is used in the trailer for the seventh series of Game Of Thrones.

December 2016

In a return to Portugal James play Lisbon’s MEO Arena. The band then return to the UK for dates with The Slow Readers Club in Nottingham, Wolverhampton and Sheffield and with The Charlatans at the Echo Arena in Liverpool. Following the tour the band decamp to Sheffield to write songs for their fifteenth album.

Nothing But Love is featured in the Amazon Christmas adverts.

A July 2017 show at Manchester’s Castlefield Bowl is announced and sells out in under an hour.

November 2016

James play their first shows in Australia and New Zealand starting in Auckland and moving through Wellington, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne before finishing in Fremantle.

July 2016

Dear John is released as single, with a video.

James play a short series of European festival dates in Latvia, Greece, Spain, Romania and Portugal alongside a last-minute headline slot at the Beat Herder festival.

June 2016

James open the 2016 Glastonbury Festival with a set on the Friday morning on The Other Stage, their first performance at the festival for eighteen years.

They precede this with their first headline shows in Paris since 1993 and Amsterdam and Berlin since 1992 as part of a short European tour which also includes a live webcast radio concert in Paris. They also perform a session for Radio 2’s Jo Whiley including a cover of Neil Young’s Heart Of Gold, before finishing the month off with a headline show in Sheffield’s Botanical Gardens.

May 2016

The title track from Girl At The End Of The World album is released as a single, with a video.

James head out on their biggest UK tour since they reformed with dates in Bristol, Southend, London (x3), Norwich, Bournemouth, Llandudno, Manchester, Leeds, Hull, Newcastle, Glasgow and Birmingham with support on most dates from Manchester’s The Slow Readers Club who were hand-picked by Jim and Saul.

The final date of the tour in Nottingham is cancelled due to Tim having contracted a chest infection that led to him being unable to sing.

 

April 2016

The Greenpeace Palace Concert is released as part of Record Store Day limited to 1,600 copies worldwide on double clear vinyl.

James perform a session for BBC Radio 2’s Dermot O’Leary show.

Prior to the UK tour kicking off the band invite twenty lucky fans to join them at an open rehearsal in the London studio where they have been preparing for the tour.

March 2016

James release Girl At The End Of The World. After sitting at number one in the midweek charts, the band have to settle for number two at the end of the week, their joint-best placing for a studio album.

In the launch week they play in-store shows at HMV in London, Manchester and Glasgow as well as busking / signing in Leeds and Newcastle.

They perform sessions for Absolute Radio, BBC 6 Music’s Lauren Laverne show, Radio 2’s Chris Evans show including a cover of Beyonce’s Halo and BBC Scotland’s Quay Session including a cover of Glasvegas’ Daddy.

And in a packed launch week they perform Nothing But Love live on BBC1’s prime-time The One Show.

February 2016

James play two intimate shows at Manchester Academy 2 and London Scala where they reveal the majority of tracks from Girl At The End Of The World for the first time live before heading to Dubai Jazz Festival for their first show in that country.

The first “proper” single from the album, Nothing But Love, is released.

November 2015

James announce the release of Girl At The End Of The World in March 2016 and a fifteen-date UK tour to follow in May.

The first single from the album, To My Surprise, is released with a video by celebrated New York director Kris Merc.

September 2015

James headline Bingley Live with Mike Vennart on guitar duties as Adrian Oxaal had prior commitments.

They then head to Portmeirion for Festival Number 6 where Tim, Saul and Jim are reunited with Joe Duddell for a half-hour set with a classical ensemble in the Town Hall on the Saturday before co-headlining the festival with a full-band set on the Sunday.

August 2015

It’s announced that Larry Gott is taking a sabbatical from the band. Adrian Oxaal steps in on guitar duties for shows at Worcester Race Course as well as the band’s first visit to the Isle Of Man, a storm-ridden headline slot at Hardwick Live and Edinburgh’s Princes Gardens.

James headline Expofacic Festival in Cantanhede, Portugal for the third time.

July 2015

James play a sold-out and long-awaited headline slot at Delamere Forest for the Forestry Commission as well as sets at Nottingham’s Splendour Festival, a Thursday night Kendal Calling headline and Festa do Albariño in Cambados, Spain.

June 2015

James play Isle Of Wight Festival before headlining Jersey Live, their first appearance on the island.

May 2015

James open their 2015 festival season with two headline slots at Scarborough Open Air Theatre and Bearded Theory Festival. They debut Nothing But Love in Scarborough, the only time a Girl At The End Of The World song is played live before the album is recorded.

April 2015

Curse Curse is released on limited edition of 500 12″ single for Record Store Day featuring the remix competition-winning RNZ’s Procrastination Mix as well as professional remixes from Topher Jones and Embody.

March 2015

Universal release a 4-disc Super Deluxe version of the Laid / Wah Wah albums as well as an abbreviated 2-disc deluxe version both featuring b-sides and a number of unreleased demos, jams and radio sessions. Both albums are also reissued on double 180g black vinyl with the Universal store also selling limited edition of 500 clear vinyl versions.

November 2014

All I’m Saying is released as the fourth single from La Petite Mort.

November 2014

James’ UK tour starts with an intimate warm-up show at Stirling’s Albert Halls before heading to Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol, Liverpool, Glasgow, Newcastle, London’s Royal Albert Hall and Brixton Academy, Birmingham and Leeds. Support comes from Starsailor other than Blossoms in Oxford.

They then head to Portugal where they perform an afternoon guerilla gig in Porto’s Sao Bento station where 3,000 fans turned up to a gig announced in the morning before headline shows in Guimaraes, where they are accompanied by Nicolinos drummers, and Lisbon.

Moving On wins Best Animation In A Video at the UK Music Video Awards.

A radio edit of All I’m Saying is released a single with an exclusive b-side Let Us Die.

October 2014

In a busy week at the start of the month, James perform a semi-acoustic set as a five-piece at Stirling’s Tolbooth including long-lost b-side Undertaker, a live set on BBC6 Music radio and website, five songs at Rugby League’s Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford Manchester as well as an intimate show for competition winners at Manchester’s Hard Rock Cafe.

They then head to New York for a show at Webster Hall as well as an in-store at the city’s Rough Trade store and sessions with KEXP and WNYC radio stations.

A Sky Arts session recorded earlier in the year is also broadcast.

The video for All I’m Saying by Hungarian animator Peter Vacz is revealed by The Quietus at the end of the month.

September 2014

La Petite Mort is released in the US and Canada.

The album wins a poll on BBC 6 Music of albums overlooked by the Mercury Music Prize judging panel.

The winner of the Curse Curse remix competition – the RNZ Procrasination Remix – is announced. It is played at some shows on the November tour and is released on the Curse Curse 12″ Record Store Day single in April 2015.

August 2014

The alternative radio edit of Curse Curse is released via iTunes as a digital bundle that also features the single’s video recorded in July at Mares Vivas Festival.

James open the month with a headline slot at Camp Bestival where they’re joined by Johnny Marr for Come Home. They then head to Italy for the first time in twenty years for the Umbria Music Festival before a whistlestop trip to Lima, Peru for the La Feria Del Hogar festival.

July 2014

James head to Berlin for a Meet The Musician session at the Apple Store involving a Q and A session and a short set.

They then travel to Ireland for two shows at Bray’s Groove and Waterford’s Daytripper festivals.

A warm-up show at Oxford’s Academy is cancelled due to Tim having a throat infection which puts the Manchester Castlefield Bowl slot in doubt until the last minute. Support at the show comes from Blossoms.

The T In The Park is webcast live around the world before the band head to Europe for shows at Vrachon Theatre in Athens, Benicassim Festival in Spain and the Mares Vivas Festival in Vila Nova da Gaia in Portugal. The latter show is performed in a torrential downpour and is filmed for the Curse Curse single video.

The band’s planned return to the UK is delayed by plane problems at Porto Airport so they miss their planned Saturday set at Latitude Festival. After frantic conversations the band open the 6 Music tent at noon on the Sunday.

A remixed version of Curse Curse is released to radio as a single.

DJ Mag announce a competition in conjunction with the band for a fan remix of Curse Curse to be included on an upcoming 12″ single release. Stems are provided for budding remixers to do their magic on the song and close to 100 entries are made.

June 2014

La Petite Mort is released on June 2. To tie in with the release they appear on BBC 1’s Breakfast show before performing two in-store shows at Manchester’s HMV store and at London’s Rough Trade East.

The album reaches number 11 in the UK charts, missing out on a top ten slot by less than 30 sales.

James perform their first shows in Norway at Bergenfest and Slovakia at the BA Beats Festival in Bratislava before heading to Spain where Tim and Mark perform a unique in-store as a duo at Madrid’s El Corte Ingles before being joined by other members of the band at FNAC in Lisbon.

They also took over the airwaves of BBC 6 Music for two hours for a mix of live songs selected by the radio audience, interview questions and the band’s selection of songs that influenced them.

May 2014

The La Petite Mort tour of the UK and Portugal is announced for November.

The video to Moving On is released, directed by BAFTA award winning animator Ainslie Henderson.

James perform four songs – including a cover of Neil Young’s Heart Of Gold – on BBC Radio 2’s Chris Evans show.

They perform Sit Down live on BBC 1 TV ahead of a launch gig at Camden’s Electric Ballroom where they performed eight of the ten songs off the album.

April 2014

Moving On single is released and premiered on BBC Radio 2’s Chris Evans show.

March 2014

James open the month with a live session on Lauren Laverne’s BBC 6 Music show.

They also finally enter the 21st Century and set up an official @wearejames twitter account.

February 2014

Frozen Britain single released. Come Home is voted as the winner in BBC 6 Music’s Manchester Anthems vote.

James announce a headline slot at Manchester’s Summer In The City festival at the 8,000 capacity Castlefield Bowl that promptly sells out in under an hour.

The release of La Petite Mort on June 2nd is announced and the following day the lead track Frozen Britain is revealed on 6 Music.

James announce the album will be released via an innovative deal partnering publishers BMG Chrysalis with indie label Cooking Vinyl.

August 2013

James complete their summer season with gigs in Kastoria (Greece), Belladrum Festival, Feldkirch Poolbar (Austria), Haldern Festival (Germany), the Chelmsford and Stafford legs of the V Festival before heading to Ireland for shows in Dublin and their first Belfast show in over 20 years.

July 2013

James headline Wakestock Festival in Abersoch before heading to Liberec in the Czech Republic for their first ever live performance in the country.

Oh My Heart is used by the Bereavement Team at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals as part of a campaign to encourage young people to register to donate organs.

In between shows, the band retreat to their London studio to record what will become La Petite Mort.

 

June 2013

James headline a Forestry Commission show at Thetford Forest High Lodge supported by the magnificent Frazer King. The show saw them debut Curse Curse and Let Us Die.

They support The Killers at Wembley Stadium but their performance in Riga, Latvia is cancelled as there were significant concerns about the venue’s safety that delayed The Killers’ set for hours and meant James were unable to play.

 

April 2013

James hit the road with Echo And The Bunnymen on The Gathering Sound tour which takes in Glasgow, Newcastle, Sheffield, Bristol, Brixton, Bournemouth, Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester. They precede it with a secret 200-capacity warm-up show at Stirling’s Tolbooth where they had been rehearsing for the tour.

Five songs that would make up half of La Petite Mort – Moving On, Interrogation, Quicken The Dead, All In The Mind and All I’m Saying – are revealed on the tour.

James announce they’ve been invited to support The Killers at two shows in June – at Wembley Stadium and in Riga, Latvia.

Andy Diagram’s band Spaceheads release their Sun Radar EP.

March 2013

James return to a London studio to record Moving On and Gone Baby Gone for a planned Record Store Day release in April 2013. Schedules mean that the single is not completed in time to meet the production deadline.

A video of Sit Down featuring Peter Kay and the band on the streets of Bolton was aired as part of the Comic Relief charity event on BBC1.

December 2012

The Gathering Sound boxset is finally released on December 10. And the USB stick that caused untold problems actually works!

Sit Down is voted as the fourth best number 2 single of all time by Radio 2 listeners and the Official Chart Company. Numbers 1 to 3 were Ultravox’s Vienna, The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl’s Fairytale Of New York and Don Henley’s American Pie.

November 2012

James announce The Gathering Sound tour of the UK for April 2013.

The release date for the boxset of the same name is set for December 10th. No one believes it until they actually have it in their hand.

August 2012

James completed their summer festival season with a headline slot at the Stockton Weekender.

July 2012

James play a double-header weekend at the end of the month, headlining Margate Quex Park’s Sound Island Festival on the Saturday and Kendal Calling on the Sunday.

Multiple updates on the ongoing The Gathering Sound boxset saga have September, October and then November dates in the schedule.

June 2012

James play Rock In Rio in Lisbon with Bruce Springsteen. Their televised performance included Tim walking on the shoulders of the audience and catapulted The Best Of back to number one in the iTunes album chart in Portugal and Sit Down into the Top Ten singles.

Back in the UK, they headlined Wychwood Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse before heading to Greece to headline Ejekt Festival in Athens.

May 2012

James conclude their tour of the Americas with a first-ever performance in Argentina before returning home to play the rain-sodden Big Stooshie festival in Fife to raise funds for Help For Heroes.

April 2012

James open the main stage at Coachella Festival in Indio, California on two consecutive Saturdays as part of a North American tour that takes in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Tempe, Tucson and San Diego before shows in Monterrey, Mexico City, Santiago and Sao Paolo, their first visit to Brazil.

James sign a publishing deal with BMG Chrysalis.

March 2012

Tim Booth plays “three new songs” at Molly Malone’s in Los Angeles supporting friend Julia Fordham.

November 2011

James conclude their tour with The Orchestra Of The Swan and Manchester Consort Choir with shows in Manchester, Gateshead and London.

October 2011

James headline three shows in Zaragoza, Thessaloniki and Istanbul as well as playing an impromptu set in a Thessaloniki bar near the infamous White Tower, before returning to the UK for the start of the orchestra tour with The Orchestra Of The Swan and the Manchester Consort Choir playing dates in Cardiff, Birmingham, Glasgow, Nottingham, Liverpool and Manchester.

September 2011

Jim, Larry and Dave play a set of James and Inspiral Carpets tracks with former Inspirals front man Tom Hingley on vocals at Cavfest, a fund-raising event for the primary school that Jim’s grandson attended.

August 2011

James headline three shows in Portugal – in Cascais (where they open the set playing Lose Control on a boat in the harbour), Viseu and Funchal (Madeira).

The band, after a year of it appearing in listings, announce the release of The Gathering Sound boxset for October although we do have to eventually wait another 14 months for it.

July 2011

Tim Booth played his final gig of the Love Life promotional cycle at Hop Farm Festival in Kent.

James’ show in Thessaloniki was cancelled because a Greek general strike. They do however play their first show in Latvia headlining Positivus Festival as well as topping the bill at Scotland’s Wicker Man Festival.

June 2011

James announce an October / November tour with Orchestra Of The Swan and the Manchester Consort Choir conducted by Joe Duddell.

They played a five-song set with a Portuguese orchestra as part of Rádio Renascença’s 75th anniversary at Porto’s Estadio do Bessa and supported The Killers in Hyde Park, London.

May 2011

Tim Booth finishes his UK tour in Brighton and London, before playing three shows in Thessaloniki, Athens and Patras in Greece.

James headline the Queima dos Fitas Festival in Coimbra, Portugal.

April 2011

James play their first shows in South America – a 15,000 sell out show in Lima, Peru and third on the bill at the Lollapalooza festival in Santiago, Chile.

Tim’s second solo album Love Life is released, along with a radio single As Far As I Can See. He starts a UK tour in support of the album including sold-out gigs in Manchester, Glasgow and Leeds.

March 2011

Tim Booth performs radio sessions for Absolute Radio and Radio 2’s Dermot O’Leary show.

February 2011

Tim Booth announces the April release of his solo album Love Life, including a special edition vinyl with extra tracks, and a tour of the UK and Greece to coincide with it.

December 2010

James play two sold out Portuguese shows at Campo Pequeno bullring in Lisbon and the Pavilhao Rosa Mota in Porto. James complete a successful UK tour taking in two nights in London and then Birmingham, Leeds, Leicester, Glasgow and Manchester. Tim Booth relaunches his solo website and gives away a free demo of a track called Buried Alive.

November 2010

Track-listings appear on music sites for The Gathering Sound boxset – however, due to manufacturing issues, the release is put back until 2011 at the earliest. James announce that they will offer the VIP package that had been so successful in the US on their upcoming UK tour.

October 2010

James have to cancel the last show of their North American tour in Monterey due to illness.

September 2010

James release the second mini-album The Morning After, which reaches number 19 in the UK charts. James release a 2 CD collection featuring the two UK mini-albums entitled “The Morning After The Night Before” in the US. James headline the Bingley Music Live festival, before heading off to North America for a 21 date tour, taking in the US, Canada and Mexico, supported by Ed Harcourt. James offer fans the opportunity to purchase a VIP package on their North American tour, including access to the sound-check and priority access to the venue.

August 2010

Look Away released as download single. James headline the Wizard and Solfest Festivals in the UK.

July 2010

James make their debut at the Latitude Festival. However, plans to play with an orchestra and choir in the famous Sunday lunchtime slot are thwarted by the organizers. Tim makes his public reading debut in the Poetry Tent with short stories and poems he had written in the previous year. James return to Greece for two massive outdoor shows in Ioannina and Heraklion.

June 2010

James headline the second stage at the Isle of Wight Festival, following a warm up show at Oxford Academy 2. They then head to Portugal to headline the Sanjoaninas Festival.

April 2010

The Night Before mini-album is released and reaches number 20 in the UK charts. James go out on the road for the Mirrorball tour playing shows in Edinburgh, Newcastle, Sheffield, Preston, Cambridge, Southend, Bournemouth, Bristol and Liverpool and a sold out show at the Royal Albert Hall in London. They then head off to Greece to play in Patras and Athens. Between the UK and Greek dates, James record the follow-up mini-album The Morning After in five days, trying to capture a spontaneous live feel to the recordings. A December UK tour is announced entitled “The Morning After The Night Before” tour.

March 2010

Crazy single is released.

December 2009

James headline the Versus Cancer gig at Manchester’s MEN Arena, backed by an orchestra. They are joined on stage by Peter Hook of Joy Division and New Order and Rowetta for cover versions of Joy Division classics Atmosphere and Transmission.

August 2009

Not So Strong is released as a free download to wearejames.com mailing list subscribers. James play at the V Festival back in the UK, including preceding Oasis’ last ever show on the Saturday Stafford leg. James headline the Expofacic and Rock One festivals in Portugal and the Sonorama Festival in Spain and play their first ever show in Poland at Krakow’s Coca Cola Live Festival.

July 2009

James head out on a short festival tour, taking in Dublin Academy and Oxegen in Ireland and Scotland’s T In The Park before playing three sweltering nights at the outdoor Earth Theatre in Thessaloniki, Greece.

December 2008

James announce plans for a live album “James Live In 2008”, limited to 5,000 copies and only available on the We Are Sound tour.

October 2008

James perform their first North American tour for 11 years. They play two shows in Boston and then move onto Philadelphia, Washington, New York, Asbury Park, Montreal, Toronto, Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Anaheim, Mexico City and Guadalajara.

September 2008

Hey Ma album is released in the US on Decca. A limited edition seven-inch single of Waterfall is available with initial copies purchased through certain stores. Sit Down is used by UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, at the start of his keynote speech at the Labour Party Conference. Tim talked to the UK media about being unhappy that the song has been used in such a way.

August 2008

James headline three further Portuguese festivals in Crato, Agueda and Sao Miguel (Azores).

July 2008

Saturn Cars use the Whiteboy song for an advert for their Astra model. James announce plans for their first North American tour in 11 years to take place in September and October, including their first dates in Mexico. James headline the Mares Vives Festival in Vila Nova da Gaia, on the outskirts of Porto in Portugal.

June 2008

James appear as a five-piece on the legendary KCRW show Morning Becomes Eclectic in Santa Monica, CA. The following night, they play a low-key acoustic show at Los Angeles Spaceland, their first US show for eleven years. James play the main stage of the Isle of Wight Festival. Manchester band, The Courteeners, who had been segueing a section of Tomorrow into their hit What Took You So Long live, release a cover of Out To Get You as the b-side to their single No You Didn’t, No You Don’t.

May 2008

James perform two small Spanish shows in Madrid and Barcelona before headlining the Murcia SOS Festival in Spain and local festivals in Braga and Coimbra in Portugal. Tim appears on Radio 2’s Jools Holland show and performs a cover of Lonnie Donegan’s cult hit “Paddy McGinty’s Goat”.

April 2008

Hey Ma is released. James promote it with a lunchtime in-store show in Manchester’s HMV store. The album charted at number 10 in the UK and number 3 in Greece. James perform a sell-out UK tour featuring shows in Bradford, Derby, Lincoln, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield, London, Norwich, Oxford, Bristol, Blackpool, Edinburgh and Aberdeen and announce a December arena tour. James are the main act on BBC2’s Later With Jools show on 28th April.

March 2008

Whiteboy single released.

October 2007

James retire to Chateau de Warsy in France with Lee Muddy Baker and record the album Hey Ma.

September 2007

James play two nights at Hoxton Bar And Grill, with sets comprising entirely of new material before recording sessions for their new album.

June 2007

James perform at festivals throughout the summer in Latvia, Portugal, Turkey, Greece Spain and Ireland as well as the T In The Park, Belladrum and V Festivals in the UK.

May 2007

Who Are You single released.

April 2007

The Best Of compilation Fresh As A Daisy – The Singles – is released. James perform a triumphant sold-out tour of the UK taking in shows in Glasgow, Newcastle, Birmingham, London and Manchester. James perform two secret gigs – in Manchester HMV’s basement store and at the Club Academy where they first met.

March 2007

James play their first show for five and a half years at Hoxton Bar And Grill in London.

January 2007

James announce that they will be reforming for shows later in the year. Seven UK shows sell out on the day tickets go on sale, 35,000 tickets being shifted in a matter of hours.

June 2006

The Canadian compilation 20th Century Masters is released.

April 2006

Tim Booth plays Judas and performs Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now and Blue Monday as part of BBC’s Manchester Passion reworking of the Easter story.

February 2006

Mark Hunter plays keyboards with The Bluetones on their UK tour.

July 2005

James release Seven – The Live DVD featuring the 1991 video release with additional bonus videos.

June 2005

Tim Booth plays two songs – Lullaby and Sit Down – accompanied by Saul as part of Patti Smith’s Innocence and Experience evening at the Meltdown Festival in London.

January 2005

Tim Booth does a short radio tour of the US.

November 2004

Tim Booth tours the UK playing Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester and London.

October 2004

James The Collection is released.

August 2004

Tim Booth releases Wave Hello as a single.

July 2004

Tim Booth tours the UK playing at the Move Festival, T In The Park, Bristol, Oxford, London, Brighton, Guilfest, Birmingham and Norwich.

June 2004

Tim Booth releases his debut solo album Bone and a single Down To The Sea. Tim Booth’s set at the Glastonbury Festival is broadcast in full by BBC 3.

April 2004

Tim Booth and the Individuals play their first UK tour in Portsmouth, Liverpool, Cardiff and London.

February 2004

Tim Booth plays his first “electric” shows with his new band at the Sussex Arts Club in Brighton.

September 2003

Tim Booth plays first solo shows supporting The LoveGods in Brighton, as part of Manchester In The City festival and supporting The Music at the ICA in London as part of an Amnesty International festival.

June 2002

James issue a live CD, video and DVD entitled Getting Away With It Live through Sanctuary Records and Warner Music Vision.

December 2001

James play their final UK shows with Tim Booth taking in Brighton, Leeds, Newcastle, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and London. Former band members Larry Gott and Andy Diagram are slated to join the band for those shows. They are joined on stage by Brian Eno for Sometimes at the “final” show at Wembley Arena.

Mercury Records reissue four James albums – Gold Mother, Laid, Seven and Whiplash – with extra live and remix tracks plus B-Sides Ultra. All fail to chart.

November 2001

Jim Glennie issues a statement that James will continue in future in some form or other. James play three gigs in Madrid, Lisbon and Porto.

October 2001

  Tim Booth announces through the James official website that he intends to leave the band after the December UK tour to pursue other interests.

September 2001

James headline the Madeira Island Music Festival in Portugal and the Electron Festival in Greece.

August 2001

Rumours surface that James and Mercury Records are to part company after the Pleased To Meet You album. This was confirmed two weeks later by the band. James headline the Benicassim Festival in Spain and the Guildford Festival in England on consecutive nights before heading to Ireland for the Witnness Festival before enduring the stigma of supporting Bryan Adams at Nottingham’s Cities in the Park event.

July 2001

The album Pleased To Meet You is released and reaches a disappointing number 11 in the UK album charts. James play at Grimsby Auditorium as a warm-up for appearances at the T In The Park and Liverpool Summer Pops festivals.

June 2001

James release the only single from the Pleased To Meet You album – Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) – it peaks at Number 22. James play a special one-off gig for XFM at the Sound nightclub in Leicester Square, London.

February 2001

Mixing sessions for the new James album take place in London.

January 2001

James play at Jacques Villeneuve’s charity ski event near Geneva in Switzerland.

December 2000

James record their latest album in a three-week period at the House In The Woods studio.

November 2000

James – Folklore: The Official History by Stuart Maconie is release by Virgin Books 9th November. James support Smashing Pumpkins at the Centurion Supersport Park in South Africa – their first ever gig in that country.

October 2000

James spend three weeks at the House In The Woods studios in Surrey writing and refining new material with Brian Eno. James perform a low-key UK theatre tour unveiling 12 songs written for their as yet unrecorded album.

May 2000

James headline several Portuguese festivals, an MTV Five Night Stand concert in London (supported by Coldplay) and become one of the first Western bands to play China.

April 2000

James sketch about 20 demos during a two-week studio session.

December 1999

We’re Going To Miss You single released. James, supported by Cast, play an seven-date arena tour of the UK.

November 1999

James play the last ever session at the old GLR basement in London. James play two nights at Dublin’s Olympia, their first headline Irish dates for eight years.

October 1999

Millionaires album and Just Like Fred Astaire single released. James play two secret shows at Norwich UEA and London’s Embassy Rooms to coincide with the release of the Millionaires album.

September 1999

James headline BBC Radio 1’s live festival in Manchester’s Heaton Park. James perform an exclusive invitation only acoustic show at Glasgow’s Lighthouse.

July 1999

I Know What I’m Here For single released. James play a warm-up show at Liverpool L2 and then steal the show at the second day of T In The Park. James play a spectacular one-off show at the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool with Mark entering from the floor playing the Wurlitzer and the band backed with PVC-clad dancing girls. James headline the Guildford Festival.

February 1999

James undertakes the final mixing sessions for the Millionaires album at three London studios.

December 1998

James embark on an arena tour of nine dates including sold out dates at Wembley Arena and Manchester Nynex, supported by Stereophonics and Gene. Eight new songs are unveiled during the tour.

November 1998

Sit Down Apollo 440 Remix single released.

August 1998

James play a warm-up show in Carlisle ahead of two performances at the V98 festival in Leeds and Chelmsford.

July 1998

James cancel T In The Park appearance due to Tim’s throat problem.

June 1998

James headline the Finsbury Park Fleadh. James almost cancel Glastonbury Festival appearance due to a clash with the England vs Columbia World Cup match.

May 1998

Runaground single released. Tim starts playing Len in a month-long run of Edward Bond’s controversial play Saved at Bolton’s Octagon Theatre.

April 1998

James spend two weeks at Bath’s Real World Studios rehearsing for the tour and writing new material. James play a six-date sold-out Greatest Hits tour in Manchester, Glasgow, Doncaster and Brixton.

March 1998

Destiny Calling single released. The Best Of / Unhinged album released. James have a radio and TV promotional blitz – performing on GLR, Virgin Radio, MTV and two live Radio 1 sessions. James play two free live shows, at London’s Virgin Megastore and on a barge in Manchester’s Castlefields area to promote the Best Of.

January 1998

James play invitation-only secret acoustic gig at London Whitfield Street Studios which is recorded for the Unhinged bonus CD given away with early copies of the Best Of.

December 1997

Saul starts to write material at his home studio over Christmas which will form the basis for the Best Of singles and some Millionaires tracks.

August 1997

James return to the UK to play Reading Festival. James cancel V97 appearance due to Lollapolooza commitments. .

July 1997

James take part in the Lollapolooza travelling festival across America with bands like Korn, Prodigy and Underworld with Tim in a neck brace. James cancel T In The Park appearance due to Lollapolooza commitments. .

June 1997

Waltzing Along single released. Dance offshoot Money make their only ever live appearance at the Toronto WXNE Festival. James cancel Glastonbury appearance due to Lollapolooza commitments. .

May 1997

James begin North American tour in Vancouver. Three dates into the tour, Tim Booth’s neck injury means he has to spend a week in traction in a San Francisco hotel room and the North American tour is cancelled.

April 1997

Tomorrow single released.

March 1997

James play a series of low-key dates in the US to coincide with the release of the Whiplash album. James take on their first UK tour for almost four years, playing thirteen mainly sold out dates culminating in a hometown show at Manchester Apollo.

February 1997

Whiplash album and She’s A Star single released. A friend of Saul’s in Toronto, Michael Kulas, is drafted in to add backing vocals.

January 1997

James make their eagerly awaited live return with Adrian Oxaal’s live debut at three low-key shows at Sheffield Leadmill, Bristol Fleece And Firkin and London Camden Dingwalls.

June 1996

I Believe is released. Tim’s Booth’s side project album Booth and the Bad Angel is released with a single. James act as the backing band for Booth and the Bad Angel on BBC’s Later With Jools Holland show.

February 1996

James reconvene at RAK Studios with Adrian on-board and Tim back to record the Whiplash album with Stephen Hague.

October 1995

The Booth and the Bad Angel album is finished in Liverpool with the assistance of Bernard Butler who tried to convince Tim to leave James and form a band with him.

June 1995

Tim records the basic tracks for the Booth and the Bad Angel album in New York.

January 1995

James spent two weeks in Westside Studios with Brian Eno.

November 1994: Black Thursday

Black Thursday: James reconvene at The Windings in Wrexham to start their new album. Larry announces that he’s quitting, Tim announces that he’s off to record the Booth and the Bad Angel album with Angelo Badalamenti and a £250,000 tax bill is discovered.

September 1994

Wah Wah album released.

August 1994

James spend a few days in a “big barn” near Woodstock, working on new material. James play some small festivals in Oregon and Washington on the West Coast before the massive Woodstock II festival, Larry’s last ever gig in his first stint in the band.

June 1994

James return to the UK to play the Glastonbury Festival, Larry’s last UK gig in his first stint in the band.

May 1994

To capitalise on the success of the previous tour and the massive radio success of Laid, James return for a second tour of the US, playing at significantly larger venues than two months earlier.

April 1994

Martine resigns as James manager, Peter Rudge takes over worldwide representation.

March 1994

Jam J / Say Something single released.

February 1994

James start an extensive tour of the US.

January 1994

James open the year with a series of US arena shows as special guests of Duran Duran.

December 1993

James tour the UK again supported by Radiohead. Andy Diagram makes a one-off reappearance at the Manchester show.

November 1993

Laid single released. James with support from Radiohead tour Europe visiting Germany, France, Spain Switzerland and Portugal.

October 1993

After a full-scale US tour is cancelled due to marketing disagreements, James play two low-key shows in California.

September 1993

Laid album released. James tour US as part of the WOMAD touring festival. James play one song live into each show on Radio 1 on the day of release of the Laid album.

August 1993

Sometimes single released. James headline the WOMAD Festival in Carlylon Bay, Cornwall.

July 1993

James support Neil Young on three European outdoor dates in London, Milan and Bad Mergentheim (Germany).

March 1993

James play a one-off gig at Bath Moles Club as an attempt to record a live album and roadtest the new songs.

February 1993

The Laid and Wah Wah albums are recorded over a six-week period at Real World Studios in Bath.

December 1992

James play six dates in Japan with The Soup Dragons. Returning to the UK, James play five acoustic shows in Leeds, Glasgow, Bristol, Manchester and London, the latter being recorded for a Radio 1 In Concert broadcast.

September 1992

James support Neil Young on his acoustic US tour. Andy leaves the band at the end of the summer.

July 1992

Seven EP single released. James headline their own triumphant show at Alton Towers supported by PIL in front of 30,000 people. The gig was broadcast live on Radio 1 and almost had to be cancelled as high winds blew the stage roof off earlier in the day. After playing the Fort Le Neuilay festival in Calais, a couple of members of the band and the crew are attacked in a nightclub in Calais as the festival degenerates into violence. James are offered an acoustic support slot for Neil Young’s US tour and are contacted by Brian Eno with a view to him producing James next album.

June 1992

James headline Saturday night at Glastonbury as a late replacement for Morrissey, kicking off the show with a cover of Morrissey’s We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful, reportedly a tribute to James.

May 1992

James follow their US tour with dates in France, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Italy and Portugal.

March 1992

Ring The Bells single released. Starting in Toronto, James first North American tour is a massive success with 11 sold-out shows.

February 1992

Seven album and Live Video released. James return and play their first US gig – an outdoor rain-soaked free show in San Francisco’s Union Square.

January 1992

As the band travel to LA to film the Born of Frustration video, Larry is mugged at gunpoint on Sunset Boulevard and catches the next flight home. Tour manager Richard stands in for the video shoot in a very concealing hat and coat. Born Of Frustration single released.

December 1991

James play a pre-Christmas fan-club show at Warrington Parr Hall previewing all 11 tracks from the Seven album, the show being filmed for subsequent release as the Seven Live Video.

November 1991

Sound single released.

September 1991

James complete recording of the Seven album with Youth at Olympic Studios in London. James embark on their biggest ever tour, 31 sold out dates previewing most of the Seven album, which should have been ready to coincide with the tour.

August 1991

After their own set was curtailed by power failure and with Andy and all their equipment shipped home, James are drafted in at the last moment to headline the Hultsfred Festival in Sweden after Status Quo withdrew. James headline Reading Festival and are critically mauled for daring to play Sit Down early in the set and playing five new songs.

June 1991

James preview three new songs – Heavens, Protect Me and Born of Frustration – live on Channel 4’s Friday Night At The Dome.

May 1991

The Gold Mother album is rereleased with Sit Down and Lose Control replacing Hang On and Crescendo. Fans are offered the opportunity to exchange a copy of the old album for a new copy at branches of Our Price.

April 1991

Come Home live video released.

March 1991

Sit Down single released. James retire to the Manor complex in Oxford to start recording the follow-up to Gold Mother.

James play a secret show at Paris La Locomotive club where they preview ten songs from their recent demos that were to form the basis of the Seven album, albeit sounding radically different and including Pressure’s On and the unreleased Somebody Help Me.

February 1991

Three weeks before the single release, James perform Sit Down on Terry Wogan’s primetime BBC chat show.

They head to Paris and play a secret show at the Locomotive Club where they reveal ten songs from the recording sessions for Seven that they are in the middle of.

January 1991

James play Wembley Arena as part of the indie night of the Brit Awards.

James play five songs included the unreleased Ring The Bells on the roof of Piccadilly Hotel in Manchester. 5,000 people turned up and the Manchester traffic was brought to a standstill.

November 1990

Lose Control single released. James sell out a mini tour taking in Newcastle, Glasgow and Brixton, completed with two triumphant nights at Manchester’s 10,000 capacity G-Mex. The second night is filmed for later release on the Come Home live video. A proposed mini-tour of the Soviet Union is cancelled at the last moment.

August 1990

James play two sold out nights at Blackpool’s Empress Ballroom. James support David Bowie and The Cure at outdoor shows at Manchester Maine Road and Crystal Palace.

June 1990

Gold Mother album released. Come Home single released. James tour the UK on their World Cup tour taking days off when England have matches. At the end of the tour, they play a triumphant show at Glastonbury.

May 1990

How Was It For You? is denied a Top of the Pops appearance due to the video featuring Tim immersed in water.

April 1990

How Was It For You? single released.

January 1990

James sign to Fontana Records.

November 1989

Come Home single released. James perform a triumphant UK tour despite being flu-ridden for most of it. Audiences take to stage invasions and mass sit-downs when Sit Down is played.

August 1989

James record the Gold Mother album at Out Of The Blue in Bury and the Windings in Wrexham.

June 1989

Andy Diagram joins James and he and Mark play their first gig with the band in Liverpool. Sit Down single is released and reaches #77 in the UK charts.

April 1989

Mark Hunter joins James on the recommendation of Mick Armistead, James on-and-off keyboard player during 1988. Following the success of One Man Clapping, James reach agreement with Rough Trade to release a couple of singles and to record an album.

March 1989

Saul and Dave join the James and have their first gig at Newcastle Riverside. One Man Clapping is released.

November 1988

James play three nights at Bath Moles Club, recorded for later release as One Man Clapping. Following an on-stage fight with Tim at a Stoke Polytechnic ball and a recent history of major arguments, Gavan is asked to leave the band.

September 1988

Ya Ho single released. Strip-mine album released. Using a loophole in their record contract stating that Sire must inform the band in writing six months after delivery of the second album that they wanted to take up the option of five more albums, James break free from Sire.

May 1988

James headline an Anti-Clause 28 show at Manchester International supported by The Stone Roses.

March 1988

What For single released. James play a small UK tour to promote the release of What For.

October 1987

James play a three night tour of Manchester, London and Birmingham despite another delay to the release of the Strip-Mine album.

August 1987

James play two nights at Manchester Green Rooms including an acoustic set.

February 1987

James record the original version of the Strip Mine album at Rockfield Studios in Wales with producer Hugh Jones.

January 1987

James play two live shows at London ULU, broadcast by GLR, and Northampton Ring The Bells as preparation for their upcoming recording sessions.

November 1986

James embark on a small venue tour of Germany.

October 1986

James play a series of UK dates including a three-night residency at the London ICA.

July 1986

Stutter album released. So Many Ways single released. James play at the Manchester PSV Club as part of the Tenth Summer celebrations.

June 1986

So Many Ways single released.James play a series of UK dates to coincide with the release of the Stutter album.

March 1986

Chain Mail single released.

January 1986

James record their debut album Stutter with Lenny Kaye at Amazon Studios in Liverpool.

October 1985

James record the Chain Mail / Sit Down EP with Lenny Kaye at Crescent Studios in Bath.

August 1985

James play a series of shows including the Manchester Platt Fields Festival and Bristol Aston Court Festival.

June 1985

Village Fire EP released. James withdraw from The Smiths tour of the US a couple of days before they were due to depart. James perform at the Glastonbury and WOMAD festivals.

May 1985

James announce to Factory Records that they want to leave the label and record for a major label.

March 1985

James II EP released. James feature on the cover of the NME for the first time.

February 1985

James tour the UK as special guests of The Smiths on their Meat Is Murder tour from February to April, fuelling still further press comparisons of the two bands.

November 1984

James support The Smiths on a nine-date Irish tour, travelling around in the back of a Transit van.

October 1984

The James II EP is recorded at Strawberry Studios in Stockport.

September 1984

Before the Hacienda show, Jim breaks the news to Paul that he has been replaced in the band by Larry due to his increasing unreliability and drug-related problems.

July 1984

Jim marries Jennie Ingram.

May 1984

James play their only gig with both Paul Gilbertson and Larry Gott in the band at Manchester’s basement Devilles nightclub.

December 1983

December: James support New Order at Brixton Academy, their first major London show

November 1983

Jimone EP released. James support The Smiths at The Hacienda.

October 1983

James play their first John Peel session for Radio One.

August 1983

Jimone EP recorded at Strawberry Studios in Stockport.

November 1982

James support Big Country at the Hacienda in a show recorded for A Factory Outing video.

August 1982

The name James is adopted by the band after many changes over the past two years. James debut at Darwen’s 21 Club advertised as “James (Not A Poet)” and Tim started the show by reading a poem.

July 1982

James record a four-track demo – Hymn From A Village, If Things Were Perfect, Withdrawn and What’s The World – with Nick Garside at Out Of The Blue – Tim’s first recorded work with the band.

March 1982

Jim, Gavan and Paul spot Tim dancing at a Manchester University disco and ask him if he would like to dance in their band.

After a meeting in a Withington scout hut the next day, Tim makes his live debut at Sheffield Leadmill supporting Orange Juice as Model Team International.

 

 

January 1982

Model Team International record their first real demos in Hulme with Jenny Ingram on vocals.

December 1980

Volume Distortion, as they were now known, support The Fall at Manchester Poly’s Cavendish Hall.

March 1980

James, or Venereal and The Diseases as they were then known, play their first ever show at Eccles British Legion.


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