James formed in Manchester in 1982, when Paul Gilbertson (guitar), Jim Glennie (bass), and Gavan Whelan (drums) met Tim Booth (vocals) at Manchester University and asked him to join their fledgling band. During the next year, James became regulars on the local club circuit, and by 1983 they had signed to Factory, releasing their debut EP, Jimone, later that year. Two years later, their second EP, James 2, was released, and Morrissey, the lead singer of the Smiths, publicly endorsed the group, asking them to open for his band. By the summer of 1985, Larry Gott had replaced Gilbertson, and the group signed to Sire Records. Working with producer Lenny Kaye, the group recorded its debut, Stutter, that year, releasing it in early 1986 to generally positive reviews.
Over the next two years, James toured constantly, building up a solid fan base. They released their second album, the folky Strip-Mine, in 1988. The record failed to capitalize on their live following, and the band departed Sire the following year, signing with the independent Rough Trade. On their new label, James released the moderately successful "Sit Down" and the live album One Man Clapping, which climbed to number one on the indie charts. In 1990, Whelan was replaced by David Baynton-Power, and James expanded to a septet with the addition of keyboardist Mark Hunter, violinist Saul Davies, and trumpeter Andy Diagram. The new lineup signed to Fontana Records and released Gold Mother in the fall. Following a handful of minor hit singles, Gold Mother finally became a breakthrough success in the spring of 1991, when a re-recorded version of "Sit Down" -- now boasting a contemporary baggy beat -- climbed to number two on the U.K. charts and became a staple on U.S. modern rock radio. Although the success of "Sit Down" was a blessing, it also was a curse, as the single became all James were known for. The band began to rebel in concert, playing almost nothing but new material, and its next album, 1992's Seven, was perceived as a misguided stab at big arena rock.
For the follow-up to Seven, James stripped away Diagram and worked with producer Brian Eno. The resulting record, Laid, was a quieter, more ambitious album, and it received some of the band's best reviews. While the album was ignored in the U.K., it was an alternative rock hit in the U.S. on the strength of the title track, which became a crossover hit. During the Laid sessions, James recorded another album's worth of experimental music with Eno that was released in the fall of 1994 as Wah Wah. The album received mixed reviews and the group took an extended break throughout 1995, partly due to guitarist Gott's departure. In 1996, Tim Booth recorded a collaboration with composer Angelo Badalamenti (Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet) entitled Booth and the Bad Angel, which received generally positive reviews.
With guitarist Adrian Oxaal in tow, James returned in early 1997 with Whiplash, a more straightforward record that was greeted with mixed reviews. Released in 1999, Millionaires, recorded with new guitarist Michael Kulas, was initially released only in the U.K. Their spectacular follow-up, 2001's Pleased to Meet You, was also available only in the U.K. A few months later, frontman Tim Booth announced his departure from the band he founded nearly 20 years before, and James called it quits following a winter tour of the U.K. in December 2001. The break was short-lived, however, as the band re-formed in 2007 and embarked on a tour in support of the double-disc compilation Fresh as a Daisy: The Singles. The following year saw the release of Hey Ma, James' tenth studio album.
The band returned in 2010 with a pair of "mini-albums" called The Night Before and The Morning After, respectively, before late 2011 brought a short, but novel, U.K. tour (the Orchestra of the Swan and the Manchester Consort Choir were their backup bands). In 2012, the lavish and long-awaited box set The Gathering Sound was issued, and included previously unreleased audio material alongside long-unavailable video concert footage. Details of the Max Dingel-produced La Petite Mort emerged in February 2014, and this first post-Mercury studio album was released four months later in June. Dingel then returned to produce their 2016 record, Girl at the End of the World. Written in Scotland and recorded in London, the album was described by the band as "big but personal, abrasive but warming" and "ultimately uplifting." Two years later, James teamed with producers Charlie Andrew and Beni Giles for Living in Extraordinary Times.
During the 2020 pandemic, Tim Booth teamed up with his Topanga Canyon neighbor Jacknife Lee to construct the basic tracks the rest of James completed while in quarantine. The resulting All the Colours of You was released in June 2021.
Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
There are other artists using the same name:
2) James is the vocalist of popular Bangladeshi band Nagar Baul. He was a member of the band Feelings and later formed the band Nagar Baul. James was raised in Chittagong and later moved to Dhaka for his singing career. Stylishly longhaired James--overwhelmingly known as the Nagar Baul (the City Bard), was the pioneer of psychedelic rock in Bangladesh. Originally a lead singer and guitarist, he has always been respected for his solo projects. He became affectionately called Guru by his fans. His tunes were bright and his singing a divergence from the archetypal tunes preferred by the commercial-type directors. His songs expressed love, rage, discontent, frustration, and happiness.
3) A Dutch rapper connected to the Fakkelteitgroep.
4) James Lee - known as James - was a former member of Royal Pirates, a South Korean band. On 2015, he got into an accident that caused him unable to play bass any longer. Hence, he decided to left the band.
James moved back to Los Angeles and decided to release music written post accident in a project called ’the Light EP’ consisted of 5 tracks. (http://jamesleeofficial.com/)
We're Going to Miss You
James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is a shield, this is a charm with your name on
By this beat, by this verse I'm protected
From your heat and your curse is reflected
If anybody hurts me, if anybody hurts me
Here's a mirror with your name on
Singing, "We're gonna miss you when you're gone"
Singing, "We're gonna miss you when you're gone"
Your green eyes, poison pen, serpent's tongue
Will return to the source that they came from
Revenge is the wine, forgiveness is fine
Forgiveness divine, revenge is more human
Here's a mirror with your name on
Singing, "We're gonna miss you when you're gone"
Here's a mirror with your name on
Singing, "We're gonna miss you when you're gone"
No words, all's been said and done
No more words, all's been said and done
Here's a mirror with your name on
Singing, "We're gonna miss you when you're gone"
Here's a mirror with your name on
Singing, "We're gonna miss you when you're gone"
Here's a mirror with your name on
Singing, "We're gonna miss you when you're gone"
The lyrics of "We're Going to Miss You" by James display emotions of protection, revenge, and forgiveness towards someone who has hurt the singer in some way. The song begins by stating that it is not just a song, but rather a shield and charm with the subject's name on it. The singer claims protection from the subject's heat and curse through the song's beat and verses. The use of a mirror with the subject's name on it is an interesting metaphorical tool used to display how the subject will reflect on their actions once they are gone. The singer is ultimately protected from any harm the subject may cause via the charm and shield, and the subject's actions are foreseen as reflecting back on them in the end.
In the chorus, the singer repeats the use of a mirror with the subject's name on it while singing, "We're gonna miss you when you're gone." This line creates a sense of foreshadowing or foretelling of the subject's inevitable departure, which may be seen as a permanent escape from their actions. The second verse speaks of the subject's malicious ways with green eyes, poison pen, and serpent's tongue. The singer predicts that the subject will eventually return to the source where they came from, in turn, implying how one's actions can have a boomerang effect.
The third verse focuses on revenge, as wine, and forgiveness, which is described as divine. The conflict between these two mutually exclusive concepts highlights the complexity of the situation at hand. The singer ultimately concludes that revenge may be more human, thus bringing the concept of morals and ethics into play. This song is a testament to the emotional maturity of James as a musician, showcasing his ability to handle complex emotional situations with ease.
Line by Line Meaning
This is not, this is not a song
This is not just a song, but it's a shield that I use to protect myself from your negative energy.
This is a shield, this is a charm with your name on
I am using the lyrics of this song as a shield to protect myself from you and your negative energy.
By this beat, by this verse I'm protected
The rhythm and lyrics of this song are protecting me from your negative energy and bad intentions.
From your heat and your curse is reflected
Your negative energy and bad intentions are being reflected back to you instead of affecting me.
If anybody hurts me, if anybody hurts me
If anyone tries to hurt me or bring me down, I am ready to defend myself using this song as a shield.
Here's a mirror with your name on
I am turning your negative energy back on you and showing you the reflection of your own behavior.
Singing, "We're gonna miss you when you're gone"
I am not going to let your negativity affect me anymore and I will be happy when you are no longer in my life.
Your green eyes, poison pen, serpent's tongue
You are using your wicked ways to try to hurt me, but I am not going to let it affect me anymore.
Will return to the source that they came from
The negative energy and bad intentions that you are directing towards me will eventually come back to you.
Revenge is the wine, forgiveness is fine
You may seek revenge, but I choose to forgive you and move on with my life.
Forgiveness divine, revenge is more human
Forgiving someone is a divine act, but seeking revenge is something that comes more naturally to humans.
No words, all's been said and done
I have said all that I need to say and I am ready to move on from this situation.
Here's a mirror with your name on
I am continuing to show you the reflection of your own behavior and the negative energy that you bring into my life.
Singing, "We're gonna miss you when you're gone"
I am standing strong in the face of your negativity and I will be happy when you are no longer a part of my life.
Here's a mirror with your name on
I am continuing to use your own negative energy against you and show you the reflection of your own behavior.
Singing, "We're gonna miss you when you're gone"
I am standing up for myself and showing you that your negative behavior is not welcome in my life.
Here's a mirror with your name on
I am continuing to use your own negative energy against you and show you the reflection of your own behavior.
Singing, "We're gonna miss you when you're gone"
I am standing up for myself and showing you that your negative behavior is not welcome in my life.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: David John Baynton-Power, James Glennie, Mark Hunter, Saul Davies, Timothy Booth
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrRicksym
After listening to this band for over 30 years I can safely say they are just as BRILLIANT as they were when I was 14 !!
@lindahawthorn4749
I just had to comment.... I've loved this band for years n years... Now I'm a great granny aged 66 and still love to bop about (dodgy hip style)
@4everflyn
Same... Class
@darkmantis69
These guys are super brilliant. Hard to believe they weren’t as popular as u2
@darkmantis69
Yea James is top notch. Been listening since 85 ❤
@ciglivsky
@@darkmantis69 I was born '85 in Croatia. First heard about them 2003 and was devastated that such a good band break up. 2008 after they reunited my first airplane trip ever was to their Brixton concert. Such amazing band
@RICARDOORICARDOO
I started listening this band very recently, I can not believe how extraordinary they are, I can not believe either why I had not heard about them and because they are not as massive as they should be. They have a long list of songs that reach your soul, deep and existential. Today we hear a lot of disposable aesthetic products. At least I can say that "James" exists and the good music, although devalued by the masses, prevails and subsists for those of us who really love music. Thanks "James", I met you late, but it was worth it. :)
@BoxerfanUK
Ricardo De Maria ....... well said, glad you finally discovered James
@dannytaylor6493
well said richie boy ---was not lost in translation
@gordonstark6379
Better late than never at all, great great band. even better live if you get the opportunity