Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

Lloyd Cole and the Commotions were a British rock and pop band formed in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1982. Between 1984 and 1989, they achieved four Top 20 albums and five Top 40 singles in the UK, along with success in countries such as Australia, the Netherlands, Sweden, and New Zealand. After disbanding in 1989, lead singer Lloyd Cole pursued a solo career, though the band briefly reunited in 2004 for a 20th anniversary tour in the UK and Ireland.

Band History

Lloyd Cole, originally from Derbyshire, England, formed the band while studying at the University of Glasgow. Signed to Polydor Records, they released their debut single, Perfect Skin, in 1984, reaching No. 26 on the UK Singles Chart, followed by Forest Fire, which peaked at No. 41. Their first studio album, Rattlesnakes (1984), produced by Paul Hardiman with string arrangements by Anne Dudley, reached No. 13 in the UK and was certified gold. The album gained critical acclaim, earning a place on NME’s Top 100 Albums of All Time list and influencing artists such as Manic Street Preachers and Tori Amos.

Their second album, Easy Pieces (1985), produced by Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley, debuted at No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart and quickly went gold. The singles Brand New Friend and Lost Weekend were their highest-charting hits, reaching No. 19 and No. 17, respectively.

In 1987, the band released their third and final album, Mainstream, produced by Ian Stanley (formerly of Tears for Fears). While the album reached No. 9 in the UK and achieved gold certification, it produced only one Top 40 hit, Jennifer She Said (No. 31). Other singles, including My Bag and the From the Hip EP, failed to chart as successfully.

Following their breakup in 1989, the band released a Best Of compilation, 1984–1989, which reached No. 14 in the UK and earned another gold certification. Lloyd Cole then launched a solo career, releasing his self-titled debut album in 1990.

In 2004, the band briefly reunited to celebrate the Rattlesnakes deluxe edition release, performing sold-out shows in Glasgow, Dublin, Manchester, and London.

Band Members

• Lloyd Cole (born 31 January 1961) – lead vocals, guitar, lyricist
• Blair Cowan (born c. 1960) – keyboards
• Lawrence Donegan (born 13 July 1961) – bass guitar
• Neil Clark (born 3 July 1958) – guitar
• Stephen Irvine (born 16 December 1959) – drums

The band’s manager, Derek McKillop, was credited as a full member in the credits for Mainstream.

Post-Breakup Careers

• Lloyd Cole moved to New York and later New England, pursuing a solo career with Polydor, Capitol, and Rykodisc before launching independent releases. He collaborated with artists like Robert Quine, Fred Maher, Dave Derby, and Jill Sobule.
• Neil Clark continued working with Cole on most of his solo records and tours. He also played in Bloomsday with Irvine and Chris Thomson (of The Bathers) and later composed music for film and TV.
• Blair Cowan worked with Cole’s early solo band and later contributed to albums such as Broken Record (2010), Standards (2013), Guesswork (2019), and On Pain (2023). He also played with Del Amitri, Paul Quinn and the Independent Group, the Kevin McDermott Orchestra, and Texas.
• Lawrence Donegan transitioned to journalism, working as a golf correspondent for The Guardian and writing books, including No News at Throat Lake and Four Iron in the Soul.
• Stephen Irvine joined Bloomsday with Clark and worked as a session musician for Del Amitri, Étienne Daho, and Sarah Cracknell. He later became a band and artist manager.

Lloyd Cole and the Commotions remain an influential band in British rock, with their melodic songwriting and literate lyricism continuing to resonate with fans and musicians alike.