Joe Marchese of The Second Disc interviewed band members for the liner notes on both of these reissues, which are dedicated to the memory of Nick Marsh. Flesh For Lulu has reformed and will be making their return with their first live shows planned for February 2027. On February 7, the band will be hosting a 40th Anniversary Celebration in honor of Nick Marsh at The Lexington in London – visit their website for more information.
Long Live The New Flesh
The earliest incarnation of Flesh For Lulu came together in 1982 in Brixton, London and worked to build an underground following in the post-punk/goth scene, playing gigs alongside bands like Alien Sex Fiend and Specimen. By the next year, they were recording demos and had achieved enough recognition to be invited to record a John Peel session. All this groundwork led to a deal with Polydor Records for the band’s self-titled debut album released in 1984. A U.K. tour support slot with The Sisters Of Mercy gave them further exposure and more albums followed. 1986 found Flesh For Lulu signed to Beggars Banquet with producer Mike Hedges (The Cure, The Beat, Siouxsie And The Banshees) on board to help the now classic-era line-up of Flesh For Lulu realize their Beggars debut, Long Live The New Flesh.
“…Long Live The New Flesh, heralded an artistic rebirth for the band which had formed five years earlier… [and] found the quartet renewing their rock ’n’ roll credentials even as they branched out into new, stylistically diverse directions.” — excerpt from liner notes by Joe Marchese
All four members contributed songs and additional member Derek “Del Boy” Greening joined on guitar to allow lead singer Nick Marsh to focus on his vocals. The album, recorded at Abbey Road Studios, threw off the single, “Postcards From Paradise” which made the U.S. Dance chart and a second single, “Siamese Twist” attracted some college radio play, but it was “I Go Crazy” from the John Hughes’ film Some Kind Of Wonderful that gave the band their broadest American success to date gaining some chart action on the Billboard Alternative survey. The single preceded the release of the album and was added to the U.S. version of the record. On the back of the Some Kind Of Wonderful soundtrack, Flesh For Lulu toured with soundtrack-mates March Violets, promoting both the soundtrack and their Beggars debut, Long Live The New Flesh.
This new expanded edition includes 15 bonus tracks and is remastered from the original tapes.
See tracklisting + pre-order here: https://omnivorerecordings.com/shop/long-live-the-new-flesh/.
Plastic Fantastic
After the successes of Long Live The New Flesh, which included chart hits, U.S. touring and the use of “I Go Crazy” in the John Hughes film Some Kind Of Wonderful, Flesh For Lulu regrouped in INXS’s Australian studio with producer Mark Optiz (Hoodoo Gurus, The Saints, INXS) to work on what would become the classic line-up’s last album, Plastic Fantastic. Relationships within the band had frayed, ultimately leading to the break-up of the band, but not before more hits were notched thanks to Plastic Fantastic.
“Decline And Fall” peaked at #15 on the U.S. Billboard Modern Rock chart and just like “Siamese Twist” from Long Live The New Flesh before it, it garnered college radio play. The John Hughes film association also continued with Plastic Fantastic tracks, “Slide” and “Slowdown” appearing in the 1989 John Candy comedy, Uncle Buck. If that wasn’t enough, “Every Little Word” hit #14 on the U.S. Dance chart and “Time And Space” #9 on the U.S. Alternative chart. As the band splintered, new members joined to meet the touring obligations for a support slot on the Public Image Ltd. American tour.
The expanded edition is remastered from the original tapes and includes the bonus track “Bloodshot Moon.” Disc Two contains the full recording of the band’s performance at Club Malibu in Long Island, NY on November 26, 1989. Eight of the 15 songs from this live show have never been issued before.
See tracklisting + pre-order here: https://omnivorerecordings.com/shop/plastic-fantastic/.
