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Glaswegian Jimmy Somerville first shot to fame back in 1984 with groundbreaking band Bronski Beat. "Smalltown Boy", their debut single, made the top three in Britain and was a huge hit all over Europe. It not only introduced the world to Jimmy's unusual "falsetto squeal" as he once described it, but confronted them with a lyric addressing the isolation and rejection felt by a provincial gay youth forced into leaving town.
Although not the first pop song to deal with this topic, the chart friendly early 80's electronic dance sound and the everyday ordinariness and honesty of the three performers, made "Smalltown Boy" the biggest obviously gay record there'd ever been.
Bronski Beat went on to have several lively pop dance hits in '84 and '85 including a cover of former gay icon Donna Summer's "I Feel Love", on which they joined forces with Marc Almond.
A year of hit records across Europe and the UK, live performances, outspoken interviews and the pressures of new found fame took its toll and, something of a reluctant star, he left Bronski Beat for a rest. In a matter of months, however, he was back forming the Communards with old friend and keyboardist Richard Coles. Over the next three years the Communards enjoyed a string of hits from their two big selling albums - "Communards" ( 1986 ) and "Red" ( 1987 ).

Jimmy and Richard's material was a mixture of good old fashioned "gay" disco and more bluesy, acoustic, political and social comment songs, both of which made a strong impact in the Thatcherite 80's and perfectly reflected the two sides of Jimmy's personality as well. One moment the Communards were hurtling to the number one spot, a position they held for four weeks in September 1986, with an energetic, hedonistic cover version of the Philly soul classic "Don't Leave Me This Way", the next stunning audiences into silent awe with their touching lament for a loved one lost to Aids, "For A Friend".
At the end of '88 Richard, a former church organist, left to pursue a career in the media as a religious commentator. Jimmy then embarked on a solo career which saw him chalk up another 5 hit singles and two albums; "Read My Lips" ( 1989 ) and "The Singles Collection" ( 1990 ).

	History > Jimmy Somerville > Jimmy's History Page 1 of 8
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Glaswegian Jimmy Somerville first shot to fame back in 1984 with groundbreaking band Bronski Beat. "Smalltown Boy", their debut single, made the top three in Britain and was a huge hit all over Europe. It not only introduced the world to Jimmy's unusual "falsetto squeal" as he once described it, but confronted them with a lyric addressing the isolation and rejection felt by a provincial gay youth forced into leaving town. Although not the first pop song to deal with this topic, the chart friendly early 80's electronic dance sound and the everyday ordinariness and honesty of the three performers, made "Smalltown Boy" the biggest obviously gay record there'd ever been. Bronski Beat went on to have several lively pop dance hits in '84 and '85 including a cover of former gay icon Donna Summer's "I Feel Love", on which they joined forces with Marc Almond. A year of hit records across Europe and the UK, live performances, outspoken interviews and the pressures of new found fame took its toll and, something of a reluctant star, he left Bronski Beat for a rest. In a matter of months, however, he was back forming the Communards with old friend and keyboardist Richard Coles. Over the next three years the Communards enjoyed a string of hits from their two big selling albums - "Communards" ( 1986 ) and "Red" ( 1987 ). Jimmy and Richard's material was a mixture of good old fashioned "gay" disco and more bluesy, acoustic, political and social comment songs, both of which made a strong impact in the Thatcherite 80's and perfectly reflected the two sides of Jimmy's personality as well. One moment the Communards were hurtling to the number one spot, a position they held for four weeks in September 1986, with an energetic, hedonistic cover version of the Philly soul classic "Don't Leave Me This Way", the next stunning audiences into silent awe with their touching lament for a loved one lost to Aids, "For A Friend". At the end of '88 Richard, a former church organist, left to pursue a career in the media as a religious commentator. Jimmy then embarked on a solo career which saw him chalk up another 5 hit singles and two albums; "Read My Lips" ( 1989 ) and "The Singles Collection" ( 1990 ).