The Men They Couldn't Hang - (1984-1991) Controversy and Success

(1984-1991) Controversy and Success

Their first single, "The Green Fields of France", was released in 1984. Written by Eric Bogle (of "And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" fame), the song's protagonist imagined having a conversation with one of the fallen soldiers of World War I whilst sitting by his graveside. It received considerable airplay on the John Peel show on BBC Radio 1 and finished at Number 3 in Peel's Festive 50 for that year. It became a big hit on the UK Indie Chart.

The following year they were signed to the Demon label, which released their debut album, The Night of a Thousand Candles, and its accompanying single "Ironmasters", a self-penned number by main songwriter Simmonds, linking the Industrial Revolution to the present-day treatment of the working class. The original final line of the song - "and oh, that iron bastard, she still gets her way" (a reference to the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher) had to be removed for the single version to ensure radio airplay. They were again named in Peel's yearly Festive 50, this time at Number 11. They followed this up with a new single not taken from the album, "Greenback Dollar", a cover of the song written by Hoyt Axton and made famous by The Kingston Trio. The single was produced by Nick Lowe.

In 1985 the band signed for MCA records and released How Green Is The Valley. The record included "Ghosts Of Cable Street", a political number concerning The Battle of Cable Street in 1936 and "Shirt Of Blue", which regarded the miners' strike of 1984-85. At the end of promotion for the album Shanne Bradley left to create music with Wreckless Eric and The Chicken Family, she was replaced on bass by Ricky McGuire (ex UK Subs).

In 1987 the band switched to Magnet Records and the new record released was, what many fans consider their best: Waiting For Bonaparte. Once again the strongest songs were stories of historical origin. "The Colours" told of an English mutineer sailor during the Napoleonic War and "The Crest" a stretcher bearer during World War II. Sadly whilst "The Colours" was at Number 61 in the British top 75 it was blacklisted by BBC Radio 1 due to the line "You've Come Here To Watch Me Hang", which echoed the events happening in South African townships at the time, in particular the plight of the Sharpeville Six. However it didn't stop the album propelling the group to stardom in Europe.

In 1988 the band were on the move again and signed for new label Silvertone (who later put out The Stone Roses' debut release). The band was joined by Nick Muir (ex Fire Next Time) at this time on piano organ and accordion, who remained with the band during their time at Silvertone. Muir later found success as an electronic music producer and half of the duo Bedrock.

The band recorded two albums for Silvertone, the first being Silvertown. Highlights of Silvertown included "Rain, Steam and Speed", "A Place In The Sun" and "A Map Of Morocco". Silvertown was the only TMTCH album to reach the UK Top 40 album chart, peaking at No. 39. They followed this up in 1990 with "The Domino Club", which had a more conventional rock sound dispensing with much of the folk element.

In August 1990 the band supported David Bowie in his concerts at the Milton Keynes Bowl, as part of his Sound and Vision World Tour.

Surprisingly the band split in 1991 after releasing the live album, Alive, Alive-O, a performance recorded at London's famous Town & Country Club which was later released as a DVD The Shooting by Cherry Red Records. Paul Simmonds and "Swill" Odgers then formed Liberty Cage who released an album, Sleep Of The Just, in 1994 and an EP, I'll Keep It With Mine, in 1995.