Martyn Bates

Biography

1960, England. Former lead singer of UK band Eyeless In Gaza, Bates left to perform solo in the late 80s, having previously released a solo set, Letters Written, in 1982. Bates’ songs were performed with no less of a sense of intense, anguished passion than they had been with his erstwhile partners, but although he maintained a minor cult following, more widespread success eluded him. In 1990, with former Primitives guitarist Steve Dullaghan, he moved back to a band format with the formation of the five-piece Hungry I, releasing an EP, The Falling Orchard, in the summer of 1991. A further EP, Second Step, was recorded in October of that year, before the band ‘exploded in acrimony and frustration’ in March 1992. At this point, Bates reunited with former partner Peter Becker to re-form Eyeless In Gaza, releasing an album, Fabulous Library, in 1993. The following March saw the release of an album by Bates and M.J. Harris entitled Murder Ballads (Drift),...

Read the Full Biography of Martyn Bates