As cultural phenomenons go, rarely has a band mirrored their social surroundings more graphically than Flowered Up from the UK. Formed on a north London housing estate in 1989, they were immediately championed by so many disparate causes (the working classes, the drug dealer, proud Southerners) that their rise to fame was virtually inevitable. Born out of the ecstasy boom that swept the musical underground at the turn of the 90s, Flowered Up's first gig at the close of 1989 was a shambolic affair that outraged as many onlookers as it excited. Within six months the line-up had settled down with Liam Maher (vocals), brother Joe Maher (guitar), Andy Jackson (bass, later replaced by Mick Leander), Tim Dorney (keyboards), John Tuvey (drums), and a man called Barry Mooncult who had taken to dancing with the band onstage, wearing a giant flower. Signed to London-based indie label Heavenly Records, the release of their debut single, "It's On", encouraged the UK weekly music papers to take the unusual step of putting a brand new band on its front pages, but all the accusations of hype were drowned out by Flowered Up revellers convinced that the band was London's answer to Manchester's Happy Mondays. They were not, nor were they another Clash or another Madness, mainly because although Flowered Up's flowing rock/funk grooves graced the Top 40 of all the UK charts, they failed to upset the commercial apple cart, in spite of all the attention. A move to London Records ended inimically when the label refused to release the 13-minute single "Weekender" which, with its accompanying 20-minute film, was a perfect snapshot of rave culture. A Life With Brian appeared to show that the band, for all their Cockney quirkiness, could make an album that stood on its own two feet without fear of falling over. It would also provide the band with their tombstone, however, and they released one more single ("Better Life") before splitting up in 1993.
Tim Dorney went on to work with Clive Langer and Republica, while Liam Maher returned to his bootleg stall in Camden Market and further musical projects. The original line-up, minus Barry Mooncult, re-formed for live work in 2005.
