Whatever Happened To...?

All About Eve
Record Buyer 2001

Fronted by Conventry-born singer and songwriter Julianne Regan, All About Eve formed at The Swarm in 1985, taking their more considered name from a Bette Davis movie from 1950. Guitarist Tim Bricheno and bassist Andy Cousin had played in a band in Huddersfield called Aemotti Crii, so when Tim and Julianne met in London he was the first recruit. Last to join was Mark Price, who replaced a less than satisfactory drum machine. Their original image was a "hippy/goth band", in Regan's words, "but we don't know what we are ourselves we change our mind so often."

The year of 1987 saw them hit the indie charts twice in four months with 'Our Summer' and 'Flowers In Our Hair'. By the time 'In The Clouds' made the national Top 50, they were signed to Phonogram. Their self-titled first album sold an astonishing 200,000 copies and crashed the chart at Number 7 the following year. Its follow-up, 'Scarlet And Other Stories', followed 'All About Eve' into the Top 10.

They were so big in 1990 they played the Royal Albert Hall on the back of the hit single 'Martha's Harbour'. "Her voice is simply stunning" said Music Week's reviewer, adding that "comparisons with Kate Bush seem all the more fitting." Tim and Julianne became a couple, while Mark married Julianne's sister. Everything seemed set for happy ever after.

But they fell out big-time with Phonogram in 1991, claiming the label wanted to turn Julianne into a solo artist and model her on The Bangles' Susannah Hoffs. The label, meanwhile counter-claimed the band had cost them £750,000 and blamed them for not being commercial-minded enough.

Meanwhile, Tim Bricheno had decamped to The Sisters Of Mercy, his place being taken by Australian guitarist Marty Willson-Piper, who combined the role with duties in his own band, The Church. 'Touched By Jesus' was their last Phonogram album and didn't fare as well as its predecessors; the performance of 'Ultraviolet' (MCA, 1992) also suggested they'd had their day.

But in late November 1999 Marty and Andy (now member of The Lucy Nation, signed to Madonna's Maverick label) persuaded Julianne to participate in a Jan/February unplugged-style reunion which has been immortalised on the CD 'Fairy Light Nights'. "I couldn't imagine doing it unless there were thousands of decibels of electric guitars going on around me," she admitted - but the reception they got was ecstatic. With all but one night selling out, the trio were emboldened to book the Cropredy Festival in August and a London appearance the following night. Both latter dates were 'plugged', and they will be touring this year (2001) with Fairport Convention.

Julianne said: "As it is a support, we will obviously be doing a shorter set, but we will hopefully have a few new songs in the set by then!" And though a planned rarities album has been cancelled - it appears the band wasn't able to get permission to use the songs - these new songs may well find release in 2001.

Of the other members, Mark Price (who reunited with Regan and Cousin in 1996, recording as Mice) enjoyed stints with The Cure and Right Said Fred before joining Del Amitri two years ago. Tim Bricheno went from The Sisters of Mercy to XC-NN and now Tin Star with XC-NN's Dave Tomlinson. Their debut album, 'Thrill Kisser', was released on V2 last year.