Mission UK

The Mission, known as The Mission UK in the United States because of a naming clash with a Philadelphia R&B band, is a Gothic rock band formed in 1986 by Wayne Hussey and Craig Adams (both of The Sisters of Mercy), soon adding Mick Brown (of Red Lorry Yellow Lorry) and Simon Hinkler (of Artery/Pulp). Initially touring as the Sisterhood, their former employer throws out a quick spoiler to force a name-change. The combination of Mick's brand of speakers and a book relating to Hussey's Mormon upbringing makes them decide on The Mission. Using rejected demos from their sessions with Eldritch, the band quickly put out two indie singles on Chapter 22 generating fever pitch interest from various record companies. Signing a 7 album deal with Phonogram Hussey now becomes the main songwriter and frontman. Their debut album Gods Own Medicine, is recorded in 6 weeks with novice producer Tim Palmer - an acquintance from Hussey's Dead or Alive days. It proves to be an emotional rollercoaster for Hussey who has to exercise various demons lyric-wise for this release. The band embark on a succesfull jaunt around Europe, culminating in a prestigious slot at the Reading Festival. The gruelling schedule forces the temporary departure of Adams when their US-leg of the World Crusade Tour goes into overdrive. A reflective mood follows when Adams returns and Hussey finds that he has fathered a daughter, Hannah. The John Paul Jones produced second album Children includes their biggest UK hit to date 'Tower of Strength' but its recording is not without problems. Most of the related personnel is kept out and the lush and epic nature of the release alienates some fans.

The 'Children Play' World Tour sees the band visiting South America and developing itself as Britain's premier touring outfit supported by a legion of devoted fans (Eskimo's/Missionaries). To recapture the intamacy of the earlier gig the band do a jaunt around the Scottish islands and Highlands to test out some new material. The Carved in Sand sessions see Tim Palmer return and a tried and tested formula expanded. Recording is interrupted for the Hillsborough Benefit initiated by Hussey who is a lifelong Liverpool fan. Problems revolving around the final tracklisting result in a somewhat unbalanced release. The album is followed by 'Grains of Sand' including some of the other material recorded, showing a lighter side to the band. Injecting some further humour the four members decide to camp it up and form a glam tribute band The Metal Guru's. They support the Wonder Stuff on some of their UK dates and record a version of Slade's 'Merry Xmas'. The Deliverance World Tour is now starting to show the strains between the founding members and various weary arguments result in Hinkler storming off stage during a gig in Toronto. He is initially replaced by David Wolfenden for the remainder of the tour, while Tim Bricheno (All About Eve) guests before joining the Sisters of Mercy. With Paul Etchell (ex Ghostdance) on keyboards and guitars the last leg of the tour is finished. The band retreat after the bruising experience and Hussey moves to the Herefordshire countryside enjoying his newly-wed status and getting a drivers license. Some new musical ideas are demo'd while equipment is moved into an adjacent barn. The band team up with engineerer Joe Gibb to create a high-tech studio setup. Brown has been soaking up the dance scene in Leeds with Hussey taking in various folk elements. The band are asked to perform a lucritive headlining gig at the Finsbury Park in 1991 and bring out a different side to the band. Joined by Martin Allcock (ex Fairport Convention) and Anthony Thistlewaite (ex Waterboys) the whole thing becomes a rather jointy affair which leaves many of old fanbase worried about the forthcoming release. Masque will become a highly contested release which sees a maturing of Hussey's songwriting and musical experiments, but seriously alienating the traditional gothic rock followers. The Mark Saunders produced album is very beats driven and folk inspired. The lyrical themes a combination of betrayal, past vices and new found happiness makes it a very personalised album and one of Hussey's favourites to this day. No tour is planned and the new direction forces the depature of Craig Adams who soon after joins the Cult. Reduced to a duo the band begins search for new members and places an ad in the Melody Maker.

The Mission Mk. II constitues of Brown, Hussey, Mark Gemini-Thwaite on guitar (ex Spear of Destiny, National Velvet), Rik Carter (ex Pendragon) on keyboards and eventually Andy Cousin on bass (ex All About Eve). The first release by this lineup is a cover of the Osmonds 'Crazy Horses' released on a fanclub-only flexi disc in early 1993. The recording of the new album starts while a BBC live album '"No Snow No Show" for the Eskimo' is compiled by Hussey and Gibb. For the first time in three years the band decide to tour and a warm up is arranged as the 'Off the Street' Benefit for the homeless in Leeds. Andrew Eldritch signs up and press speculation about a Hussey/Elritch reunion is high but completely unfounded. The ClubMission tour visits some the smaller venues around Europe with new tracks Afterglow and Raising Cain becoming a regular feature in the set. The end of 1993 sees Hussey remixing Tower of Strength with Youth and revisiting some of the past material for a greatest hist compilation. "Tower '93" charts January 1994 and the band make their last appearance on Top of the Pops. Sum & Substance is released in February 1994 and brings together most of the single releases and two new tracks; Sour Puss (relating to Adam's depature) and a ragged Afterglow remixed by Mark 'Spike' Stent. The latter is also released a the final single through Vertigo/Phonogram. The seven album contract is up for renewal and neither of the parties is interested in continuing the relation. A short UK tour and some scattered summer dates have the band keeping alow profile while Hussey's second daughter Dylan-Rae is born.

The recording of the new release proceeds slowly while a new independent deal is negociated in the UK. A collection of BBC sessions is produced by Hussey and released as Salad Daze spanning three sessions. Late 1994 a single Mission:1 is released on the Equator label containing an edgy "Raising Cain" while Hussey now sports a cropped up haircut and lamblasts the corporate music industry. Early 1995 the album Neverland is preceded by the single Swoon which charts in the Indie listings. The band have signed a distribution deal with Sony for the rest of Europe and the Neverland Tour signals a slight revival as two concerts of the band are filmed for German television. A promo only Live EP is released and a handful of summer festivals played. Early 1996 Hussey locks himself into an apartment in Bath with a 6 track recorder and a few ideas. In March the rest of the band sets up in Bristol for a whirlewind recording of 8 weeks. When Blue is released its under-produced feel touches a nerve with the critics, but leaves some of the fansbase unimpressed. Later Hussey would cite it as his least favourite album and only the reworked b-side Evermore & Again would later become a regular feature in subsequent tours. A short stint around the UK, Belgium, Germany & the Netherlands turns out to be a farewell tour. After ten years Hussey and Brown decide that enough is enough and that it is time to look for different opportunities. The band finish it all off with festivals in Spain and South Africa. The latter being their final gig at the Kyalami Racetrack in Johannesburg.

However in 1999, after releasing re-recorded versions of some Mission classics under the Cleopatra label, The Mission was resurrected (with Craig Adams, Mark Thwaite and Scott Garrett (formerly of The Cult), for what was a one-off tour with Gene Loves Jezebel across the USA and All About Eve across the UK. The success of the tour and the reaction of the crowds gave the band plenty of encouragement to continue beyond the tour.

In 2001, they release a new album called AurA which was heralded by many critics as a triumphant return to form, followed by Aural Delight, a compilation of B-sides and also-ran tracks.

Despite this, cracks began to appear once again and soon Mark Thwaite decided to part company with the band to form his own group New Disease. His position was quickly filled by Rob Holliday of Sulpher, who had also been touring guitarist with Gary Numan. During the South American leg of their 2002 tour, Craig Adams also departed, leaving Wayne to complete the tour on his own.

In 2003, the Mission gained a new bass player in the form of Ritchie Vernon, lost Scott Garrett due to personal reasons and gained a new drummer in the form of Steve Spring. This new line-up saw stability return to the band, and a new fire in their bellies, resulting in some blistering shows across Europe, which carried on through to mid-2004.

A new album is planned for 2005, which possible guest appearances from previous band members including Simon Hinkler.

The Mission have also recorded under the name The Metal Gurus, teaming with Noddy Holder and Jim Lea from Slade to record a charity version of Merry Xmas Everybody.

Wayne Hussey now resides in Brazil.

Contents

1 Discography 1.1 Gods Own Medicine (1987) 1.2 First Chapter (1987) 1.3 Children (1988) 1.4 Carved in Sand (1990) 1.5 Grains of Sand (1990) 1.6 Masque (1992) 1.7 "No Snow, No Show" For The Eskimo (1993) 1.8 Sum and Substance (1994) 1.9 Salad Daze (1994) 1.10 Neverland (1995) 1.11 Blue (1996) 1.12 Resurrection (1999) 1.13 Everafter (2000) 1.14 Aura (2001) 1.15 Aural Delight (2002) 2 References

Discography

Album length material only:

Gods Own Medicine (1987)

1. Wasteland
2. Bridges Burning
3. Garden of Delight (hereafter)
4. Stay With Me
5. Blood Brothers
6. Let Sleeping Dogs Die
7. Sacrilege
8. Dance on Glass
9. And the Dance Goes On
10. Severina
11. Love Me to Death
12. Island in a Stream

First Chapter (1987)

1. Tomorrow Never Knows (Beatles cover)
2. Over the Hills and Far Away
3. Naked and Savage
4. Serpent's Kiss
5. Wake (RSV)
6. Like a Hurricane (Neil Young cover)
7. Garden of Delight (extended)
8. Wishing Well (Free cover)
9. Dancing Barefoot (Patti Smith cover)
10. The Crystal Ocean (extended)

Children (1988)

1. Beyond the Pale
2. Wing and a Prayer
3. Fabienne
4. Heaven on Earth
5. Tower of Strength
6. Kingdom Come
7. Breathe
8. Child's Play
9. Shamera Kye
10. Black Mountain Mist
11. Dream On (Aerosmith cover)
12. Heat
13. Hymn (For America)

Carved in Sand (1990)

1. Amelia
2. Into the Blue
3. Butterfly on a Wheel
4. Sea of Love
5. Deliverance
6. Grapes of Wrath
7. Belief
8. Paradise (Will Shine Like The Moon)
9. Hungry as the Hunter
10. Lovely

Grains of Sand (1990)

Additional material from the Carved in Sand studio sessions

1. Hands Across the Ocean
2. The Grip of Disease
3. Divided we Fall
4. Mercenary
5. Mr. Pleasant (cover)
6. Kingdom Come (Forever and Again)
7. Heaven Sends You
8. Sweet Smile of a Mystery
9. Tower of Strength (The Casbah Mix)
10. Butterfly on a Wheel (Troubadour Mix)
11. Love (John Lennon cover)
12. Bird of Passage

Masque (1992)

1. Never Again
2. Shades of Green, Pt. 2
3. Even You May Shine
4. Trail of Scarlet
5. Spider and the Fly
6. She Conjures me Wings
7. Sticks and Stones
8. Like a Child Again
9. Who Will Love me Tomorrow?
10. You Make Me Breathe
11. From One Jesus to Another
12. Until There's Another Sunrise

"No Snow, No Show" For The Eskimo (1993)

Live album taken from two arena shows, one in 1988 and another in 1990

1. Amelia
2. Wasteland
3. Serpent's Kiss
4. Belief
5. Severina
6. Butterfly on a Wheel
7. Into the Blue
8. Kingdom Come
9. Deliverance
10. Tower of Strength
11. Crystal Ocean

Sum and Substance (1994)

A Best Of compilation with some new material

1. Wasteland
2. Severina
3. Stay With Me
4. Tower of Strength
5. Beyond the Pale (Armageddon Mix)
6. Butterfly on a Wheel
7. Deliverance
8. Into the Blue
9. Amelia
10. Hands Across the Ocean
11. Never Again
12. Like a Child Again (remix)
13. Shades of Green, Pt. 2
14. Sour-Puss
15. Afterglow

Salad Daze (1994)

BBC Radio sessions from 1986, 1988 and 1990.

1. Like a Hurricane
2. Severina
3. And the Dance Goes On
4. Wasteland
5. Tomorrow Never Knows (Beatles cover)
6. Wishing Well (Free cover)
7. Shelter From the Storm (cover)
8. Deliverance
9. Grip of Disease
10. Belief
11. Kingdom Come
12. Butterfly on a Wheel
13. Bird of Passage

Neverland (1995)

1. Raising Cain
2. Sway
3. Lose Myself in You
4. Afterglow (reprise)
5. Stars Don't Shine Without You
6. Celebration
7. Cry Like a Baby
8. Heaven Knows
9. Swim With the Dolphins
10. Neverland (Vocal)
11. Daddy's Going to Heaven Now
12. Bates Motel (secret bonus track))

Blue (1996)

1. Coming Home
2. Get Back to You
3. Drown in Blue
4. Damaged
5. More Than This
6. That Tears Shall Drown The Wind
7. Black & Blue
8. Bang Bang
9. Alpha Man
10. Cannibal
11. Dying Room
12. Evermore & Again

Resurrection (1999)

Rerecordings of past fan favourites with intro, interludes and a new song - Without You.

1. Prelude:Anniversary
2. Wasteland
3. Severina
4. Love me to Death
5. Interlude: Never Forever
6. Beyond the Pale
7. Deliverance
8. Without You
9. Like a Child Again
10. Sacrilege
11. You Make Me Breathe
12. Crystal Ocean
13. Interlude: Suffer the Children
14. Butterfly on a Wheel
15. Interlude: Infection
16. Hands Across the Ocean
17. 1969
18. Resurrection

Everafter (2000)

Live album plus unreleased studio track - Crazy Horses

1. Beyond the Pale
2. Hands Across the Ocean
3. Into the Blue
4. Butterfly on a Wheel
5. Raising Cain
6. Heaven Knows
7. Sway
8. Sacrilege
9. Swoon
10. Tower of Strength
11. Deliverance
12. Like a Child Again
13. Can't Help Falling in Love
14. Like a Hurricane
15. 1969
16. Crazy Horses

Aura (2001)

1. Evangeline
2. Shine Like the Stars
3. (Slave to) Lust
4. Mesmerised
5. The Light That Pours From You
6. Dragonfly
7. Happy
8. To Die By Your Hand
9. Trophy/It Never Rains...
10. Burlesque
11. Lay Your Hands On Me
12. Cocoon
13. In Denial

Aural Delight (2002)

1. Amelia
2. Even You May Shine
3. Spider & The Fly (in the ointment)
4. Sorry...
5. Anyone But You
6. Never Let Me Down
7. Never Again
8. Melt
9. Mesmerised (reprise)
10. Swoon (reprise)
11. Dragonfly (demo)
12. Can't Help Falling In Love With You

Limited editions also include: Dragonfly (acoustic), Never Let Me Down (acoustic), Happy (acoustic) & Burlesque (acoustic).

References

• Official Mission UK Site (http://www.themissionuk.com/)

Book: Names Are For Tombstones, Baby (Independent Press, 1993)de:The Mission