Graduate (band)

Graduate
Origin	Bath, England, United Kingdom
Genres	New wave, mod revival, ska
Years active	1978–1981
Associated acts	Tears for Fears
Past members	Roland Orzabal Curt Smith John Baker Steve Buck Andy Marsden

Graduate were an English new wave/mod revival musical group formed in 1978, in Bath, England. They were only very mildly successful, and broke up by 1981. They are today best known as being the initial recording vehicle for future Tears for Fears members Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, who found major international fame in the 1980s and 1990s.

John Baker and Roland Orzabal were at school together and performed as the "Baker Brothers" in local pubs and clubs from 1977 aged 16. The name Graduate came from the fact that they used to open shows with a cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson", which was featured in the movie The Graduate. They were introduced to Drummer Andy Marsden by their first manager Colin Wyatt who ran a local musical youth group of which Andy was a member. Steve was also found by Colin Wyatt playing piano at a local Nightspot in Bath and for a while they played with various Bass players until Curt was offered the role. Roland and Curt had played in a youth club band called Duckz when they were 14. In 1979, Graduate signed a publishing deal with Tony Hatch who subsequently offered the group to Pye Records. Graduate recorded their debut album Acting My Age at Crescent Studios Bath in January 1980. The first single "Elvis Should Play Ska" reached number 82 in the UK charts in April 1980 (whilst band were on a 33 date UK tour supporting Judie Tzuke), although it fared better in Spain, reaching the Top 10. The band then travelled to Spain twice in 1980 to do TV and promotion work. John and Roland were conducting a Radio interview in Madrid when they learned of the shooting of John Lennon in December 1980.

The band undertook a gruelling tour of Germany in Oct/Nov 1980, having to drive hundreds of miles between gigs with no Roadies; this was the main reason given from Orzabal for quitting on their return. At this time he did not see his future as a live artist and wanted to concentrate on writing. Curt Smith also left the band at this stage.

...
Wikipedia