Ph.D. | |
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Jim Diamond and Tony Hymas, 1981.
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Background information | |
Origin | United Kingdom |
Genres | New wave, pop rock, blue-eyed soul, synthpop |
Years active | 1981–1983 2006–2015 |
Labels |
Atlantic (US) Warner Bros. (Canada) wea Voiceprint |
Associated acts |
Jeff Beck Bandit |
Past members |
Jim Diamond Tony Hymas Simon Phillips |
Ph.D. were a British group best known for their UK Top 10 hit "I Won't Let You Down" in April 1982, although the song had been a hit the previous year throughout Europe. The band took its name from the initial letters of its three founding members' surnames; Phillips, Hymas and Diamond. The name was written so as to be a visual pun on the letters denoting a degree of the same name.
Singer Jim Diamond formed the group with former Jeff Beck Group members Tony Hymas and Simon Phillips in the early 1980s. Their self-titled début album, originally released in 1981, spawned a hit with their ballad "I Won't Let You Down" which peaked at number three in the UK Singles Chart in 1982, and number five in Australia. Following the single's success the album was re-issued and finally entered the UK Albums Chart.
Their video for "Little Suzi's on the Up" was notable for being the fifth video shown on MTV's first broadcasting day, being 1 August 1981 in parts of the U.S. They released their second album Is It Safe? in 1983. The first single, "I Didn't Know," failed to make the UK Top 40, but did well in Europe.