The Godfathers

The Godfathers
The Godfathers performing in Hamburg
Background information
Origin	London, England
Genres	Alternative rock, new wave
Years active	1985–2000; 2008–present
Labels	Corporate Image Epic Intercord Records
Members	Peter Coyne (vocals) Steve Crittall (guitar) Mauro Venegas (guitar) Tim James (drums) Darren Birch (bass)
Past members	Chris Coyne Kris Dollimore Mike Gibson George Mazur Chris Burrows Ali Byworth Paul-Ronney Angel Ronnie Rocka Del Bartle Grant Nicholas Dave Twigg

The Godfathers are an English alternative rock/new wave band from London, England, with strong influences from R&B and punk.

The Godfathers were formed by Peter and Chris Coyne after the demise of The Sid Presley Experience in 1985. Fellow Sid Presley member, and later Godfather, Del Bartle went on to form The Unholy Trinity with drummer Kevin Murphy.

After independent single releases produced by Vic Maile, and collected on their debut album, Hit By Hit, they signed to Epic Records in 1987. Extensive tours of the UK, Europe and the United States followed. Single and title track of their first album "Birth, School, Work, Death" made the U.S. Billboard Top 40 in 1988 after college radio and MTV airplay but the band were less commercially successful in the UK.

Albums More Songs About Love and Hate and Unreal World followed, before the band left Epic and released two albums on German label Intercord in the 90s. The band ceased activity in 2000. In 2003 Peter Coyne and Kris Dollimore played briefly in a band called The Germans with Rat Scabies, formerly of The Damned.

In 2008, the band reformed with its original line-up. In March 2009, the band announced a change with Del Bartle returning to replace Kris Dollimore. Grant Nicholas later replaced George Mazur on drums, and Mike Gibson also left the band. In 2010 a live album 'Shot Live At The 100 Club' was released as a DVD/CD set on Secret Records.