Cutting Crew

Biography

Cutting Crew are an English rock band formed in London in 1985 by lead vocalist Nick Van Eede and guitarist Kevin MacMichael. The group achieved international success with their 1986 debut single, "(I Just) Died in Your Arms×(I Just) Died in Your ArmsJuly 1986 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracksA1(I Just) Died in Your Arms4:38B1For the Longest Time4:36", which reached No. 1 in the United States and charted highly worldwide. Their debut album, Broadcast×Broadcast1986 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Any Colour4:432One for the Mockingbird4:313I’ve Been in Love Before5:084Life in a Dangerous Time4:335Fear of Falling4:536(I Just) Died in Your Arms4:407Don’t Look Back4:098Sahara4:539It Shouldn’t Take Too Long4:0610The Broadcast6:39 (1986), produced several other singles, including "I've Been in Love Before×I've Been in Love Before1987 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksAI've Been in Love Before (extended)7:01B1I've Been in Love Before (single version)4:31B2Life in a Dangerous Time4:24", which also reached the U.S. Top 10, and earned them a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 1987. Despite lineup changes and a hiatus in the 1990s, Van Eede revived the band in the 2000s, releasing new material and touring under the Cutting Crew name. Known for their polished production and melodic rock sound, the band has maintained a dedicated following and continues to be recognized for their contributions to 1980s pop and rock music.

1985–1986: Formation

While still in his teens, Nick Van Eede (born Nicholas Eede) recorded a few UK solo singles in the late 1970s. Later, he was in the band the Drivers, which found success in Canada, particularly with their 1982 single "Tears on Your Anorak". While touring Canada, the Drivers had a support band called Fast Forward, whose line-up included guitarist Kevin MacMichael. Van Eede was so impressed with MacMichael's guitar playing that he asked him to form a new band with him. The Drivers broke up in 1984, but MacMichael continued to tour with Fast Forward. In 1985, MacMichael survived an accident when his tour bus drove off the side of a mountain, and he relocated to London, England to join forces with Van Eede. Initially, the two made demos before bassist Colin Farley and drummer Martin "Frosty" Beedle joined in 1986. They named the band "Cutting Crew" after a comment by Queen, who were once asked why they were not touring, and they replied, "We're a cutting crew", meaning they were only cutting records in the studio.
Having assembled the band, they invited representatives from various labels to a London recording studio to showcase the group, and they were later signed by Siren Records, which was part of Virgin Records. David Fuller was an unofficial photographer for the group and in 1985 accompanied them on tour with his second wife Sally.

1986–1988: Broadcast and breakthrough

Their debut studio album, Broadcast×Broadcast1986 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Any Colour4:432One for the Mockingbird4:313I’ve Been in Love Before5:084Life in a Dangerous Time4:335Fear of Falling4:536(I Just) Died in Your Arms4:407Don’t Look Back4:098Sahara4:539It Shouldn’t Take Too Long4:0610The Broadcast6:39, was released on Virgin Records in 1986. The song "(I Just) Died in Your Arms×(I Just) Died in Your ArmsJuly 1986 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracksA1(I Just) Died in Your Arms4:38B1For the Longest Time4:36" was mixed in London at Utopia Studios by Tim Palmer. Although Virgin Records was already a major label in the UK, their debut song, "(I Just) Died in Your Arms", provided the first US hit for Virgin as a fully-fledged label. This song release quickly helped the band gain popularity. Virgin flew the band to New York City for initial recordings of the album, then to Australia to shoot music videos. The unknown band shot to No. 1 in the major US market, as well as smaller markets such as Canada and Norway, with their debut single. Their most popular single was a multiformat success in the US, where it also reached No. 4 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, No. 24 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart and—in an extended remix version—No. 37 on the Hot Dance/Club Play chart. The song peaked at No. 4 in another major market, the UK Singles Chart, as well as becoming a hit in the smaller Switzerland and South Africa markets. It went to No. 2 in Sweden and Ireland, and No. 9 in Austria. Keyboardist Tony Moore joined in 1986 and was a touring member of the band through 1988.
The choice for a follow-up single in the UK had been "I've Been in Love Before×I've Been in Love Before1987 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksAI've Been in Love Before (extended)7:01B1I've Been in Love Before (single version)4:31B2Life in a Dangerous Time4:24", but that song spent only three weeks in the UK Top 40, peaking at No. 31. Their choice for follow-up single in the US was their third UK release, "One for the Mockingbird", but the song was a relative commercial disappointment on both sides of the Atlantic, just cracking the Top 40 of the Hot 100 at No. 38 and hitting No. 29 on the Mainstream Rock chart in the US, No. 47 in Canada and No. 52 in the UK Singles Chart.
The band took a chance on "I've Been in Love Before" again, this time with greater success. The song became Cutting Crew's second US Top 10 on the Hot 100, peaking at No. 9, and was their first major hit on the US Adult Contemporary chart, where it peaked at No. 2. This success prompted a UK re-release, and this time it spent five weeks in the UK Singles Chart Top 40, peaking at No. 24. The song failed to chart throughout most of Europe, but it peaked at No. 8 in Canada. Despite an unflattering review by Rolling Stone magazine, Cutting Crew received a Grammy nomination as the Best New Artist of 1987.

1988–1990: The Scattering

Disputes with management led to a long recording hiatus, which stalled the band's career momentum. Cutting Crew's second studio album, The Scattering×The Scattering1989 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Year in the Widerness4:442The Scattering5:013Big Noise4:004Everything but My Pride5:105Handcuffs for Houdini3:436(Between a) Rock and a Hard Place4:177Tip of Your Tongue3:368Reach for the Sky5:049The Last Thing3:5710Feel the Wedge5:3511Binkies Return1:3112Brag6:05, was finally released in early 1989. Its lead single, "(Between a) Rock and a Hard Place×(Between a) Rock and a Hard Place1989 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksA(Between a) Rock and a Hard Place3:48BCard House4:02" (CA 54, UK 66, U.S. 77), failed to reach the Top 40. Van Eede's vocal style, however, did score a sizeable US Adult Contemporary hit with "Everything but My Pride×Everything But My Pride1989 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Everything But My Pride (lp version)5:102Big Noise4:013Everything But My Pride (edit)3:59." That song peaked at No. 4 and stayed in the top 50 for 22 weeks. It climbed to No. 72 on the Canadian pop charts, though it failed to hit the US Hot 100. The prophetically named "The Last Thing" scaled the AC charts as high as No. 17 in early 1990 and went to No. 90 on the Canadian chart, and has been their final chart hit to date. Although a music video for the title track did air briefly in the UK and North America, The Scattering failed to chart.

1991–1992: Compus Mentus

Recorded at The Mill Studios in Cookham, Berkshire on the Thames and produced by Chris Neil. Farley and Beedle left the group in 1991 with no replacement, leaving only Eede and MacMichael in the group. Eede sang and played keyboards and MacMichael played all guitars (lead and bass).
The album spawned one single, "If That's the Way You Want It×If That's The Way You Want It1992 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1If That's the Way You Want It4:022No Bad Thing4:093Everything but My Pride (92 remix)5:314Been in Luv (92)4:05." Neither the single nor the album itself charted. Within weeks of its release, Virgin Records was bought by EMI.

1993–2005: Break-up and MacMichael's death

The band broke up in 1993; shortly after the release of their Compus Mentus studio album. After the break-up, MacMichael joined forces with Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin and played on his solo studio album Fate of Nations. On 31 December 2002, MacMichael died of lung cancer at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, at the age of 51.

2005–2014: Reformation

In 2003, Van Eede formed the group Grinning Souls. This group independently released the studio album Capture in 2005. The following year, Van Eede took the decision to re-release the album under the title Grinning Souls×Grinning Souls7 March 2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Shot of Democracy5:052Hard on You3:173Apparent Depth4:424No Problem Child6:135Silhouette3:426Boomerang3:147Grinning Souls6:418Left of Heaven4:039Understudies4:3410Getupandgetoverit6:5011Capture2:0012Lauren’s Theme4:21, this time crediting the work to Cutting Crew. Grinning Souls (the band) became Cutting Crew for all subsequent live work: Van Eede is the only original Cutting Crew member in the group.
The new band toured in Jersey, Norway, the UK, Bulgaria, Hungary, Liechtenstein and Alabama with, amongst others, ABC, Berlin, Wang Chung, Supertramp, Level 42 and Tony Bennett. In 2008, Cutting Crew signed a US deal with label Spectra Records.

2015–2019: Add to Favourites

In October 2015, Cutting Crew released their fifth studio album, Add to Favourites×Add to Favourites2 October 2015 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Till the Money Run$ Out3:582Looking for a Friend4:513Berlin in Winter4:314Kept On Lovin’ You6:425San Ferian3:246Already Gone3:427As Far as I Can See6:088Biggest Mistake of My Life6:499Only for You6:2710(She Just Happened to Be) Beautiful5:14, through In Red Flynn label, via Cherry Red Records. It features "Till the Money Run$ Out", which was released as the first single on 4 September 2015. The band line-up included guitarists Gareth Moulton and Joolz Dunkley, bassist Nick Kay, keyboardist Jono Harrison, drummer Martyn Barker and the Blackjack Horns. The band embarked on a UK tour shortly after its release.

2020–present: Ransomed Healed Restored Forgiven

At the end of 2018, Cutting Crew had announced, through their social networks, they had plans to release a new album featuring "new songs and new versions of CC classics." Although they did not have any new releases for 2019, a press release made by January of the following year announced the release for their second official worldwide compilation album titled Ransomed Healed Restored Forgiven×Ransomed Healed Restored Forgiven24 April 2020 · Album · CompilationSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 39 tracks · 4 discsDisc 11Overture2:012(I Just) Died in Your Arms5:293I’ve Been in Love Before4:504Everything but My Pride4:385One for the Mockingbird4:326No Problem Child5:357The Broadcast3:438Any Colour4:109Climb Aboard4:1710Berlin in Winter4:4611(I Just) Died in Your Arms (reprise)2:01Disc 21Overture (orchestra only version)2:002(I Just) Died in Your Arms (orchestra only version)5:253I’ve Been in Love Before (orchestra only version)4:474Everything but My Pride (orchestra only version)4:125One for the Mockingbird (orchestra only version)4:316No Problem Child (orchestra only version)4:567The Broadcast (orchestra only version)3:428Any Colour (orchestra only version)4:129Climb Aboard (orchestra only version)3:5210Berlin in Winter (orchestra only version)4:4311(I Just) Died in Your Arms (reprise) (orchestra only version)1:58Disc 31Any Colour (extended remix)7:202One for the Mockingbird (Terry Brown extended remix)5:543I’ve Been in Love Before (Soda Pimps remix)3:514Everything but My Pride (orchestra and cello version)4:215(I Just) Died in Your Arms (reprise) (orchestra and piano version)1:586The Broadcast (orchestra and viola version)3:427Climb Aboard (orchestra, oboe & cello version)4:108Berlin in Winter (orchestra, oboe & basoon)4:419No Problem Child (orchestra and cello version)5:1910One for the Mockingbird (Terry Brown Mixdown)4:32Disc 41(I Just) Died in Your Arms (orchestra version)5:292(I Just) Died in Your Arms (extended orchestra version)8:093(I Just) Died in Your Arms (orchestra & guitar version)5:254(I Just) Died in Your Arms (orchestra & vocal version)5:255(I Just) Died in Your Arms (main version)4:256(I Just) Died in Your Arms (extended orchestral instrumental)8:097(I Just) Died in Your Arms (reprise) (orchestra & guitar version)1:58, featuring nine songs from their past catalogue reworked as orchestral renditions, as well as other versions. Soon afterwards, the release date was announced on 27 March 2020 by Van Eede in a short video through the Cutting Crew official Facebook page. On the same day, they released the lead single for this project, an eight-track digital EP of their signature song "(I Just) Died in Your Arms×(I Just) Died in Your ArmsJuly 1986 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracksA1(I Just) Died in Your Arms4:38B1For the Longest Time4:36", which also received a physical release, as well as a brand new video for the song uploaded on YouTube.
The album was released on 24 April 2020, through August Day label, on digital platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music. But due to logistics limitations during the COVID-19 pandemic, its physical release was delayed until 8 May 2020. Along with its other formats there is a limited box edition containing three different CDs, as well as the physical CD edition of the reworked (I Just) Died in Your Arms EP, and a postcard signed by Van Eede himself. To promote the album, Van Eede spoke to several media outlets, such as American Songwriter and Forbes.
This greatest hits album has since spawned two more singles, the orchestral version of the Broadcast single "One for the Mockingbird", and the orchestral version of The Scattering single "Everything but My Pride×Everything But My Pride1989 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Everything But My Pride (lp version)5:102Big Noise4:013Everything But My Pride (edit)3:59".
On 5 August 2020, it was announced a vinyl limited edition, with only 300 copies pressed, would be available for purchase solely through DTC, making this the first vinyl edition of one of the band's releases since The Scattering. After Van Eede stated he had planned to do some concerts held in England in 2021 to support the album, the band announced on 7 September 2020 they would be the opening act for Go West's upcoming tour to happen in 2021, but, after the sanitary measures regarding COVID-19 pandemic still happening, the joint tour was postponed to the first half of the following year. Cutting Crew's setlist for this tour featured several cuts from Ransomed. After concluding touring the UK, Cutting Crew started their 35th Anniversary Tour in Germany.

Members

Current members

Nick Van Eede – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards (1985–1993, 2005–present)
Tom Arnold – drums (2005–present)
Gareth Moulton – lead guitar (2005–present)
Martyn Barker – drums (2013–present)
Gary Barnacle – saxophone (2013–present)
Jack Birchwood – brass (2013–present)
Angela Brooks – backing vocals (2013–present)
Nik Carter – brass (2013–present)
TJ Davis – backing vocals (2013–present)
Joolz Dunkley – guitars, keyboards (2013–present)
Steven Fuller – brass (2013–present)
Jono Harrison – keyboards (2013–present)
Nick Kay – bass (2013–present)
Mak Norman – bass (2013–present)
Former members

Martin "Frosty" Beedle – drums (1985–1993)
Colin Farley – bass (1985–1993)
Kevin MacMichael – lead guitar (1985–1993; died 2002)
Tony Moore – keyboards (1986–1988)
Dominic Finley – bass (2005-2008)
Sam Flynn – keyboards (2005-2008)