Dif Juz: Difference between revisions

{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->

'''Dif Juz''' were an English instrumental [[post-punk]] band, formed in London in 1980 and remaining active until 1986. The band comprised Dave Curtis (guitar), Alan Curtis (guitar), Gary Bromley (bass guitar) and Richard Thomas (percussion and saxophone).<ref name="Larkinindie">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Who's Who of Indie and New Wave Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-579-4|page=92}}</ref>

Dif Juz band developed out of the [[punk rock|punk]] band London Pride that was formed by the Curtis brothers. In late 1979, Alan Curtis was involved with [[New wave music|new wave]] band [[Duran Duran]]. He apparently disappeared and missed a particularly volatile gig after the band hired the owners of the Birmingham [[Rum Runner (nightclub)|Rum Runner]] nightclub as managers. In a 2003 interview, [[Nigel John Taylor (bass guitarist)|John Taylor]] (bass guitarist for Duran Duran) said "straight away Alan Curtis skipped town, thinking getting involved with two nightclub owners meant he would end up in pieces down a city alleyway."<ref>{{cite book |last=Malins |first=Steve |year=2005 |title=Notorious – The Unauthorised Biography of Duran Duran |publisher=Carlton Publishing Group |pages=26, 32}}</ref>

Following Alan Curtis' return to London, he resumed his collaboration with his brother Dave and Richard Thomas (all of whom played in London Pride), and was joined by Gary Bromley. They determined to create something new and different. Dave Curtis was a trained classical guitarist, Alan Curtis's guitar play was self-taught and innovative, Thomas had a thirst for mastering wind instruments and production values, and Bromley's bass playing, whilst honed in West London, could have found home in [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]], Jamaica. The resulting soundscape was dense, atmospheric, and spacious, driven by pounding bass lines and rhythm.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

It is believed that theThe name Dif Juz was adopted as a play on "different jazz," but according to Thomas, it was a spur-of-the-moment utterance that "didn't mean anything".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://radiobombast.podbean.com/2013/06/28/the-hall-of-legends-dif-juz-transmission-41-2013-june-26/ |title=radiobombast " Blog Archive " The Hall of Legends – Dif Juz: Transmission 41, 2013 June 26 |publisherwebsite=Radiobombast.podbean.com |date=28 June 2013 |accessdateaccess-date=21 August 2014}}</ref>

The band signed to label [[4AD]], and a demo was played by [[John Peel]]. The band performed a number of inspiring gigs in the London area in 1981, most notably at the Moonlight Club in West Hampstead and at the [[Ealing Town Hall]]. The band's debut full-lengthalbum with the label, ''[[Extractions (album)|Extractions]]'', was released in 1985.<ref name="Larkinindie"/> It reached No. 11 on the [[UK Indie Chart]].<ref name="Lazell">{{cite book |last=Lazell |first=Barry |title=Indie Hits 1980–1999 |year=1997 |publisher=Cherry Red Books |isbn=0-9517206-9-4}}</ref>

The band befriended fellow labelmates [[Cocteau Twins]] and frequently collaborated with them.<ref name="Larkinindie"/> Cocteau Twins guitarist [[Robin Guthrie]] produced several of their recordings and vocalist [[Elizabeth Fraser]] sang on "Love Insane" from the album ''Extractions''; in turn, Thomas played saxophone and [[tabla]] on Cocteau Twins' 1986 album ''[[Victorialand]]''.<ref name="Larkinindie"/> Occasionally, the two bands toured together and played together at the SaddlersSadlers Wells Theatre.

Thomas has also worked with Butterfly Child, [[Moose (band)|Moose]], [[Felt (band)|Felt]], Cocteau Twins, [[The Wolfgang Press]] and [[April March]]. BromleyIn is2017 currentlyThomas performingjoined with Simon Raymonde (former Cocteau Twins) under the name of Lost Horizons, releasing music via the Bella Union label. Bromley lives in Louisville, Kentucky where he hosts his weekly radio show, Outernational with Sir Basil Bromley, on ARTxFM and continues to release solo material. He has been a bandmajor influence on many of the bands that are based in Louisville and often performs with an outfit called The Children. Bromley is seen as a major contributor to the dub and reggae scene in Louisville. Dave Curtis spent some time collaborating with the Wolfgang Press, [[This Mortal Coil]] and Tranquil Trucking Company.

* ''[[Extractions (album)|Extractions]]'' (1985)<ref name="Larkinindie"/>

* [http://www.discogs.com/artist/118530-Dif-Juz Dif Juz Discographydiscography] at [[Discogs]]

[[Category:DreamBritish dream pop musical groups]]

[[Category:MusicalPunk rock groups from London]]

[[Category:Cocteau Twins| ]]