Celebrated songwriter Guy Chambers is reigniting the legacy of ‘The Lemon Trees’, his acclaimed band from the early '90s, as they prepare to release a new album, "Burst the Bubble," featuring a reworking of classic Lemon Trees songs 30 years after their original formation.
The band recently performed their first gig in over 20 years at the O2 Academy Islington. A new show at Amazing Grace in London taking place on Monday 13 May 2024 has been announced today, with tickets on sale now.
"Burst the Bubble" is an album filled with vivid, technicolor '60s-influenced psychedelic pop songs and includes singles such as “Dream Girl,” "I Can't Face the World Today," and "Lazy Days," (which later became a hit in the hands of Guy's long-term collaborator Robbie Williams).
In the summer of 1992, with Britpop on the horizon, a musical journey took flight. Chambers, known for his contributions to the success of World Party, decided to explore his growing interest in songwriting. Together with fellow World Party member David Catlin Birch as the lead singer and bassist, and the musical talents of twins Paul and Jeremy Stacey on guitar and drums, they formed The Lemon Trees.
Guy's reputation in the music industry, thanks to his role in World Party, preceded The Lemon Trees, and they quickly secured a deal with Parlophone. However, complications arose when David, who had initially committed to leaving World Party, had a change of heart, taking everyone by surprise. As Guy expressed, "David was the voice I heard singing these songs when I wrote them; he was irreplaceable, and I guess if I'm honest now, I really knew that at the time."
Nonetheless, with a deal in place, The Lemon Trees pressed on, auditioning singers and ultimately enlisting Paul Holman to share vocal duties with Guy. Among many who auditioned unsuccessfully was Gavin Rossdale, who went on to sell twenty million records with Bush.
Their debut album, "Open Book," was released on 15th March 1993, and produced five charting singles. The album, now discussed in reverential terms online and referred to as a 'lost classic,' marked a defining moment in the early Britpop era. The band toured the UK, opening for Suzanne Vega and Jellyfish, and receiving support from The Jennifers, who would later become Supergrass.
This period laid the foundation for what would become the iconic Britpop movement, with "Open Book" as one of its overlooked gems. The band's sound, characterized by Guy's timeless songcraft and the Stacey Brothers' instrumental prowess, left an indelible mark on the music scene of the early '90s.
The late '90s saw a shift in the music landscape, with grunge bands like Nirvana dominating the US and UK music scene, and The Lemon Trees' second album was never released by their label, leading to the band's disbandment.
Despite their relatively short-lived journey, The Lemon Trees left an indelible mark on the evolving landscape of British music, and their influence can still be felt in the sounds and styles of the bands that followed, including Oasis and others with a similar '60s influence who began to take over the UK music scene.
Facing an uncertain future, Chambers continued his songwriting journey. His path soon crossed with the "convincing frontman" Robbie Williams. David Catlin Birch became a session musician, performing with Eurythmics, Stevie Wonder, Ringo Starr, Joe Cocker, and Robbie Williams. Paul Stacey collaborated with Noel Gallagher, while Jeremy played with King Crimson, both establishing themselves as top-tier session players.
Guy Chambers became one of the UK's most successful living songwriters, the creative force behind numerous iconic hits, including Robbie Williams classics like 'Angels,' 'Let Me Entertain You,' 'Rock DJ,' 'Feel,' 'No Regrets,' and 'Millennium.'
Guy's relationship with Robbie is documented in the current Netflix documentary. Guy explained, "The Robbie documentary is a very honest look back at his extraordinary career and our friendship. It was a creative meeting when we were both at turning points in our careers and shows the journey that the two of us went on from the early excitement of writing Angels through to the challenges of touring and the tension of recording Escapology."
Beyond his work with Williams, he has continued to co-write and produce for a diverse array of artists, including Katie Melua, Rufus Wainwright, James Blunt, Miles Kane, Kylie Minogue, and Beverley Knight.
In the three decades since The Lemon Trees formed, all four have continued to work together and play together whenever they can. They remain friends. But it was never enough for Guy Chambers to return to The Lemon Trees as a remaster or an exercise in nostalgia. "Burst the Bubble" isn't that at all. And it's not a 'best of' either. It's a new Lemon Trees record featuring old Lemon Trees songs, sung by David and played by him, Guy, Paul, and Jeremy.
As Guy says, "It is a record born of innocence and now, at last, made of experience. Songs of love and loss, elation and despair. Timeless songs for the good times and the bad times, and the good times that come again."
The joyous sound of four supremely talented friends making the music they always knew they could make but somehow never quite got around to at the time.
