The Faith Brothers

A passionate brand of rock, spiced with an old soul feel, allowed the Faith Brothers to address important political and moral issues without needing to preach. Their debut single, ‘Country Of The Blind’, in 1985, set the tone, an attack on a nation in the clutches of consumer fever and a decaying welfare state. ‘Stranger On Home Ground’ (1985) was closer to their hearts, dealing with the band’s attitude towards the loss of community, not least where they grew up around west London’s Fulham area. The year ended with the more optimistic ‘Eventide (A Hymn For Change)’, a title shared by the Faith Brothers’ debut album released on the Virgin Records subsidiary 10. Alongside the main songwriter Billy Franks (guitar, vocals) were Lee Hirons (bass), his brother Mark (guitar), Henry Trezise (keyboards), Mark Waterman (saxophone), Will Tipper (trumpet) and Steve Howlett (drums). The immediacy of the singles seemed to be lost on Eventide, which sounded strained and tame in comparison. ‘Whistling In The Dark’ was taken as a further single in 1986, but failed to chart. The Faith Brothers returned in 1987 with A Human Sound, but like its two singles, ‘That’s Just The Way It Is To Me’ and ‘Consider Me’, it made little impression and they disbanded shortly thereafter.