A vital part of Manchester's post-punk scene, The Chameleons made gloomy, darkly dramatic music powered by driving guitars. Two indie LPs paved the way for 1986's Strange Times, their major-label debut and masterpiece, in which singer/bassist Mark Burgess sang of loss and alienation in opulent songs reminiscent of Echo & The Bunnymen. The band broke up the same year after the unexpected death of their manager; Burgess went on to form The Sun & The Moon but has since reformed The Chameleons on several occasions.