Echo & the Bunnymen formed in 1978 in Liverpool, with an original lineup comprising bassist Les Pattinson, guitarist Will Sergeant, and Ian McCulloch handling the vocals. Drummer Pete de Freitas came aboard in 1980.
The group’s success began in the UK. They released “Crocodiles,” their debut album, in 1980, and saw it climb into the Top 20 on the UK Albums Chart. They dropped “Heaven Up Here” in 1981, but didn’t break through until 1983, when their song “The Cutter” made it into the UK Top 10. “Porcupine,” the album which contained “The Cutter” track, climbed to the No. 2 spot, and 1984’s “Ocean Rain” continued the band’s success as “The Killing Moon,” the album’s lead single, hit the Top 10.
Lineup changes have occurred over time. After a shakeup, Sergeant and McCulloch, who were performing as Electrafixion, rejoined Pattinson and enjoyed a comeback as Echo & the Bunnymen in 1997. Pattinson left in 1998, but the group continued, releasing several albums and touring. A review says:
“It was a performance bursting with colour energy and atmosphere. … The band fully engaged with the crowd, encouraging everyone to belt out the choruses.”
Echo & the Bunnymen will be at SOMA on May 18. Support for shows like this can be generated when organizers use poster printing to create advertising.