Sad Café are an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1976, who achieved their peak of popularity in the late 1970s and early 1980s. They are best known for the UK top 40 singles "Every Day Hurts", "Strange Little Girl", "My Oh My" and "I'm in Love Again",[2] the first of which was their biggest hit, reaching number 3 on the UK Singles Chart in 1979.[3] The band also had two US Billboard Hot 100 hits with "Run Home Girl" and "La-Di-Da".[2]
The group formed as a result of the unification of rock bands Mandalaband and Gyro.[2] Its founder members were Paul Young (vocals), Ian Wilson (guitar), Vic Emerson (keyboards), Ashley Mulford (lead guitar), John Stimpson (bass) and Tony Cresswell (drums).[2] The band took their name from the Carson McCullers novella Ballad of the Sad Café.[citation needed] Harvey Lisberg, who also managed 10cc, arranged for Eric Stewart to produce their third album, Facades (an anagram of Sad Cafe), which included the top 3 single "Every Day Hurts".[4]
Now led by long time bassist Des Tong, the band features vocalist Barry James Thomas, Dave Day on lead guitar/vocals, Matt Steele on keyboards, Neil Shaw-Hulme on sax/vocals, and Steve Gibson on drums. They now press on to a new era with a show that brings together the great hits of the past with the matured and excellent musicianship of the present. Sad Café fans have warmly and enthusiastically embraced the new line up as the shows continue to bring new and existing fans together to share their love for this incredible band and their music.