Messengers (Scottish band)

Messengers were a Scottish new wave duo consisting of Danny Mitchell and Colin King. The duo were originally part of Modern Man, a Glasgow punk band discovered by Midge Ure of Ultravox. Modern Man disbanded after releasing one LP produced by Ure, Concrete Scheme (1980), after which Ure stayed with Mitchell and King as Messengers.^[1] Messengers toured as support band to Ultravox, contributing to the live album Monument (1982), and with Mitchell co-writing Ultravox's "If I Was".^[2] Enough material for an album was recorded by 1984, but Ure's label Chrysalis declined to release the LP. The album was not finally released till 2004 when King and Mitchell re-recorded the songs for the Ultravox fan site Extreme Voice.

Discography

Singles:

• "Body Music", single as Modern Man, written by Danny Mitchell, produced Midge Ure 1980
• "I Turn In (To You)" / "The Semi-Professionals (Theme One)"
• "Great Institutions" / "Here Come The Heroes", "Strawboys (Live)" 1983
• "Frontiers" / "Frontiers (Extended Version)" "The Plains of Siberia", "Andy Warhol" 1984
• The Same Mistakes: Messengers - Complete Singles, album 2004

References

1. Midge Ure: If I Was - The Autobiography - Page 112 Midge Ure - 2004 -"Danny Mitchell and Colin King, the Messengers, who were opening up for Ultravox, travelled with us because they couldn't stand the nannying."
2. The Penguin encyclopedia of popular music - Donald Clarke - 1990 Page 1189 "single 'If I Was': co-wrote most songs with Danny Mitchell, half of former Ultravox tour support the Messengers (he also played in Ure's live band that toured to promote LP)."