Dare (band)

History

Dare was formed in 1985 by Darren Wharton after Phil Lynott dissolved Thin Lizzy. By 1987 the band had built a local following in Oldham and signed a four-year deal with A&M Records. Their debut album, Out of the Silence, was released in 1988 and recorded at singer Joni Mitchell's private studio in Beverly Hills. The lineup included Wharton on vocals and keyboards, Vinny Burns on guitars, Martin "Shelley" Shelton on bass, James Ross on drums, and future physicist Brian Cox on keyboards.

The follow-up album Blood from Stone appeared in 1991 and reached No. 48 on the UK Albums Chart. Despite minor success in Europe, sales declined and A&M dropped the band. Five singles charted on the UK Singles Chart: "Abandon" (No. 71, 1989), "Nothing Is Stronger Than Love" (No. 95, 1989), "The Raindance" (No. 62, 1989), "We Don't Need a Reason" (No. 52, 1991), and "Real Love" (No. 67, 1991).

A third album, Calm Before the Storm, was not released until 1998, produced by Wharton. By then Burns, Cox and Clutterbuck had left; the band consisted of Andrew Moore on guitars, Martin Wilding on bass, and brothers Julian Gardner on drums and Simon Gardner on keyboards, with additional musicians Kevin Whitehead on drums and Richard Dews on acoustic guitar and backing vocals. The album marked a shift toward a mellower sound with Celtic influences. A year after release it was reissued in the UK on Wharton's own Legend Records.

The next album, Belief, came out in 2001, with Dews now a full member alongside Wharton, Moore and Julian Gardner. The lead single "White Horses" was playlisted by Sir Terry Wogan on BBC Radio 2. Tours followed across Europe and Scandinavia, including a 12-date UK tour with Asia.