One Hit Wonders

The Beloved is a British electronic music group. In 1983, Jon Marsh placed an advert in the music press which read as follows:

I am Jon Marsh, founder member of the Beloved. Should you too wish to do something gorgeous, meet me in exactly three year’s time at exactly 11am in Diana’s Diner, or site thereof, Covent Garden, London, WC2.

At the meeting in 1986, Cambridge (Jesus, mathematics) graduate Steve Waddington was present and the two formed the core, with Tim Havard and Guy Gousden completing the lineup. Originally a jangly guitar band, the band shifted to a fusion of psychedelic club music with more danceable, Deep House inspired pop in 1988, when its single “The Sun Rising” became a club favourite. This was followed by the album Happiness in 1990, from which the hit single “Hello” was released.

By 1993, Waddington left the group and was replaced by Jon Marsh’s wife Helena, who was working as a purchaser for the Japanese fashion house Comme des Garçons, for the album Conscience. The band faced some controversy for the video of the single “Sweet Harmony” which consisted of a naked Marsh among a group of women, also naked (although it was shot and edited so as not to show anything which might cause it to be censored). By this time the project had dropped the definite article from its name and was now simply called Beloved.

Beloved singles continue to be remixed and the band has not been formally wound up, but Jon Marsh has for some ten years been concentrating on his flourishing career as a club dj, as well as the raising of his young family. However, a new collaboration with Steve Waddington is reportedly in the works, and the Beloved has plans for a new album release some time in late 2006.

Source: Wikipedia