Flowered Up

Inspired by the joyous collective hedonism of the late-80s acid house scene, Flowered Up were formed in Camden by the captivating singer Liam Maher and his friend Des Penney (who went onto manage the band and co-write some of their colourful lyrics) in 1989. Bringing together the energy of the clubs and the coolness of groups like Happy Mondays and The Stone Roses, Flowered Up were soon being hyped by the music press after only a few gigs.

Indeed, it was the band’s (composed of Maher’s brother Joe on guitar, keyboardist Tim Dorney, bassist Andrew Jackson and drummer John Turvey) chaotic and fervent live shows that cemented their appeal. Augmented by dancer Barry Mooncult – who would cavort around the stage adorned with a large flower petal around his neck – the group enthusiastically embraced the spirit of the times.

Before their first single – the magical It’s On – was released the band found themselves on the cover of both the NME and Melody Maker. The frenzied reaction to It’s On and second single, Phobia, saw the band sign to London Records. In 1991, Take It (with additional lyrics from Joe Strummer) was their first single to reach the Top 40. Later that year, their debut album, A Life With Brian, hit number 23.

The following year the band released the epic Weekender, a 13-minute ode to fast-living and propelled them back to the forefront of the music scene. Its accompanying video, directed by WIZ, was issued to critical acclaim, and remains a cult hit to this day, with Chloé Raunet’s 2023 documentary I Am Weekender exploring the film’s making, impact, and wider cultural legacy.

Unfortunately, the band intimately knew of the lifestyle they depicted. Sadly, both the Maher brothers died prematurely – Liam in 2009, followed by his younger sibling Joe in 2012. In 2024 London Records revisited A Life Of Brian with an expansive remastered and expanded versions of the album, including fresh new mixes from Beyond The Wizards Sleeve and Everyone You Know.