Sad Café

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", the first of which was their biggest hit, reaching number 3 on the UK Singles Chart in 1979. The band also had two US Billboard Hot 100 hits with "Run Home Girl" and "La-Di-Da".

History

The group formed as a result of the unification of rock bands Mandalaband and Gyro. Its founder members were Paul Young (vocals), Ian Wilson (guitar), Vic Emerson (keyboards), Ashley Mulford (lead guitar), John Stimpson (bass) and Tony Cresswell (drums). The band took their name from the Carson McCullers novella The Ballad of the Sad Café. 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".

Personnel

Members

• Des Tong – bass, vocals <small>(1981–1990, 1998, 2000, 2012–present)</small>
• Steve Gibson - drums <small>(1989–1990, 2023–present) </small>
• Dave Day - guitars, vocals <small>(2018–present)</small>
• Neil Shaw-Hulme - saxophones, wx7, vocals <small>(2018–present)</small>
• Matt Steele - keyboards <small>(2019–present)</small>
• Matt Wolff - vocals <small>(2025-)</small>

• Ian Wilson - rhythm guitar, vocals <small>(1976–2022)</small>
• Paul Young – lead vocals <small>(1976–1990, 1998; died 2000)</small>
• Vic Emerson – keyboards <small>(1976–1984, 2000; died 2018)</small>
• John Stimpson – bass, backing vocals <small>(1976–1980; died 2021)</small>
• Tony Cresswell – drums <small>(1976–1978)</small>
• Ashley Mulford – lead guitars, vocals <small>(1976–1981, 1986–1989, 2000, 2012–2014)</small>
• Dave Irving - drums <small> (1978–1984, 2000, 2012–2019)</small>
• Lenni Zaksen – saxophone <small>(1979–1984, 1998, 2000)</small>
• Al Hodge - guitars <small> (1981; died 2006) </small>
• Michael Byron-Hehir – lead guitars <small>(1981–1984, 1989–1990, 1998; guest musician: 1986)</small>
• Jeff Seopardi – drums <small>(1984–1986)</small>
• Danny Schogger – keyboards <small>(1984)</small>
• Phil Lanzon – keyboards <small>(1986)</small>
• Alistair Gordon – keyboards, vocals <small>(1989–1990, 1998)</small>
• Simon Waggott – keyboards, vocals <small>(2012–2014)</small>
• Steve Whalley – vocals, guitar <small>(2012–2014; died 2025)</small>
• Sue Wilson-Quin - keyboards, vocals <small>(2012–2022)</small>
• Pete Hughes - keyboards <small>(2018)</small>
• Bryan Hargreaves – drums <small>(2019–2022)</small>
• Barry James Thomas - vocals, percussion <small>(2018–2024; died 2024)</small>
• Paul McCafferty - vocals <small>(2025)</small>

• Roy Martin – drums <small>(1998)</small>
• Paul Burgess – drums <small>(1986–1990)</small>
• Steve Pigott – keyboards <small>(1984–1986)</small>
• Ali Roocroft - keyboards <small>(2023-2024)</small>
• Fraser Rowe - keyboards <small>(2025)</small>

Lineups

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilation albums

Singles

See also

• List of bands from Manchester
• List of bands from England
• List of performers on Top of the Pops
• Swan Song Records

References

External links

• Sad Café official website
• Sad Café at Harvey Lisberg