The History...
Somewhere in the Foreign Office... was the name of a musical group formed in Cambridge, UK in 1983 which played in public about 20 times over a 3 year period and numbered variously 10 - 15 members. This band never made it onto vinyl though many demos, live recordings and even a video exist (see below).
A number of concerts were played on RAF and USAF bases. These were booked by a local promoter, John Gammon "Ham Acts" (geddit?), and would be billed as "a top London salsa band". The highlight was a mini-tour of Scotland. In order to afford to transport and pay 9 musicians, it proved necessary to forego the comfort of hotels and the band stayed at local camp sites instead.
The night Somewhere In The Foreign Office played to the air crew and support staff of the USAF strategic air command at RAF Lossiemouth, the band stayed at the Findhorn community.
To say that Chris Morris is, by far and away, the most famous (infamous?) ex-member of Somewhere In The Foreign Office would be putting it too mildly. Chris' subsequent career in broadcasting has taken him to stratospheric heights of public exposure - the furore caused by his Brass Eye spoof documentary on paedophilia dominated the front pages of most UK national newspapers for several days in July 2001. During the entire hoo-ha Chris, characteristically, was nowhere to be seen. We applaud him for that and for his unerring ability to poke hypocrisy in the eye.
Chris Morris - poking hypocrisy
Chris Morris joined Somewhere In The Foreign Office from the Exploding Hamsters to play bass and toured Scotland in the mini-bus (see above). He also wrote "Blind Date" which was played live frequently and which was decently demoed at Spaceward Studios . After a while, both Chris and Jane started to spend increasing amounts of time at BBC Radio Cambridgeshire and the rest, as they say, is history...
The complete line-up of Somewhere in the Foreign Office in the 1980's was variously...
Vocals - Jane Edwards, Steve Breeze,
Guitars - Jon Harris, Mark Graham, Steve Webb, Bruce Cameron
Bass - Chris Hopkins, Chris Morris
Drums - Richard Dixon, Chris Mann, Tony Shepherd
Brass - Kevin Flanagan, Neil Blacknall, Paul Dias, Phillip Dias
Percussion, foh sound & wheels - Zop
"Highlife Style" performed by the original lineup of Somewhere In The Foreign Office in 1984
"Love Song" performed by the original lineup of Somewhere In The Foreign Office in 1984
Today, Somewhere In The Foreign Office comprises Ed Harbud and Mark Graham with help from friends Jane Edwards (vocals) and Ricardo Odriozola (violin and guitar).
More from Somewhere In The Foreign Office at Myxer