Bronski Beat

Bronski Beat was a British synth-pop trio that formed in London in 1983. The original lineup consisted of Jimmy Somerville (vocals), Steve Bronski (keyboards, percussion), and Larry Steinbachek (keyboards, percussion). All three members were openly gay, and their music often addressed LGBTQ+ issues and contained political commentary. The group's aim was to be more outspoken and political than other gay performers of the time.

Breakthrough Success with The Age of Consent

Bronski Beat signed with London Records in 1984 after only nine live performances. Their debut single, "Smalltown Boy," became a major international hit. The song, which depicts a young gay man leaving his hostile hometown, reached number 3 in the UK and topped the charts in Belgium and the Netherlands. The accompanying music video visually narrated the song's story of homophobia and escape. Their debut album, The Age of Consent, was released in October 1984. The album's inner sleeve famously listed the varying ages of consent for homosexual acts across different countries, serving as a form of protest. Other notable singles from the album included "Why?," which addressed anti-gay prejudice, and a cover of George and Ira Gershwin's "It Ain't Necessarily So." In 1985, they collaborated with Marc Almond of Soft Cell on a hit medley of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love" and "Johnny Remember Me."

Lineup Changes and Later Years

In 1985, Jimmy Somerville left Bronski Beat to form The Communards. He was replaced by vocalist John Foster, with whom the band released the album Truthdare Doubledare in 1986. This lineup produced the hit single "Hit That Perfect Beat." After Foster's departure, the band went through several vocalists, including Jonathan Hellyer. Bronski Beat eventually dissolved in 1995 after releasing the album Rainbow Nation.

Steve Bronski, the only constant member throughout the band's history, revived the name in 2016. A reworked version of their debut album, titled The Age of Reason, was released in 2017 with new singer Stephen Granville.

Legacy

Bronski Beat is remembered as a pioneering group for their open and political approach to gay themes in their music during a time of significant social and political challenges for the LGBTQ+ community. Their music gave a voice to many and brought issues of homophobia and inequality into the mainstream pop charts. Larry Steinbachek died in December 2016 after a battle with cancer. Steve Bronski died in a fire at his home in December 2021. As of 2025, Jimmy Somerville is the last surviving member of the original lineup.