Formed by British vocalist/guitarist Nick Van Eede and Canadian guitarist Kevin MacMichael, Cutting Crew immediately saw stars when their debut single (I Just)Died In Your Arms was an American Number 1 (as well as a UK Number 4) in 1987. I've Been In Love Before was another US Top 10 hit. The crew didn't, however, cut it long enough, and the end arrived at the close of 1993. Where are they now, asks Michael Wilson of Lynton, Devon, UK?
Nick Van Eede (vocals/guitar):
Remembers first doubts around time of second album, 1989's Scattering: "Virgin wanted
another Asia or Poison, while we wanted to be Thomas Dolby or Tears For Fears. The others
said 'see you around' and were meant to rejoin for the third album but never did.
Compus Mentus was our best album, too, but it was released for a day and then killed
at birth by EMI's takeover of Virgin. It remains a puzzle to me. I was shocked to suddenly
find myself on my own."
Subsequently set up a home studio, near Gatwick, Sussex. Didn't miss gigging, kept writing,
was auditioned to replace Phil Collins in Genesis ("they decided to put it all on ice"), did
a spot of production (for D-Ream backing singer T.J. Davis) and has been writing an
anecdotal book, So You Want To Be A Songwriter, "about how people write songs. There's
definitely one more album in me. We've also been offered Cutting Crew reunions, from
Thailand to Germany, but we've never gone for it. It's irrelevant in my life right now."
Kevin MacMichael (guitar):
Joined Robert Plant's band for two years: "With an ego that size, there were a few tense
moments, but over all he was a charming, intelligent man, and it was a lot of fun." Then
rumours about a Plant reunion with Jimmy Page proved true, putting an end to the band.
MacMichael's mother died shortly afterwards and he returned home to Halifax, Nova Scotia, for
the funeral: "It was like a Domino effect. I'd been away ten years, and since my brother was
running a studio here, I decided to come home." Is currently working "on a variety of
independent projects. I'm the happiest I've been for some years, not living out of a
suitcase, and helping other artists realize what they're doing."
Martin "Frosty" Beedle (drums):
"Relationships naturally get strained, especially if things aren't going great. When we
returned from America, Nick and Kevin said they wanted a break. We did one gig for a TV series
- ironically the best we ever did - and that was it. It took me six months to pick up the
pieces. Eventually, I re-opened the doors, and session work has poured in." Among others, has
worked with Zucchero, singer-songwriter John Wilson and made an album with blues-rock female
duo Never The Bride, newly signed to MCA in America.
"I'm continuing to make a living from music, though it's a hard business to be in, and seems
to be getting harder. People want committment, but committment means relatively little or no
money, so I tend to avoid those situations. I like having a few situations on the go."
Colin Farley (bass):
Took to soul-searching after Crew split: "I needed people to tell me I was great every day
because I wouldn't give that approval to myself. The music business gave me a big tit to suck
on, and when that ran dry I didn't know how to feed myself, so I climbed off the tit and
learned to make my own food." Still plays sessions, albeit on newly discovered dance "tip",
but has been writing own songs. Is currently collaborating with ex-Pet Shop Boys backing
singer Sylvia Mason and is producing "psychedelic Britpop band" Space Babies. "I just wanted
to be master of my own destiny. As a session man, you're living out someone else's purpose,
which isn't enough fun."