The Christians return to celebrate 30th anniversary

Garry Christian: “The most meaningful track on the album is Forgotten Town – it was our first single”

The 80s soul-pop group celebrate three decades since their debut with ‘Sings & Strings’ greatest hits album and UK tour

Liverpool band The Christians have released a new album, featuring their biggest hits reimagined by a gospel choir and strings, 30 years after their platinum-selling, eponymously titled debut. Out last week, Sings & Strings is full of the acerbic lyrics of Garry Christian, the lone-standing founding member of The Christians in the current line-up of the band.

“To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Christians, it was an idea we came up with to re-do the album in a way that just uses a string quartet, a grand piano and singers from a choir,” explains Garry. “Of course, we had to a put the hits in there, like Ideal World and Harvest For The World…the most meaningful track on the album is Forgotten Town – it was our first single.”

Formed by brothers Garry, Roger and Russell Christian, as well as Henry Pressman – whose middle name was also coincidentally Christian – The Christians went on to have huge commercial success, with their first five singles all making the UK Top 40, and their debut LP reaching No 2 in the UK Album Chart. In 1990, the band followed this up with their second album Colour, which went one better and topped the chart.

The Christians are touring the UK with Altered Images and Midge Ure’s band Electronica, throughout October and November. Garry adds: “There are plans to go out live with the Sings & Strings album as it’s a special album and we think people will enjoy it…Before introducing [Ideal World] live, I always say this song is more relevant today and it was when we wrote it.”

The Christians Sings & Strings album is out now. For more details, visit thechristianslive.co.uk

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