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Clive n’ Drew: FARRINGTON-MANN
In 1987, Andrew Mann joins Clive Farrington to replace departed members of his Manchester-based group Beau Leisure after supporting them as a beat poet on a number of shows. They begin writing songs and recording demos together, sometimes joined by Mann’s friend Corinne Drewery (Swing Out Sister).
After collaborating on a brand new song, “The Promise”, they soon land a record deal with Elektra Record’s Simon Potts. Unfortunately, Elektra closes its London office, but the band is picked up by Virgin UK’s 10 Records’ Mick Clark. Producers Ben Rogan (who had worked with Sade) and Richard James Burgess take a special interest in the band and “The Promise” is released as a 12″ vinyl dance disc.
Sometime in 1986, a relative of the original keyboard player leaves UK shores for a new job and life in San Francisco, and is given a copy of “The Promise” to take with him. He brings the record into a local radio station, Live 105, and they immediately put it into heavy rotation! From there, the song spreads to other major radio stations across the US and Canada!
When the song hits #1 on Billboard magazine’s Dance chart, Virgin Records orders a full album’s worth of songs, and on May 3, 1988, a remixed version of “The Promise” becomes the first single from the group’s self-titled debut album. The song is instantaneously a smash hit and nearly cracks the Top Ten of Billboard magazine’s HOT100 singles chart! Months later, the group releases “Heaven Knows” which also enters the Hot 100.
In 2003, Clive receives an unexpected call from an ex keyboard player who is now living in Dallas, Texas. The call revolves around film maker Jared Hess wanting to use “The Promise” in a new film he’s just made called Napoleon Dynamite. Released a year later in 2004, Napoleon Dynamite goes on to win numerous awards and becomes a cult classic, and “The Promise” is a hit all over again with a totally new audience! Since then, “The Promise” has been included in numerous film and TV productions including The Goldbergs, Sex Education and Russian Doll.
It’s 2023 – WHEN IN ROME are in demand again, and Clive and Andrew have begun to tour once more! Due to some unfortunate legalities, Clive and Andrew have agreed to use the name “FARRINGTON-MANN Original Members of WHEN IN ROME UK”. However, no matter what name they go by, they are the voices and co-writers of the international hit, “The Promise”!