Agent Provocateur were a British electronica band, consisting of John Gosling, Matthew Ashman (Bow Wow Wow), Dan Peppe, Danny Saber (Black Grape) and Cleo Torez.Larkin, Colin (2000) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music, Virgin Books, , p. 261 When Ashman died in 1995 he was replaced on guitar by Lance Burman (formerly of Chiefs of Relief).
History The band's first single, "Kicks", was released in 1995, and they went on to perform in London supporting Royal Trux."Agent Provocoateur Biography", Allmusic. Retrieved 31 July 2016 Their second, "Red Tape", was featured in The Jackal, a Bruce Willis action movie. In 1997 they released the album Where the Wild Things Are, which had been started before Ashman's death, and featured Shaun Ryder on vocals on the track "Agent Dan", which was a top 50 hit in the UK when released as a single.Les Inrockuptibles, Issues 111-119, 1997, p.67 (via Google Books)Erlewine, Stephen Thomas "Where the Wild Things Are Review", Allmusic. Retrieved 31 July 2016Prato, Greg "Matthew Ashman Biography", Allmusic. Retrieved 31 July 2016Talevski, Nick (2006) Knocking on Heaven's Door: Rock Obituaries, Omnibus Press, , p. 12
On the fifteenth anniversary of Ashman's death, the band reunited for a tribute concert on 21 November 2010, at the Scala in London, in a show with Adam Ant topping the bill and also featuring later Ashman bands Bow Wow Wow and Chiefs of Relief.
Discography Studio albums Where the Wild Things Are (1997), Wall of Sound
EPs The Phat and Ratty (1997), Epic
Singles YearSingleUK Singles ChartLabel1994"Kicks"/"Spinning"-Wall of Sound1995"Red Tape"-Wall of Sound1996"Sabotage!"-Epic/Wall of Sound"You're No Good"-Wall of Sound1997"Agent Dan"49Roberts, David. Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums. Guinness World Records Ltd 17th edition (2004), p. 16 Epic/Wall of Sound
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