Voice of the Beehive were an Anglo-American alternative pop rock band formed in London in 1986.
The group featured Californian lead vocalist sisters Tracey Bryn and Melissa Brooke Belland (daughters of The Four Preps singer Bruce Belland). They teamed with British musicians Mike Jones, Martin Brett, and Daniel Woodgate and Mark Bedford – former members of Madness. The band took their name from the Greek meaning of the name Melissa, meaning honey bee.
Career The band had five Top 40 singles from two albums in the UK. Their biggest commercial success came with the singles "I Say Nothing", "Don't Call Me Baby", "Monsters and Angels" and "I Think I Love You", taken from albums Let It Bee and Honey Lingers. Sex & Misery, a third album, was released in 1996; by this point sisters Tracey and Melissa were the sole group members. The band reformed in 2003 to play a two-week UK tour.
In October 2017, Bryn and Belland reformed with the original line-up to play a pair of concert dates in London, including the '80s/'90s revival show Indie Daze 4.
Band members Tracey Bryn – guitar and vocals – (born 17 May 1962, Encino, California) Melissa Brooke Belland or "Missy Beehive" – vocals – (born 17 February 1966, Los Angeles, California) Martin Brett (Brett Martini) – bass guitar Mike Jones – guitar Daniel "Woody" Woodgate – drums Mark "Bedders" Bedford - bass guitar (1986-1987)
Discography Albums Studio albums Title Album detailsPeak chart positions UK AUSAustralian chart peaks: Top 100 (Kent Music Report) peaks to 19 June 1988: N.B. This chart was licensed by ARIA until they commenced producing the chart in-house from 13 June 1988. Top 50 (ARIA) peaks: Top 100 (ARIA) peaks from January 1990 to December 2010: Let It Bee (ARIA) peak: "Gimme Shelter" (ARIA) peak: NZ SCOLet It Bee Released: 20 June 1988 Label: London Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape13534052Honey Lingers Released: 12 August 1991 Label: London Formats: CD, LP, MC1768—26Sex & Misery Released: 12 February 1996 Label: East West, Discovery Formats: CD, MC————"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Live albums Title Album detailsDon't Call Me Baby Released: July 2008 Label: Secret Formats: CDAccess All Areas Released: 25 September 2015 Label: Edsel Formats: CD+DVD, digital download
Compilation albums Title Album detailsA Portrait Released: 1991 Label: London Formats: CD Canada-only releaseThe Best of Voice of the Beehive Released: 1997 Label: London Formats: CDBee-Sides Released: 2003 Label: Self-released Formats: CD Limited release only available through the band's website
Video albums Title Album detailsDon't Call Me Baby – Live Released: 2004 Label: Secret Films Formats: DVD
EPs Title EP detailsThe Radio 1 Sessions – The Evening Show Released: January 1989 Label: Strange Fruit/Nighttracks Formats: 12", CD
Singles Title YearPeak chart positionsAlbum UK UK Indie AUS CAN IRE NZ US US Alt"Just a City"198715420——————Let It Bee"I Say Nothing"45—73—————"I Walk the Earth"198842———————"Don't Call Me Baby"15—48—1525——"I Say Nothing" (reissue)22——————11"I Walk the Earth" (reissue)46———————"Man in the Moon"93———————"Monsters and Angels"199117—72———748Honey Lingers"I Think I Love You"25—12—————"Perfect Place"37—31—————"Angel Come Down"199586———————Sex & Misery"Scary Kisses"1996———35——77—"Heavenly"————————"So Hard"———66————"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Other appearances Voice of the Beehive provided harmonies on Bill Drummond's album The Man (1986). An early version of "Beat of Love" was featured on the London Records compilation Giant (1987). Melissa and Tracey contributed a cover of "Five Feet High and Rising" to the Johnny Cash tribute album Til Things Are Brighter (1988), credited as Tracey & Melissa Beehive. In 1993, Voice of the Beehive contributed a cover version of "Gimme Shelter" with Jimmy Somerville to an EP released to raise funds for the Putting Our House in Order homeless initiative. The single, which contained different duet versions of the song on each format, peaked at No. 23 in the UK, and No. 214 in Australia.
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References
External links The Beehive—Voice of the Beehive Online Voice of the Beehive at Myspace
Voice of the Beehive 1992 interview with Maynard (broadcaster) Melissa Belland Instagram