The Chapman Family

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The Chapman Family were an English indie rock band from Stockton-on-Tees. They formed in 2006 and stayed active until 2013. The final lineup was Kingsley Chapman (vocals/keyboards), Pop Chapman (lead guitar), Owen Chapman (rhythm guitar), Kevin James Chapman (bass) and Scott Chapman (drums). The original members were Kingsley, Paul, Phil and Lucy, with Lucy later replaced by Pop in 2007.

Their first gig was on May 5, 2006, at KuBar in Stockton. They released their first single, the double A-side “You Are Not Me” / “You Think You’re Funny,” on October 8, 2007. In 2008 they played Glastonbury after a BBC Radio 1 promotion and were chosen by a panel that included Huw Stephens, Steve Lamacq and Gary Lightbody. They also closed Manchester’s In The City conference and played with bands like We Are Scientists and 80s Matchbox B-L Disaster. A BBC Radio 1 Maida Vale session followed in September 2008.

From 2009 they toured with La Roux and others on the Samsung Radar tour. Their second single, “Kids,” came out in April 2009, with a video by Blake Claridge. They announced a new single, “Virgins,” and their first full UK tour in late 2009. The Guardian named them a “New Band of the Day” in November 2009.

In 2010 they played at South by Southwest in the US and released the single “All Fall.” Their debut album, Burn Your Town, was released on March 7, 2011, to strong reviews from NME, Artrocker and the BBC. The video for “Anxiety,” released in January 2011, was nominated for Best Video at the Artrocker Awards.

In mid-2011 two members left (Phil and Paul). Pop moved to lead guitar, Kevin joined on bass, Scott became the drummer, and Owen joined on guitar. The band’s style shifted toward a shoegaze sound with more effects. They released Cruel Britannia in June 2012 on Best Before Records, drawing comparisons to the Smiths and earning positive reviews.

The Chapman Family split up in July 2013, saying goodbye with a final show at The Georgian Theatre in Stockton and releasing their last single, “We Stick Together,” on Bandcamp.

Afterward, Kingsley Chapman formed Kingsley Chapman and the Murder, releasing “Lovers” in 2015. He continued making music in later projects, including Benefits, by 2021.