The Wedding Present: Established 1985
A 40th Anniversary Tour
David Lewis Gedge and his semi-legendary band celebrate a special anniversary live across Ireland and the United Kingdom this September and October
The Wedding Present was born in Leeds, in 1985.
Rising from the ashes of a band called The Lost Pandas, The Wedding Present was assembled by David Gedge [singing & guitar] and Keith Gregory [bass], when they enlisted the services of Peter Solowka [guitar] and Shaun Charman [drums].
The band’s first single – ‘Go Out And Get ’Em, Boy!’ – was released in May 1985 and now shares its title with the first volume of David’s autobiography, in which he describes the early days of playing in and around Leeds.
Since 1985, The Wedding Present have had eighteen UK Top 40 hit singles; not bad for a group that has, from its inception, stubbornly refused to play the record industry’s game. That pioneering spirit has been at the core of the band’s philosophy throughout. From George Best [“an unmitigated delight” (NME)] onwards, the band has charted an appealing, if often eccentric, course of its very own.
The band are planning several events [including a Wedding Present musical!] to celebrate their forty years in existence, including this wide-ranging tour throughout Ireland and the United Kingdom. These concerts will feature the band playing tracks from across their extensive repertoire and include many of their hits. They will be joined on the tour by some very special guests.
‘The boy Gedge has written some of the best love songs of the ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll’ era.
You may dispute this, but I’m right and you’re wrong!’
– John Peel
‘The Wedding Present... under the radar and under celebrated. To me, they make more sense now than they did in 1986. David Gedge is a punk hero… a born rock ‘n’ roll star… and not an asshole. I’m glad he’s still around.’
– Alan McGee [Creation Records]
‘“Can I borrow your Wedding Present records?” my eldest said to me, years ago. The fact that he never returned them was a great source of pride.’
– Craig Cash [writer & director]