Graduate

At the start of the 80s a five-piece band from Bath, Avon, England released four singles and a Tony Hatch -produced album for the Precision label. Graduate featured guitarist Roland Orzabal de la Quintana (b. 22 August 1961, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England) - who was of Basque Spanish descent, Curt Smith (b. 24 June 1961, Bath, Somerset, England; bass), John Baker (b. 2 April 1961, Bath, Somerset, England; guitar), Steve Buck (keyboards) and Andy Marsden (drums). They had started out as Smith’s school band and evolved into Graduate around 1979. Of their four singles, only ‘Elvis Should Play Ska’ attracted much attention but the band did receive some coverage in the pop press of the time. Orzabal and Smith decided to split from the rest of the band and initially they formed Neon with Rob Fisher (later of Climie Fisher) before dropping down to a duo and finding worldwide success as Tears For Fears. ~ Rovi