The House of Love

English band led by Guy Chadwick, The House of Love was signed by Alan McGee's Creation label in 1986. Their first album of the same name marked the start of a dazzling success, symbolized by the title track "Christine", sophisticated songwriting in the tradition of The Smiths, and a barrage of guitars driven by Terry Bickers. His departure due to differences of opinion and a change of label did not harm the band, whose second album, still of the same name (often referred to as the "Fontana" or "Butterfly" album), contained its share of gems ("Beatles and the Stones", "I Don't Know Why I Love You", "Shine on"). After a respectable follow-up to 1992's Babe Rainbow , The House of Love disappointed on Audience With the Mind (1993), then broke up. In 2005, following a failed solo effort, Guy Chadwick reactivated The House of Love with Terry Bickers for the aptly-named Days Run Away. Despite a chequered career, The House of Love remains one of the jewels in the crown of British rock from 1980-1990.