Living In A Box

Living in a Box was a British pop group formed in 1985, originating from Sheffield. The band consisted of Anthony "Tich" Critchlow on drums and Marcus Vere on keyboards and synthesizers, with Richard Darbyshire as the lead vocalist. Their breakthrough came with their debut single "Living in a Box," which was produced by Richard James Burgess. Released in 1987, this song reached number 5 on the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100. The group's self-titled debut album Living in a Box followed in 1987, featuring additional singles "Love Is the Art," "So the Story Goes," and "Scales of Justice." Their second album, Gatecrashing, was released in 1989 and included the Top 10 hits "Blow the House Down" (featuring Brian May of Queen on guitar) and "Room in Your Heart." Despite their success, internal differences and label changes led to the band's disbandment in 1990. Post-breakup, Richard Darbyshire pursued a solo career with the album How Many Angels (re-released as Love Will Provide), while Anthony "Tich" Critchlow started his own lighting business. Marcus Vere produced educational DVDs for preschoolers and contributed songs to ABC's Lexicon of Love II. Living in a Box's music continued to be recognized posthumously, with compilations like The Very Best of Living in a Box released in 2003 and the reissue of their debut album in 2009. In 2016, Anthony Critchlow and Marcus Vere reformed Living in a Box with singer Kenny Thomas, replaced in 2022 by Bryan Chambers. On November 10, 2025, Richard Darbyshire died at the age of 65.