 Notwithstanding its name, apparently, the group was established in 1986 in Hamburg. Being friends since childhood, Edem Ephraim, born July 1, 1963, and Dennis Fuller, who came to life on June 19, 1963, got acquainted in a Greenwich secondary school. In 1981 they moved to Hamburg and worked in the Roxy Rollers group as street musicians and actors. The name of the group [London Boys - Dux] naturally came from the fact that their Gernam friends in conversations often defined the two friends that way: aaa, those London Boys!
 With the release of the first single Im gonna give my heart in 1986, the group gained reputation as followers of rhythmic Euro-disco. Ralf-Rene Maue, not unknown in the music world, became producer of the group. Evidently, the single, on the tide of disco reigning in the mid-80s Europe, enjoyed modest popularity and was not noticed in charts. A year later another single Harlem desire came out. For the very reason, that it followed the style of Modern Talking, falling from its former heights, that single, although included in the British top 10, also suffered a defeat in Germany.
 At last, in the Fall, 1988, the group released a full album and a new single Requiem that in a phantastic way makes the band truly famous. The first album, The twelve commandments of dance sold out completely (it was printed only for Germany and Japan), therefore it was in a few month additionaly issued for the whole Europe (with some minor changes in the tracklist).
The group was in their prime. Due to the professional approach of the producers and the outsanding vocals of the guys, arrangements and the well-built sound the it takes one a breath to listen to the album. The appearance of London nights in the 2nd edition of the album and its simultaneous release as a single brought the group to the peak of its popularity. The single became 2nd in the British hit-parade.  The group was a frequent guest at TV shows. The guys gladly performed in dancing clubs. In many ways they anticipated the style the performance style, later adopted by numerous boy-bands of the 90s. Every composition by Dennis and Edem was a full-fledged singing and dancing performance, where the guys made their best at a hundred percent. The next album appeared only in 1991. The music of Sweet Soul Music considerably differed from the early songs. Some of the titles were made along the house and reggae patterns (one of them was even devoted to reggae king Bob Marley). Practically every composition contained some elements of rap, except Chapel of love, released a year earlier as a single, that reminded of the classic sound of London Boys of 1988 1989. The best and most dancible song turned out to be Love Train.
 The Love for unity disc, released in 1993, was a sign of another change in the music style of the group for the sake of populary. Surely, the melodies, written by Ralf-Rene Maue, caressed the ear as ever, and the rhythm of the compositions ideally suited disco parties. Nontheless, the album lacked truly bright and easy to remember songs.
Unfortunately, a long pause after such a vehement success and the first album, composed of select disco tracks, played a sad part in their subsequent studio projects. Their next albums were not listed in charts, although the group made their best effort to combine their brand style and energy with newest trends. But to no success! The goup fell out of fame, like many disco giants in the mid-90s. one can only envy Dennis, Edem and Ralfs insistence to make their albums more or less massive. It is necessary to pay close attention to their last album, titled Hallelujah Hits, that was released by the changed name of The New London Boys. Possibly the reason was the change of the former record company, Warner, for Polydor. This time, an attempt to combine catholic gospels and techno-rhythms was undertaken.  The attempt was so unusual and unexepcted that, unfortunately, the sales of the album turned out to be the most unsuccessful. It (as well as two singles from itself) remained unnoticed.
On January 21, 1996, Dennis and Edem, being on a trip in Swiss Alps, died at one of the most dangerous places of the Alpine range in a crash with the a car of a drunken Swiss. Together with them died Edems wifr and their friend, a DJ from Hamburg. At the moment of their death Edem and his wife had a three-year boy, Dennis had a ten-year daughter. Having made only four albums, London Boys left a sign in Euro-disco music of one of the most positive, creative groups, from the outset singing about love, human friendship, race tolerance and belief in God. During less than 10 years of their existence London Boys managed to sell 4,5 million copies of their CDs and earn love of many people. Their songs live among us. 2003 by Alexander Brief discography:
1988 The Twelve Commandments of Dance (2nd edition in 1989, with minor changes in tracklist and cover)
1990 12-ers (a compilation of maxi-versions of hits, printed in Japan only)
1991 Sweet Soul Music
1993 Love for Unity
1994 London Nights (compilation)
1995 Hallelujah Hits Special thanks to Milena & W. Verzeanu for their permission to use the material from their site. |
