The band was formed in early 1983[3] and initially comprised Peter Hooton, Steve Grimes, John Melvin and Andrew John “Andy” McVann,[6] who was killed in a police chase on 1 October 1986 at the age of 21,[7] and to whose parents the band’s subsequent album, Spartacus, is dedicated.
The band evolved from an earlier group called The Excitements,[8] initially including Phil Stephenson on bass guitar, Neil (Cad) Campbell on drums, Grimes on guitarand Thomas (the band’s dancer). They became The Farm after Martin Dunbar (vocals) left and Peter Hooton joined, although they did play several gigs as The Excitements with Hooton on vocals. In 1984, they released the single, “Hearts and Minds”, produced by Graham “Suggs” McPherson,[9] lead vocalist with Madness.[3] In 1986, after McVann’s death, Melvin left the band to pursue a varied career as the director of his own construction firm, but he eventually returned to music in 1990 under the guise of Mr. Smith, a two-piece band that toured frequently, but did not release anything of note. In 1987, the band supported The Housemartins on their UK tour.
‘All Together Now’ was produced by Graham McPherson, better known as Suggs, a founding member of the band Madness, and recorded at Mayfair Studios. It was originally released on 26 November 1990 peaking at #4 on the UK Singles Chart and #7 on the U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.
Since 2004, The Farm have been performing again, and recent years have established regular appearances at summer festivals, and in 2011-2012 performed as part of the Justice Tonight Band. They joined many other artists and bands on that tour, including 4 performances with The Stone Roses, and culminated 2012 as part of the Justice Collective, who’s single He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother, got to Number One in the UK Official Christmas Chart.
The band continue to play live, both acoustic and as a full band and plan new music in 2016.