Dare (band)

Early days

Dare was formed in 1985 by former Thin Lizzy keyboard player Darren Wharton after Phil Lynott had dissolved the band.^[1] By 1987, Dare had gained a local following in Oldham and were signed with a four-year deal by A&M Records.^[2]

The band's debut album, Out of the Silence, was released in 1988.^[1] It was recorded in Los Angeles at singer Joni Mitchell's private studio in Beverly Hills.^[2] The lineup consisted of Darren Wharton (vocals/keyboards), Vinny Burns (guitars), Martin "Shelley" Shelton (bass), James Ross (drums), and future physicist Brian Cox (keyboards).

The follow-up album Blood from Stone was released in 1991,^[1] Blood from Stone peaked at No. 48 in the UK Albums Chart^[3] and the band enjoyed minor success in Europe, album sales flagged and the band was dropped by A&M.^[2] By that time, Dare had released five singles which had charted in the UK Singles Chart: "Abandon" (No. 71, 1989), "Nothing Is Stronger Than Love" (No. 95, 1989) and "The Raindance" (No. 62, 1989) from Out of the Silence, and "We Don't Need a Reason" (No. 52, 1991) and "Real Love" (No. 67, 1991) from Blood from Stone.^[3]

Lineup reshuffle

A third album was not released until 1998—Calm Before the Storm, produced by Wharton.^[1] By that time, Burns, Cox and Clutterbuck had departed, and the band consisted of Andrew Moore on guitars, Martin Wilding on bass, and brothers Julian Gardner on drums and Simon Gardner on keyboards. Also listed as "additional musicians” were Kevin Whitehead on drums and Richard Dews on acoustic guitar and backing vocals.^{[citation needed]}

Calm Before the Storm marked another change in style towards a mellower sound with Celtic influences. A year after its release, Calm Before the Storm was reissued in the UK on Wharton's own label, Legend Records. The band's next album, Belief, was released in 2001. By this time Dews was credited as a full-fledged member of the band, alongside Wharton, Moore and Julian Gardner. The leadoff single, "White Horses", was playlisted by Sir Terry Wogan on the UK's largest national radio station, BBC Radio 2.^{[citation needed]} Tours throughout Europe and Scandinavia were to follow, including a 12 date tour with Asia in the UK.^{[citation needed]}

In the summer of 2004, the band released their fifth album, Beneath the Shining Water. The single "Sea of Roses" once again received considerable airplay on Radio 2.^{[citation needed]} The supporting tour was captured on the band's first live album, The Power of Nature: Live in Munich, released the following year in both CD and DVD editions, the latter of which included a series of interviews with Wharton in which he chronicles the history of the band. In 2008 Belief and Beneath the Shining Water were released as a double CD though Warner Music/ADA in the U.S.;^[2] this edition again featured a bonus track, a re-recording of the Blood from Stone song "Real Love".

Return of Vinny Burns

In October 2009, Arc of the Dawn was released. Founding member Vinny Burns returned to the band for the subsequent tour. This lineup was retained for Calm Before the Storm 2; released in 2012, the album is a re-recording of the band's third album Calm Before the Storm with a slightly altered track listing.

Dare released Sacred Ground in July 2016.^[2] MelodicRock.com said that "the album features some of Wharton's most mature song writing to date. Thought provoking and passionate, whilst still retaining a dark rock edge".^[4]

Road to Eden and beyond

The latest Dare album, Road to Eden, was released in 2022. The lineup for the album remained unchanged from the preceding releases, consisting of Wharton, Burns, Whitehead and Clutterbuck, with Marc Roberts on keyboard.^[5] Additional dates were later added, these including an appearance at Cambridge Rock Festival.

In June 2025 the band released their first compilation album, The Best of Dare. Published through Darren Wharton's Legend Records label, the double-CD set features 34 tracks selected by the band from the entire Dare catalogue.^{[citation needed]}

Current members

• Darren Wharton – vocals, keyboards, keytar (1985–1992, 1998–present)
• Vinny Burns – guitar (1985–1992, 2008–present)
• Nigel Clutterbuck – bass (1989–1992, 2014–present)
• Marc Roberts – keyboards (live) (2006–present)
• Greg Morgan – drums (1991–1992, 2023–present)

Past members

• Brian Cox – keyboards (1986–1992)
• Richard "Richie" Dews – guitar (1991–2014)
• Brian Drawbridge – bass (1998–2000)
• Julian Gardner – drums (1998–2002)
• Simon Gardner – keyboards (1998–2002)
• Gavin Mart – drums (2002–2006)
• Andrew "Andy" Moore – guitar (1998–2006)
• James Ross – drums (1985–1989)
• Martin "Shelley" Shelton – bass (1985–1989)
• Mark Simpson – keyboards (1986)
• Ed Stratton – drums (1985)
• Kev Whitehead – drums (*2008-2023) (* first credit)
• Martin Wilding – bass (1998)

Studio albums

Live albums