Voice of the Beehive were an Anglo-American alternative pop rock band formed in London in 1986. The group featured Californian lead vocalist sisters Tracey Bryn and Melissa Brooke Belland (daughters of The Four Preps singer Bruce Belland). They teamed with British musicians Mike Jones, Martin Brett, Mark Bedford and Daniel Woodgate, the latter two of whom were former members of Madness. Bedford left after making formative contributions to the band and did not feature again, while Woodgate stayed for most of the band's main period of activity. The band took their name from the Greek meaning of the name Melissa, meaning honey bee.
The band had five Top 40 singles from two albums in the UK. Their biggest commercial success came with the singles "I Say Nothing", "Don't Call Me Baby", "Monsters and Angels" and "I Think I Love You", taken from albums Let It Bee and Honey Lingers. Sex & Misery, a third album, was released in 1996; by this point sisters Tracey and Melissa were the sole group members. The band reformed in 2003 to play a two-week UK tour.
Links to Peel[]
Peel wasn't generally a fan of the group, but did play Tracey and Melissa's cover of a Johnny Cash song for the compilation album, 'Til Things Are Brighter...A Tribute To Johnny Cash'.
On his 16 August 1988 (Radio Bremen) show, Peel mentioned that Marc Riley asked him to sing on the Johnny Cash compilation album, but found the lyrics of singing for the song 'Five Feet High And Risin', as too fast. Instead, Tracey And Melissa Beehive of Voice Of The Beehive covered the track.
In 1993, whilst sitting in for Jakki Brambles, he played their cover with Jimmy Somerville of a Rolling Stones track, 'Gimme Shelter'. The cover peaked at number 23 in the UK singles chart.
Shows Played[]
- 10 August 1988: Five Feet High And Risin' (v/a LP - 'Til Things Are Brighter...A Tribute To Johnny Cash) Red Rhino
- Voice Of The Beehive
- 05 April 1993 (John Peel Is Jakki Brambles) (& Jimmy Somerville): Gimme Shelter