Living in a Box – Nostalgia Central

Formed in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, in 1985, Living in a Box named themselves after the first song they recorded together in the studio.

Marcus Vere and Anthony “Titch” Critchlow were recording the demo version of the tune in a studio also being visited by Richard Darbyshire, an independent recording artist at the time. Darbyshire was invited to the two in the studio to record some vocals for the track, and the three officially became a band.

Released two years later, Living in a Box was their most commercially successful single, peaking at #5 on the UK Singles Chart and becoming the band’s only single to chart in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.

The single was featured on the group’s self-titled debut album, which also included follow-up singles Love is the Art, So the Story Goes, and Scales of Justice. All three songs charted in the UK.

Their follow-up album, Gatecrashing (1989) proved to be even more successful in the UK, generating two Top 10 hits – Blow the House Down (which featured Brian May from Queen on guitar) and Room in Your Heart. The album itself peaked at #21.

“Artistic differences” caused the band to break up in 1990 before a third album could be released.

Richard Darbyshire
Vocals, guitar
Marcus Vere
Keyboards
Anthony “Tich” Critchlow
Drums