Blog: Could Delirious Get Back Together This Year?

Jun 17 2016

Following the recent news that US CCM trailblazers DC Talk are to reunite for the first time in 16 years, could UK Christian music ground breakers Delirious do the same?

2016 marks the twentieth anniversary of the game-changing Delirious album 'Live & In The Can', the first album the band released after progressing from the part-time 'Cutting Edge Band' to the full-time international best-selling worship band Delirious.

Ever since Delirious ended with an emotional farewell concert in London in 2009, there has been constant, hopeful, speculation that they would get back together again one day.

And now, 7 years on from that 'farewell show', on the 20th anniversary of the band going full-time, and perhaps spurred on by DC Talk's news, could there be a better time for Delirious to consider a reunion of their own?

Having been asked the inevitable 'reunion' question in countless interviews over the years, the band members have always said they would never rule it out. Take Martin Smith's comments to LTTM back in 2012 for example:

"We're all friends. You know we were so close for all those years, like brothers, I mean three of us are brother-in-laws literally. I wouldn't be surprised in the future if something came together but I can't predict that, I can't say now whether that would happen. But it wouldn't be because there's a problem or anything. We'll see, you can't rule anything out can you. It was a great band."

Then there's guitarist Stu G's comment from the same year: "I'm in touch with most of the guys, I see them as brothers. We were together a long time. Everyone has needed space and time but when I look back it's with great fondness and amazement at what we did. There's been no discussion of a reunion... so far." Every interview answer is the same, no plans yet, but anything is possible.

Martin and Stu have continued to have high-profile careers in Christian music, both releasing solo material, both producing and song-writing for other artists, and both being involved in bands (Stu with One Sonic Society and Martin with Army Of Bones). But what of the other founding band member? Well, keyboard player Tim Jupp now runs the UK's Big Church Day Out event, and dummer Stew Smith has his own design business, but bassist Jon Thatcher remains under the radar following a short stint in One Sonic Society with Stu G.

With Stu and Jon now based permanently in the US, Tim and Stew busy in their respective businesses in the UK, and Martin continuing a relentless global touring schedule - the logistics of reforming the band are not exactly straight-forward. But could they find a slot in their busy schedules for a one-off reunion concert, in the DC Talk vain? Or perhaps more likely, a 20th anniversary re-issue of the 'Live & In The Can' album? After all, they've already released a 20th anniversary version of their original 'Cutting Edge' album, although that also included a copy of 'Live & In The Can'. So perhaps they'll wait till next year and release a 20th anniversary 'digitally remastered' version of 'King of Fools'.

Watch this space!

The Delirious Story...

In 1992, a small church in the south of England begun a youth event called Cutting Edge. Producer/engineer Martin Smith (vocals and guitars) teamed up with studio owner Tim Jupp (keyboards) and graphic designer Stew Smith (drums) to provide the music for the events in Littlehampton. The youth event quickly grew and before long the 'Cutting Edge Band', as they were known, made a name for themselves as the most exciting band on the UK Christian scene.

Over the next couple of years the band released a number of mini albums, imaginatively titled Cutting Edge 1,2,3 and Fore, and sold them from the back of their car after the youth events. By now they were joined by Stu G (guitars) and Jon Thatcher (bass).

What followed was hit album after hit album and they soon became one of the biggest Christian bands in the world.