The Sinister Cleaners are Len Liggins, John Parkes, Andrew Middleton and Simon Smith. Originally formed as a trio with a 606 drum machine in 1983, Simon joined as drummer in 1985.

The band was inactive as a unit from 1988, but recently got back together again to record some new material and release the album Shine on AAZ Records (AAZCD12). You can buy this here (see left).

The band released several records on the AAZ label beginning with two tracks on the Giraffe in Flames compilation album in 1983. Over the next couple of years they featured on other compilations, both tape and vinyl, before releasing their first double A-side single in March ’85 – The Gnomes of Zurich / The Architect.

Three multiple-track 12” EPs (Lemon Meringue Bedsit, Goodbye Ms Jones and Longing for Next Year) were released in 1986-87.

If you saw the Cleaners you’ll remember the rotation system – Len, John and Andrew shared song-writing, lead vocals, guitar and bass playing with unscrupulous democratic even-handedness. By 1987 The Sinister Cleaners were gigging regularly in Europe and storming stages in venues like the Loft in Berlin, The Flesh Temple near Eindhoven and of course clubs at home like the 1 in 12 in Bradford and the Duchess in Leeds.

The Sinister Cleaners, like many other bands in the mid-1980s, were building upon the ‘punk-ethic’ of street credibility and the belief that music could change the world. Success was measured in the amount of record releases subsidised by dole checks, evening air-play on Radio One, press cuttings and time spent in Transit vans. So it could be said that the Cleaners were quite successful.
The Sinister Cleaners

By the end of 1987 other Leeds bands like The Wedding Present and The Age of Chance had made it to the major labels with apparently little effort. It didn’t look like things were going to get much better.......
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