Simon Baughen’s musical journey is a fascinating story of persistence, experimentation, and constant reinvention. Beginning in the early 1980s with the band SA, Baughen quickly established a sound that sat somewhere between the post-punk atmosphere of Joy Division and the stylised energy of the New Romantics. His career has continued to evolve ever since, moving through indie rock, new wave, psychedelic punk, country, blues rock, and more reflective singer-songwriter territory.
His work with The Extremes between 1986 and 1988 demonstrated a willingness to push against convention. Alongside Jerome Clough, Baughen created abrasive yet melodic indie rock and released two EPs, “Eat My Dust” and “Car Crash Music.” The recordings gained airplay in Belgium, France, and on US college radio, giving the band an international audience. His 1989 solo album, “Simon Baughen & The Extremists,” continued that adventurous approach, drawing inspiration from the New York new wave scene and artists such as Television, Patti Smith, and Richard Hell.
After returning to music in 2012 with Indigo Club, Baughen entered another productive chapter. The band’s “Savage Soul” has accumulated an impressive 24,000 Spotify streams, while his later work with Indigo Club, alongside Sue Cohen and Steven Greer, has produced “Sequela,” which has reached 29,000 streams. His collaborations have allowed him to explore blues rock and other styles while retaining the distinctive songwriting voice that has been present throughout his career.
Baughen’s solo work since 2020 has been particularly prolific. Albums such as “Songs of Love and Loss” and “Coast to Coast,” along with numerous singles, reveal an artist comfortable drawing from decades of musical influences without becoming trapped by nostalgia. Songs such as “Heart of the Sun,” “In the City of Angels,” and “Miss Jennifer Jones” move between psychedelic punk, socially conscious songwriting, and 1960s-inspired pop rock. His recent EP “Four Lost Songs of 82” adds another intriguing chapter by revisiting and reworking material from his SA55 days.
What makes Simon Baughen’s career so compelling is not simply its longevity, but its refusal to stand still. From underground post-punk and new wave to country collaborations, blues rock, and contemporary solo material, he has continually found new ways to express himself. His regular appearances on the Bristol Open Mic scene, both solo and with The Spring Green Trio, demonstrate that the story is still being written. After more than four decades, Baughen remains an artist with plenty left to say.
PR: Danielle Holian, Decent Music PR
