The Chameleons: Arctic Moon Tour 2025

The Chameleons are a post-punk band formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester in 1981. After several high-profile BBC sessions, the band’s darkly atmospheric guitars and moody lyricism developed a cult following. Their classic debut album, Script of the Bridge, was released in 1983, followed by What Does Anything Mean? Basically in 1985. Their third album, Strange Times (1986), received critical acclaim from The New York Times, and Oasis founder Noel Gallagher has named Strange Times as an early influence.

Though never a mainstream act, The Chameleons are one of the most influential bands of the ‘80s, inspiring acts like The Smashing Pumpkins, Interpol, Moby and The Flaming Lips. After a breakup in 1987 — reforming only briefly in the early 2000s — original bandmates Mark Burgess and Reg Smithies reformed the band in 2021.