About

The Diagram Brothers were a post-punk band from Manchester, England active between 1979 and 1982. The band comprised Simon Diagram (drums), Lawrence Diagram (guitar), Fraser Diagram (vocals, guitar), Andy Diagram (bass and occasional trumpet from 1980), Jason Diagram (bass for 1st year).

The band’s approach was collective, and all the music and lyrics were worked out together. The music was made to a strict formula or set of rules and called “Discordo”. All the guitar chords were based on discordant notes, all the beats were very simple rock or disco, and all the words were very very straightforward and down to earth.” Music journalist, Stuart Maconie, described them as “funny, slightly scary and like no one else in the world”.

The band’s first release was a 7″ EP on the Construct label in 1980. They were then signed by The Buzzcocks’ New Hormones label, who issued a single, “Bricks”, an album, Some Marvels of Modern Science, and a 10″ EP, Discordo, before the band split up.They have been compared to The Residents and XTC.

They recorded three sessions for John Peel’s BBC Radio 1 show. Their collected studio recordings (including the Peel sessions) have since been released on CD by the LTM label.

After their split in 1982, Andy Diagram, who was also a member of Dislocation Dance from 1978 to 1982, joined The Pale Fountains and  and then later had chart success with James. Lawrence Diagram went on to form “Macho Men Crack Under Pressure”, and the “Florists” who recorded a Peel session in 1983.