Anthony Eric "Tony" James (born 12 April 1953, Market Drayton, Shropshire, England) is an English musician, best known as the bassist for Generation X and Sigue Sigue Sputnik.
Career edit:
He was originally a member of the punk band London SS, along with Brian James, (later of The Damned), and Mick Jones plus Terry Chimes (both future members of The Clash).
Later, James joined the early punk band Chelsea. The group included Billy Idol (then William Broad) on the guitar, John Towe on drums and Gene October on vocals. Soon they left October to form Generation X (named after a 1960s paperback novel, by Jane Deverson, not to be confused with the 1990s book by Douglas Coupland), a British punk band of the late 1970s.
Tony James, after penning "Russian Roulette" for Stiv Bators and The Lords of the New Church, and producing a Sex Gang Children album, formed glam punk band Sigue Sigue Sputnik with fashion designer-cum-singer Martin Degville. In 1990, Tony James became a member of The Sisters of Mercy, and played bass on their Vision Thing album, he also played on the band's following live tours. James left the Sisters the following year.
In 2002, James teamed up with Mick Jones to form Carbon/Silicon. He continues to work with Jones, now co-writing songs and playing guitar for the band. In 2010, he helped Patch William produce a tour video for their single release.
He still tours today, and has reformed Sigue Sigue Sputnik.
Personal life edit:
After graduating from Brunel University with a First Class Honours Degree in mathematics and computing, Tony James worked as a computer programmer before playing music full-time.
During his tenure in Sigue Sigue Sputnik, James dated Janet Street-Porter. Prior to that relationship, he was living with Magenta Devine.
