On this date in 1986, the Communards’ single “Don’t Leave Me This Way” peaked at number one in the UK. Eventually, the song evolved into an anthem for the LGBTQ+ community and the broader fight for equality.
The British synth-pop duo were formed in 1985 by Jimmy Somerville, who was previously the lead singer of Bronski Beat. Bronski Beat was one of the first bands to openly address LGBTQ+ issues in their music, with hits like “Smalltown Boy” that spoke directly about the experiences of gay men. When Somerville left Bronski Beat to form the Communards, he continued to be an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, and their music often included themes of love, acceptance, and social justice. Their cover of “Don’t Leave Me This Way” (originally by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes) end up adopted by the LGBTQ+ scene as their manifesto for gay liberation.
Like Bronski Beat, the Communards (refers to the revolutionaries of the 1871 Paris Commune) were known for their energetic dance-pop sound and politically charged lyrics, making them a significant part of the early gay music scene in the 1980s. They used their platform to challenge the status quo and bring visibility to LGBTQ+ during a time when such representation was still relatively rare in mainstream music.
The Communards split in 1988. Somerville pursued a solo career, while his other half, Richard Coles, was ordained as an Anglican priest in 2005, serving as a parish priest in Northamptonshire until he retired in 2022.
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Featured image via Rex Features/The Independent.
