M (band)
M are an English new wave and synth-pop music project, formed in 1978 in London, England by Robin Scott. M is most known for the 1979 hit "Pop Muzik", which reached number two in the UK singles chart in May 1979, and number one in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart on 3 November 1979. Musicians who contributed to M at one time or another included Wally Badarou, Mark King, Phil Gould and Gary Barnacle of Level 42.
Band history
Robin Scott first used the pseudonym M in 1978, when he released the single "Moderne Man". His next single, "Pop Muzik", featured Scott's brother Julian on bass, his wife Brigit Novik on backing vocals, and Wally Badarou on keyboards. The album New York–London–Paris–Munich was released in 1979.M had three other singles that achieved a chart entry in the UK, "Moonlight and Muzak", "That's the Way the Money Goes" and "Official Secrets". M have released five studio albums throughout their career so far: New York • London • Paris • Munich in 1979, The Official Secrets Act in 1980, and Famous Last Words, mostly recorded in 1982, but wasn't released in the UK until 2000. A fourth album, Robin Scott with Shikisha, was recorded in 1984 but wasn't released until 1998.
M's first single "Moderne Man" was later re-recorded and remixed with "Satisfy Your Lust", the B-side of "That's the Way the Money Goes", for inclusion as a medley on M's album New York • London • Paris • Munich. The original single releases appeared on the 1997 CD re-release. A remixed version of "Pop Muzik" was played before each concert of U2's PopMart Tour.
On 23 June 2023, Scott released "Break the Silence", the first new single by M in 43 years. Scott's fifth album as M, The FAQs of Life, was released on 11 July 2025, accompanied by the single "AI?". It marks M's first new album of original material in over 40 years.
Band members
Founding member
- Robin Scott – vocals, guitar, synthesizer, piano, keyboards
Session contributors and credits
- Brigit Novik Vinchon – vocals
- Wally Badarou – keyboards, synthesizers, sequencer
- Julian Scott – bass
- Philip Gould – drums, percussion
- Gary Barnacle – saxophone, flute
- David Bowie – handclaps
- David Vorhaus – synthesizer
- Mark King – guitar, drums, bass
- Paddy Keenan – uilleann pipes
- Marlisse & Steve – backing vocals
- Mary Bird – backing vocals
- Andy Gill – guitar
- Gordon Huntley – guitar
- Jamie West – guitar
- Nick Plytas – organ, moog bass, piano, backing vocals
- Barry Adamson – bass
- Tony Levin – bass
- Andy Anderson – drums
- Sergio Castillo – drums
- Yukihiro Takahashi – drums
- John Lewis – synthesizer, sequencer
- Thomas Dolby – synthesizer, sequencer
- Sammy Smile – bass
- Columbo Lamu – brass
- Tabu Frantal – guitar
- Mose Fan Fan – guitar
- Shikisha – vocals
- * Betty Boo Hlela
- * Doreen Webster
- * Julia Muntu Mathunjwa