James are a popular alternative rock band from Manchester, England, formed in 1981. After an uphill struggle throughout the 1980s, they went on to become one of the most consistently successful acts of the 1990s, scoring a string of hit singles during the decade including "Sit Down" and "Laid". Following the departure of lead singer Tim Booth in 2001, the band became inactive, although no split was ever officially confirmed. In January 2007, the group announced that they were reforming to play some live shows and that they had been writing new material. A new website [1] was launched, confirming an initial 5 dates in the UK in April. Tim Booth's own site also confirmed the reformation. [2] [3] On 16th March, James played a secret comeback gig at Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen, in front of an audience of just 250.