Following the name change, they signed to Kitchenware Records in 1982, with drummer Sim departing soon after to be replaced by Duncan Mahoney. A string of highly acclaimed singles such as 'The Sun Shines Here' and 'Hip Hip' brought a degree of independent chart success, and aligned them with the more urgent, melodic guitar pop of the early Creation label roster, such as the Jasmine Minks.
By 1986, the band had progressed to a more rock-based sound, whilst keeping the intensity that had brought them success. Mahoney left and was replaced by Steve Price, and their long awaited debut 'Tell God I'm Here' was released on Arista Records in 1987. It is rumoured that the band were so hard up by this point that they had sold all their equipment to buy food, and recorded the album using equipment borrowed from their previous labelmates Prefab Sprout and Martin Stephenson and the Daintees. A video for the single 'Sweet Sanity' was banned from American television as it showed two women holding hands (!?), and nearly prevented the band from being allowed to enter the country.
A support slot with U2 followed, confirming the rocky, anthemic direction that the band were heading towards, and a subsequent request from the British Council saw them touring such unusual destinations (for relatively unknown British acts) as Iraq, Egypt and Jordan.
Despite this hard work, major success still seemed elusive, and the failure of 'The Beautiful' (1989) on Arista Records led to a split with the label and a return to the independent sector. A further drummer replaced Price (Adrian Evans), but the band were on their last legs and disillusionment finally saw them bow out a few years later..
They recorded a '3rd' album in 1991 after 'The Beautiful' but it currently remains unreleased.
Since Hurrah!, David 'Taffy' Hughes went on to form 'punkier sounding' three-piece Star Witness. They released a cassette of rough demos called 'Welcome to Razor Town' in 1996, and continued under the name of Candy Coloured Clowns, playing melodic, powerful songs as well as some from Hurrah!'s back catalogue.
David Hughes also plays guitar with a female singer called Sylvia, his wife, known as 'The Girl With The Replaceable Head'. They have co-written songs, made demos and played gigs in Newcastle so far.
Paul Handyside goes under the name of Bronze. He also helps to manage his girlfriend Katherine Tickell, who fronts a folk band. David Porterhouse began training to become a faith healer and is no longer involved in music
IF YOU LIKED THESE, YOU'LL LIKE HURRAH!: Jasmine Minks, Echo & the Bunnymen, U2, Biff Bang Pow!, Primal Scream, The Smiths, The Wedding Present.