They were chased by several major labels, helped in part by their manager, Joe Moss (who previously managed the Smiths), and eventually signed with London Records after the In the City music seminar in September.
Despite the immediacy of their arrival, their songs proved consistently catchy and credible enough to ensure they remained the darlings of the music press, and early gigs saw Morrissey himself in the audience, which helped to fuel the 'new Smiths' claim that was often circulated when their name was mentioned.
Harding, Cunningham and Grantham had been together in bands since their school days, and their talent for writing melodic guitar-rush anthems was displayed by their major label debut single 'Toys For Boys' and the subsequent album.
Following extensive touring and numerous singles being lifted from the album over the next year, things went quiet for Marion, with rumours of drug addiction and writers block circulating as the reason for no follow-up being issued.
Eventually the band returned with the fine single 'Miyako Hideaway', and a second album, but their prolonged absence had seen the UK alternative scene move on to other sounds, and their initial success was never regained. The shameful truth was that their talent had not dwindled, and their sound was more mature, but the fickle record buying public were no longer interested.
Despite a large overseas following remaining loyal, particularly in the Far East, the band called it a day.
IF YOU LIKED THESE, YOU'LL LIKE MARION: The Smiths, Joy Division, U2, Echobelly, Suede, Mansun, Gene, Manic Street Preachers, Buzzcocks.