Luxury Stranger is a three piece, 'Dickensian-mod' band based in Nottingham, UK.

Likened to The Chameleons, with influences drawn from dark post-punk and new wave, vocalist/guitarist Simon York was previously signed to Roadrunner Records, under a different guise. With one album already released, ‘Desolation’, the focus is now on recording new material and live performances across the UK and Europe.

Luxury Stranger is growing...

After working within a strictly guitar based rock band, achieving success being signed to Roadrunner Records, playing with some top names in music (including Mansun and 10CC) and finally coming away from the band - Simon began solo work as a musician, artist and actor.
Experimenting with electronic instruments and layered vocal textures, creating both giant and subtle soundscapes, Simon worked at first under the guise of The Earl of Sound but ended up killing off this character and returning to the name Simon York...

"I loved the Earl but he had to die. He took over my personality, he was a scoundrel - a dangerous and womanising creature..." (Simon York)

Luxury Stranger is Simon York's future - Simon is now embracing both electronic and guitar based music and working as the front man / main songwriter / brains of Luxury Stranger.

At the end of February 2008, Chris Ruscoe joined Luxury Stranger as bass player. Chris comes from a background of various alternative and electronica bands. He has an obsession with home recording equipment and old vinyl collections. His musical passions are broad, addictive and often disturbing...

Drawing on the darkness of early post punk bands, the imagery of The Cure’s ‘Pornography’ era, and the obsessive production values of Martin Hannett, Chris considers his playing style as solid, low slung, and innovative.
"Blending styles, genres and influences is my driver." (Chris Ruscoe)

At the end of April 2008, Simon and Chris announced the arrival of Luxury Stranger's drummer - Owen Walton. Having been a fan of LS since the project first appeared on the internet in August/September 2007, and contributing to the success of the band in many ways,Owen left the band in June, 2009.

The band are proud to announce that Paul Sycamore has joined, in late June 2009. Having a background in a variety successful musical projects throughout the UK, in a multitude of genres, Paul is the engine that drives Luxury Stranger's monstrous rhythms.

You can read Simon's interview with Mick Mercer for further insights into the workings of Luxury Stranger here: