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Esquire Biography

esquire
  • Years Active: 1980s-1990s
  • Genre: Rock & Alternative

Esquire was an act formed around lead singer Nikki Squire, then wife of Yes bass player Chris Squire. Growing up in London, Nikki Squire studied drama and played music. She met Chris Squire in 1970 and for the next decade she would busy herself with raising their children. In 1983, she saw a band which included two of her cousins and Esquire spent several weeks in the studio with with them and bassist Nigel McLaren, with no success. She continued to write with McLaren and, that same year, the pair were signed to ZTT by Trevor Horn. They were joined by keyboardist Charles Olins and continued to write while awaiting Horn's schedule to allow him time to produce the fledgling trio. After several failed attempts, John Kalodner heard some of the act's material and, following legal wrangling, signed them to Geffen. In 1987, Esquire finally released a self-titled debut. Comparisons to Yes were inevitable as Chris Squire (from whom Nikki was now divorced) appeared on the record, as well as producing portions. Yes drummer Alan White also guested, as did guitarist Pat Thrall (whom would later join Asia, another act with strong ties to Yes). Despite the high-profile associations, the record failed to attract much of an audience outside of Yes fans. It would be another decade before Esquire would resurface with 1997's Coming Home. ~ Tom Demalon, Rovi

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