Brother Beyond's Nathan Moore on what Stock Aitken Waterman mean to him
Nathan Moore, the lead singer in the '80s pop band Brother Beyond and whose career was launched by the legendary songwriting and record producing team Stock Aitken Waterman, returned to Vine Yard Studios, in Borough, London, after 36 years to celebrate the trio’s achievements and to thank them for launching his career. He exclusively recalled some memories of being at their studio – also known as The Hit Factory – to Contact Music reporter Ethan Aaron Banks.
Eighties heartthrob Nathan Moore shot to fame with Brother Beyond when he and his bandmates performed ‘The Harder I Try’ on UK TV show ‘Top of the Pops’ in 1988.Nathan was aged just 22.
The then Islington, London-based star jumped on the tube to Borough, in Southwark, London, to meet the songwriting and producing powerhouse team Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman at their Vine Yard Studios – known as The Hit Factory - to lay down his vocals on what would become a number two hit in the UK singles chart.
Now, 36 years on, the 60-year-old Manchester-based singer – who still travels around the country performing tracks from his back catalogue – returned to the little street on January 22 where his music career began to celebrate the trio’s immense contribution to UK music and to show his appreciation for them at their Blue Plaque unveiling.
Contact Music: How does it feel to be back at Vine Yard after all these years?
Nathan Moore: It’s, kind of, a little bit sentimental.
It was 36 years ago I got on the tube from my flat in Islington to come down here and record 'The Harder I Try', and I can remember that moment so clearly.
I can remember talking to Pete Waterman about trains and all that in reception, and it was just a fabulous experience.
The wonderful thing is this weekend, I go out and sing 'The Harder I Try' - as I often do - and so it’s just a real pleasure.
So I really wanted to make the effort to be here for Mike, Matt and Pete.
It’s a real pleasure to be here and to be part of the day.
You hung out with the likes of Kylie, Jason and Rick, what stories do you have about being with them?
We used to laugh about Rick Astley’s BMW outside, and then one day, Mandy Smith was in and Dead or Alive, so it was always a bit of a buzz as to who was in the building on that day - as there is a buzz today with all the people here!
What would you say is the biggest highlight of your career?
I just remember singing ‘The Harder I Try’ on 'Top of the Pops' for the first time, and just the excitement the next day when everybody had seen that show, and I walked down Oxford Street, and I remember people saying, ‘That’s that guy on 'Top of the Pops' last night.’
Did that feel quite strange?
Yeah, absolutely. You suddenly overnight felt a little bit famous, and like I said, that song 36 years ago, this weekend, I’ll be doing a gig, and I will be still be singing that song, and I love it when the crowd sings it with me.
I now live in Manchester, so it’s quite an effort to come down today [22.01.25], but I wanted to make the effort.
