Du Prez was born in Sheffield, England. He received his MA (Oxon), B.Mus., ARCM, and was a Trevelyan Scholar at Christ Church, Oxford. In 1976 he joined the staff of the University of London's music department before becoming a full-time composer. He would then begin a 30-year working relationship with Eric Idle.[4]
The adoption of the name John Du Prez was to avoid confusion with the South African film composer Trevor Jones.[7] He is probably best known as the trumpet and horn player in the 1980s Pop group Modern Romance, who had a string of Top 40 hits from 1981 to 1983, and made many guest appearances on TV shows such as the BBC programme Top of the Pops.[3]
Du Prez joined Modern Romance during the early 1980s and remained with them throughout their most successful years. He appeared on their debut album Adventures in Clubland (1981) and on two further albums: Trick of the Light (1983) and Party Tonight (1983). He is probably best remembered as playing the trumpet solo on the Modern Romance cover version of "Cherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White)" which made the UK top twenty in 1982. The B-side to "Cherry Pink ..." was dedicated to Du Prez, a (nearly) instrumental track titled "Who Is John Du Prez?". Modern Romance scored seven further Top Forty hits before disbanding in 1985, including "Best Years of Our Lives" which reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and later featured in the movie Shrek. The other members of Modern Romance included Geoff Deane (lead vocalist), Paul Gendler (guitarist), David Jaymes (bass player, vocals), Robbie Jaymes (keyboard player), Andy Kriacou (drummer), and Michael J. Mullins (lead vocalist).[9][10]
Modern Romance toured extensively throughout the early 1980s – including the UK, Europe, the Far East, and Venezuela – and were awarded several Gold Discs for their efforts. Their album, Adventures in Clubland, hit the number one spot – and went Gold – in South America, and produced three UK hits ("Everybody Salsa" number 12, "Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey" number 10, and "Queen of the Rapping Scene (Nothing Ever Goes the Way You Plan') number 37. The single "Can You Move" also peaked at number two on the US Dance chart. Following a change in lead vocalist – from Geoff Deane to Michael J. Mullins – Modern Romance enjoyed what would be their watershed year, 1983. They made a significant dent in the UK chart with the following singles: "Best Years of Our Lives", "High Life", "Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm", "Walking in the Rain", and "Good Friday". Two albums – a studio album and a Christmas compilation – also made the UK Albums Chart that year: Trick of the Light and Party Tonight. Du Prez's trumpets and horns featured on nearly every track, from the party songs "Best Years of Our Lives" and "High Life" to the salsa tunes "Everybody Salsa" and "Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey" to the band's bluesy and soulful ballads such as "Walking in the Rain". He also played on the band's cover version of "Band of Gold" (1983). Du Prez left Modern Romance before they called it quits in 1985, but his trumpets sounds could be heard on their farewell single, "Best Mix of Our Lives" (1985), their last chart entry.[11][12][13]
Du Prez can be found – with the other band members – on the cover of the Trick of the Light, which was featured in the Taschen Book 1000 Record Covers.[14] The book presents a selection of the best vinyl cover art from the 1960s to the 1990s, and from a cross section of music genres. From a recording and production standpoint, the bulk of Modern Romance's music was produced by Tony Visconti; they were signed by the record labelsWEA and Ronco.[15] Du Prez and Modern Romance performed their hit single, "High Life", on the Russell Harty Television Show in 1983, with Cleo Rocos as backing vocalist.[12]
In 2006, Du Prez featured on the Warner CD Modern Romance: The Platinum Collection, a compilation featuring the best of Modern Romance.[16]
