February 2, 2026

The Names release ‘Swimming With Brian Jones’ EP with video and remix

The Names release 'Swimming With Brian Jones' EP with video and remix

The Names release 'Swimming With Brian Jones' EP with video and remix

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Belgian post-punk pioneers The Names return with a new single and video, “Swimming With Brian Jones”, taken from their album “Encore!”. The release is out now on all platforms.

“Swimming With Brian Jones” draws symbolic inspiration from the death of Rolling Stones co-founder Brian Jones, found dead in his swimming pool on July 3, 1969. The track references a similarly titled song, “Swimming”, from The Names’ earlier repertoire, linking past and present through lyrical and musical motifs.

The EP features three versions of the title track: the original version, a remix by Gilles Robert which introduces ambient synth textures and delicate distortion, and a live version, recorded in Brussels on November 9, 2024.

The accompanying black-and-white video clip was filmed on a Belgian beach in April. You can watch it below.

About The Names

The Names formed in 1978 in Brussels, Belgium, originally consisting of Michel Sordinia (vocals), Marc Deprez (guitar), and Christophe Den Tandt (bass), later joined by Luc Capelle (drums). The group emerged from the post-punk movement and signed to Factory Records in the early 1980s. Their early work includes the acclaimed single “Nightshift” and the album “Swimming” (1982), produced by Martin Hannett.

Following a long hiatus, The Names reformed in the late 1990s and resumed recording and live performance, often reworking earlier material alongside new compositions. They released “Monsters Next Door” in 2009 and “Stranger Than You” in 2015 via the French label Factory Benelux.

The current lineup includes founding member Michel Sordinia, with ongoing collaborations involving producer and musician Gilles Martin.

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