For Juju (1981), the band took a different approach and practised the songs in concert first before recording them. Juju , according to Severin, became an unintentional concept album that “drew on darker elements”. Sounds hailed it as “intriguing, intense, brooding and powerfully atmospheric”. The album later peaked at number…
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The success of the single led to Clapton and the band returning to Studios 301 between July and August 1981 to create an album.
They recorded their first album in 1981 with the title Block to Block . The original De Press disbanded in 1981, but also recorded an album in 1982. They reunited in 1991. By 1995, Nebb was the only remaining original member. With various line-ups, Nebb’s De Press still tour and…
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(released in 1981) with the song “Photographic”, later re-recorded for their debut album Speak & Spell .
The band was formed as Still Life in 1981 in Jamestown, New York , by Dennis Drew (keyboards), Steven Gustafson (bass), Chet Cardinale (drums), Robert Buck (guitar), and Buck’s ex-wife Terri Newhouse (vocals). Gustafson invited Natalie Merchant , who was 17 at the time, to do some vocals. John Lombardo…
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Following his high school graduation in 1981, Steve Perry left his hometown of Binghamton, New York , for Eugene, Oregon , to pursue track and field and a chemistry degree at the University of Oregon . A punk rock devotee since adolescence, Perry soon became engrossed in Eugene’s underground music…
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In late 1981, the band placed an anonymous ad in Melody Maker looking for another musician: “Name band, synthesise, must be under twenty-one.”
A change in their sound first became evident with their second single for Oily, “Shoot You Down” (1981). The single did well and sold out its first pressing, with some copies finding their way to New York City . Soon it was regularly played at most of NYC’s underground dance…
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Securing a record deal with Ruby Records , a division of Slash , the group released their debut album, Fire of Love , on August 31, 1981. The album was produced by Tito Larriva (of the Plugz ) and Chris D. (frontman of the Flesh Eaters). Critic Stevo Olende wrote…
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Though living in a remote area, they took inspiration from the “DIY” spirit of the punk scene, sounding like bands as Liquid Liquid, adopting a hard-working approach to writing, rehearsing and performing. Meanwhile, in Aberdeen , a small independent record company called Oily had started to release records and they…
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