In April 1980 founding bass guitarist Andrew James left because of ill-health and was replaced by Peter Gifford (ex-Huntress, Ross Ryan Band).
In April 1980, the B-52s returned to Compass Point Studios to record their next album. Several of the songs on the new album had been concert staples since 1978; the band did not record them for their first album, as they had more songs than could fit in a quality…
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In March 1980, the Police began their first world tour, including Mexico, India, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Greece and Egypt. The tour was subsequently documented in the film The Police Around the World (1982), directed by Kate and Derek Burbidge, which contains footage shot by Annie Nightingale originally intended for a…
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While forming the new band, Ant and Pirroni, with future Culture Club drummer Jon Moss , re-recorded the Dirk Wears White Sox track ” Cartrouble Part 2 ” as a contract-fulfilling single for Do It. The label hired Hughes to produce the duo at Rockfield Studios in Wales, after which…
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On 27 February 1980, the film premiered at the 30th Berlin International Film Festival , where it won an honourable mention.
In August 1979, U2 recorded demos at Windmill Lane Studios with CBS talent scout Chas de Whalley as producer, marking the first of the band’s many recordings at the studio during their career. The following month, three songs from the session were released by CBS in Ireland as the EP…
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The band’s first live performance of “Message in a Bottle” was on the BBC’s television show Rock Goes to College filmed at Hatfield Polytechnic College in Hertfordshire. The instrumental title track ” Reggatta de Blanc ” won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. In February 1980, the single…
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featuring new wave radio favorite “Janitor” (previously released as a single in 1980).
by mid-1980 had achieved gold status.
by early 1980 the band had signed a five-album record deal with a Sydney independent label, Deluxe Records, run by Michael Browning, a former manager of AC/DC .