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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In March 1980 the band, along with Magnum , played support to Def Leppard at West Midland venues on the latter’s On Through the Night World Tour .
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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Released in March 1980, Duke was the band’s biggest commercial success at the time of release, spending two weeks at No. 1 in the UK and peaking at No. 11 in the US. The album spawned three singles; ” Turn It On Again ” went to No. 8 in the…
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On 27 February 1980, the film premiered at the 30th Berlin International Film Festival , where it won an honourable mention.
After AC/DC’s lead singer Bon Scott died in February 1980, AC/DC chose Brian Johnson (whose vocal talent had previously been praised by Scott) to take over lead vocal duties. Johnson travelled with the band and producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange to Compass Point Studios in The Bahamas to write and…
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Ex- Lone Star John Sloman was brought in, a younger singer who played keyboards and guitar and was, in the words of Box, “an all rounder”. But almost instantly, Lee Kerslake departed, after a row with Bron, whom the drummer accused of favouritism towards Hensley’s material. Several tracks of the…
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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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The band was formed in 1979 by school friends Steven (‘Steve’) Kent (guitar), Michael Fitzsimons (‘Micky Fitz’) (vocals), Nicholas (‘Nick’) Cunningham (drums) and Martin Smith (bass). They played their first gig in front of friends in February 1980, and after taking on Lol Pryor as manager, began performing more often.…
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The single received a positive review in Sounds and stayed on the British independent charts for two years. It received crucial airplay on BBC Radio 1 and DJ John Peel ‘s evening show. The band recorded a session for Peel’s show, which was broadcast on 3 January 1980. After the…
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