- Altered Images
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Altered Images Origin Glasgow, Scotland Genres New Wave
Post-punkYears active 1979–1983 Labels Epic Records
Diablo RecordsAssociated acts Siouxsie and the Banshees
The Wake
Universal Love School
HipswayPast members Clare Grogan
Johnny McElhone
Tony McDaid
Michael AndersonAltered Images were an early 1980s Scottish New Wave / post-punk band. Led by lead singer Clare Grogan, the band branched into mainstream pop music, and had a string of chart hits between 1981 and 1983.[1]
Contents
History
Early career
Ex-school friends with an equal interest in the UK post punk scene, Clare Grogan (vocals), Gerard "Caesar" McNulty (guitar), Michael 'Tich' Anderson (drums), Tony McDaid (guitar) and Johnny McElhone (bass guitar), sent a demo tape to Siouxsie and the Banshees, who soon gave the band a support slot on their Kaleidoscope tour of 1980. The band's name referred to a sleeve design on the Buzzcocks' single "Promises", and was inspired by Buzzcocks vocalist Pete Shelley's constant interfering with the initial sleeve designs.[2]
After being championed by BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, they garnered enough attention to be offered a recording contract with Epic Records, but mainstream success was not immediate; their first two singles, "Dead Pop Stars" and "A Day's Wait", failed to reach the Top 40 in the UK Singles Chart.[1] "Dead Pop Stars" was particularly controversial at the time, sung at the viewpoint of a "has-been" icon with irony, but badly timed in its release shortly after John Lennon's death, even though it was recorded earlier. It was absent from their studio album releases. After these two singles and their first two sessions for John Peel, Caesar left and formed The Wake.
Chart success
With additional guitarist Jim McKinven, they recorded their debut album, Happy Birthday (1981), largely produced by Steve Severin of Siouxsie and the Banshees. The band also worked briefly with producer Martin Rushent (who had garnered tremendous success producing The Human League that year), who notably produced the title track which became the band's third single and their biggest hit. The song reached number 2 in the UK (for three weeks) in October 1981,[1] catapulting the band to fame. They quickly became established as one of the biggest New Wave acts around, and were subsequently voted "Best New Group" at the NME Awards. Meanwhile, Grogan, with her quirky candy-floss voice and energetic stage persona, became something of a pin-up at the time.
After a successful headlining tour, the band retained Rushent as their producer and released their second album, Pinky Blue, in May 1982. It reached the UK Top 20 and provided three more Top 40 hit singles with "I Could Be Happy", "See Those Eyes", and the title track.[1]
Later that year, after McKinven and Anderson left to be replaced by multi-instrumentalist Steve Lironi (formerly of the band Restricted Code), the band began working on their third album with producer Mike Chapman. The collaboration provided them with another Top 10 hit, "Don't Talk To Me About Love", in spring 1983 and the subsequent album, Bite, was released in June. Half of the album was produced by Chapman, and half by Tony Visconti. Although it reached the UK Top 20, the album sold less than the band's two previous offerings (which had both earned a Silver disc) and, following another concert tour, the band broke up.
Break-up
After the breakup of the band, Grogan attempted a solo career, signing to London Records in 1987 and releasing a single, "Love Bomb". Grogan was also included on a London Records compilation album titled Giant, contributing the track "Reason Is the Slave". After "Love Bomb" failed, plans for a follow-up single release, titled "Strawberry", and the album, Trash Mad, were shelved by London Records.
Grogan also became a film and television actress, appearing in productions such as Gregory's Girl, Red Dwarf (in which she originated the role of Kristine Kochanski), EastEnders, and Father Ted. In recent years she has also become a presenter on UK television, as well as a children's novelist.
Grogan and Steve Lironi (who eventually married) formed Universal Love School, performing together but never releasing any recordings. Johnny McElhone went on to perform with Hipsway and eventually Texas. Grogan sang live under the name Altered Images in 2002 for the Here and Now Tour, showcasing a revival of popular bands of their era alongside The Human League, ABC, and T'Pau, and again for some separate shows in 2004.
Discography
Studio albums
Year Album UK[1] UK Certification (BPI)[3] 1981 Happy Birthday 26 Silver 1982 Pinky Blue 12 Silver 1983 Bite 16 – Singles
Year Song UK[1] 1981 "Dead Pop Stars" 67 1981 "A Day's Wait" - 1981 "Happy Birthday" 2 1981 "I Could Be Happy" 7 1981 "See Those Eyes" 11 1982 "Pinky Blue" 35 1983 "Don't Talk To Me About Love" 7 1983 "Bring Me Closer" 29 1983 "Love To Stay" 46 1983 "Change of Heart" 83 Compilations, EPs and special releases
Year Song/EP/album 1981 "Happy New Year" (3-track flexidisc released with Flexipop magazine) 1982 "See Those Eyes" (flexidisc released with Trouser Press magazine) 1982 Greatest Original Hits (4-track EP) 1982 "Little Town Flirt" (track on the Party Party soundtrack album) 1984 Collected Images (compilation album) 1992 The Best Of Altered Images (compilation album) 1996 Reflected Images - The Best Of Altered Images (compilation album) 2003 Destiny - The Hits (compilation album) 2010 The Collection (compilation album) References
- ^ a b c d e f Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 21. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Wilson, Dave. Rock Formations: Categorical Answers To How Band Names Were Formed. page 74. ISBN 0-9748483-5-2. online link
- ^ BPI Certifications Database
Categories:- Scottish musical groups
- British New Wave musical groups
- Scottish indie rock groups
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