Biography
Formed in Belfast, Northern Ireland, during October 1984, the pop/rock group performed at the Futurama festival in Ireland before relocating to London. There they issued the singles “Standing Up” and “Down By The Border” on their self-established Goliath imprint. An introduction arranged by Stiff Records led to promoter and manager Dave Bedford, whose Fire Records operation in London prompted a further move. From the initial roster, Oscar on vocals, Linda Clenndining on keyboards, and Neil Lawson on bass formed the enduring core. After the debut single, guitarist Jackie Forgie gave way to Terry Bickers—later associated with House Of Love and Levitation—who himself was succeeded by John Watt; Bickers nonetheless participated in the album sessions, although he had departed by the release of Glentorran. Drummer Robert Wakeman was likewise replaced by Owen Howell, formerly of Big Self. Following the track “Hallelujah Chorus,” the 1986 single “Fontana Eyes” received substantial radio exposure; the song, built on a classic twelve-bar blues structure, featured the striking lyric “I’m holding my breath, cos there’s no-one to hold.” The band disbanded after its sole album once negotiations with a major label collapsed. Additional demo recordings were made, yet none appeared commercially. Oscar received an invitation to become vocalist for Echo And The Bunnymen after Ian McCulloch’s exit but declined and subsequently entered video production. Lawson now works as an aircraft photographer, while Linda Clandinning qualified as a hairdresser. Among the original members, only Robert Wakeman remained active in music, joining the indie act Salad.
Albums
