London outfit Eighth Wonder would likely have slipped into obscurity were it not for the presence of actress and celebrity Patsy Kensit among its members. In 1983 the fourteen-year-old Kensit stepped in as lead vocalist for Spice, the fledgling project started by her brother Jamie Kensit. The initial roster also featured guitarist Geoff Beauchamp, bassist Lawrence Lewis, drummer Jake Walters, and Nigel, a friend who supplied extra percussion. Toward the end of 1984 Kensit began shaping the group’s songwriting more directly, prompting the name change to Eighth Wonder. By December the act was drawing notice, and Kensit secured the principal female part in the musical film adaptation of the novel Absolute Beginners. The band contributed a track to its soundtrack, which also contained material from David Bowie and Ray Davies. Early in 1986 the musicians signed with CBS and began recording their first album while Kensit worked on the movie. When Fearless finally appeared in July 1987, Eighth Wonder had already released several singles that performed strongly throughout Europe. The album itself moved well in the U.K., and the now four-piece ensemble even placed the modest American hits “Cross My Heart” and “Baby Baby” on the charts. Shortly afterward Eighth Wonder dissolved, leaving Patsy Kensit to build a film career and a reputation tied to her relationships with several prominent musicians.
