Biography
The electronic pop specialists the Gleaming Spires built a devoted following through their skillful fusion of upbeat synth-driven melodies with sharply sarcastic words, as demonstrated in numbers such as "Things I Have Done to Our Love," "How to Get Girls Through Hypnotism," and "A Christian Girl's Problem." Songwriters Leslie Bohem and David Kendrick guided the ensemble, whose refined production values and biting humor produced an underground favorite in "Are You Ready for the Sex Girls?," a cut from the 1981 release Songs of the Spires that gained traction on alternative stations. Although that remained their signature track, the Gleaming Spires issued two additional albums—1983's Walk On Well Lighted Streets and 1985's Welcoming a New Ice Age—that reinforced their standing as inventive new wave satirists.
During the late 1970s, Leslie Bohem fronted the provocative Los Angeles new wave outfit Bates Motel, whose name referenced Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece Psycho; drummer David Kendrick attended a performance and became an admirer. Bohem recruited Kendrick into the group, after which the pair began composing material jointly. Seeking a fresh sonic identity for these songs, they launched a separate project and recorded initial demos under the supervision of vocalist and songwriter Andrew Gold, best remembered for his 1978 hit "Thank You for Being a Friend," which later became the theme song for The Golden Girls. Although the demos generated positive responses, labels declined involvement, so the fledgling Gleaming Spires performed sporadic club dates while awaiting opportunities. Hoping to secure production assistance from Sparks siblings Ron Mael and Russell Mael, whom they admired, the Spires extended an invitation to one of their shows. The Maels declined studio collaboration yet proposed that Bohem and Kendrick join Sparks as its new rhythm section, an offer the pair accepted. Ron and Russell supported continuation of the Gleaming Spires during off periods from Sparks and permitted bandmates Jim Goodwin and Bob Haag to participate in the Spires' live configuration. (Haag already knew Bohem and Kendrick from his earlier stint in Bates Motel.)
The Gleaming Spires prepared further recordings with Stephen Hague, keyboardist from Jules and the Polar Bears, serving as producer. (Hague would later helm projects for New Order, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, the Pet Shop Boys, and Erasure.) A B-side track titled "Are You Ready for the Sex Girls?" attracted the notice of Robbie Fields, founder of the Los Angeles indie punk label Posh Boy Records, who agreed to release the band's debut album, 1981's Songs of the Spires. Fields' promotional efforts placed "Sex Girls" in rotation on multiple Los Angeles stations, where it achieved local success; the resulting visibility also led to placements in the films The Last American Virgin and Revenge of the Nerds, securing enduring exposure. (Amusingly, at the height of the song's Los Angeles popularity, the group was touring Europe with Sparks and learned of the developments from afar.) The success of Songs of the Spires enabled Posh Boy to issue a transitional EP, 1982's Life Out on the Lawn, after which the band secured a deal with the larger independent PVC Records for its follow-up, 1983's Walk On Well Lighted Streets. Again produced by Stephen Hague, the album featured a more refined sound that incorporated the complete ensemble rather than relying primarily on synth textures as the debut had done. Although a video accompanied "A Christian Girl's Problem," the single failed to replicate the breakthrough of "Sex Girls" and the album received comparatively limited attention.
Greg Penny joined as keyboardist and guitarist for the recording of the third album, Welcoming a New Ice Age, and also took on production duties. (Penny would subsequently contribute to sessions with Elton John and k.d. lang.) The release represented the group's most ambitious production and arrangement effort, yet the indie label Tabb Records soon ceased operations, leaving the album out of print. Plans for supporting tour dates collapsed when Bob Haag became unavailable, and in 1986 Sparks restructured its lineup, releasing Bohem and Kendrick. Uncertain of their subsequent direction, the Gleaming Spires disbanded. David Kendrick later performed with Devo before joining the Los Angeles post-punk group Xiu Xiu, while Leslie Bohem maintained a modest solo career and achieved recognition as a screenwriter. In 2021, Omnivore Recordings issued deluxe remastered editions of all three Gleaming Spires albums, each augmented with bonus tracks and newly written liner notes.
During the late 1970s, Leslie Bohem fronted the provocative Los Angeles new wave outfit Bates Motel, whose name referenced Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece Psycho; drummer David Kendrick attended a performance and became an admirer. Bohem recruited Kendrick into the group, after which the pair began composing material jointly. Seeking a fresh sonic identity for these songs, they launched a separate project and recorded initial demos under the supervision of vocalist and songwriter Andrew Gold, best remembered for his 1978 hit "Thank You for Being a Friend," which later became the theme song for The Golden Girls. Although the demos generated positive responses, labels declined involvement, so the fledgling Gleaming Spires performed sporadic club dates while awaiting opportunities. Hoping to secure production assistance from Sparks siblings Ron Mael and Russell Mael, whom they admired, the Spires extended an invitation to one of their shows. The Maels declined studio collaboration yet proposed that Bohem and Kendrick join Sparks as its new rhythm section, an offer the pair accepted. Ron and Russell supported continuation of the Gleaming Spires during off periods from Sparks and permitted bandmates Jim Goodwin and Bob Haag to participate in the Spires' live configuration. (Haag already knew Bohem and Kendrick from his earlier stint in Bates Motel.)
The Gleaming Spires prepared further recordings with Stephen Hague, keyboardist from Jules and the Polar Bears, serving as producer. (Hague would later helm projects for New Order, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, the Pet Shop Boys, and Erasure.) A B-side track titled "Are You Ready for the Sex Girls?" attracted the notice of Robbie Fields, founder of the Los Angeles indie punk label Posh Boy Records, who agreed to release the band's debut album, 1981's Songs of the Spires. Fields' promotional efforts placed "Sex Girls" in rotation on multiple Los Angeles stations, where it achieved local success; the resulting visibility also led to placements in the films The Last American Virgin and Revenge of the Nerds, securing enduring exposure. (Amusingly, at the height of the song's Los Angeles popularity, the group was touring Europe with Sparks and learned of the developments from afar.) The success of Songs of the Spires enabled Posh Boy to issue a transitional EP, 1982's Life Out on the Lawn, after which the band secured a deal with the larger independent PVC Records for its follow-up, 1983's Walk On Well Lighted Streets. Again produced by Stephen Hague, the album featured a more refined sound that incorporated the complete ensemble rather than relying primarily on synth textures as the debut had done. Although a video accompanied "A Christian Girl's Problem," the single failed to replicate the breakthrough of "Sex Girls" and the album received comparatively limited attention.
Greg Penny joined as keyboardist and guitarist for the recording of the third album, Welcoming a New Ice Age, and also took on production duties. (Penny would subsequently contribute to sessions with Elton John and k.d. lang.) The release represented the group's most ambitious production and arrangement effort, yet the indie label Tabb Records soon ceased operations, leaving the album out of print. Plans for supporting tour dates collapsed when Bob Haag became unavailable, and in 1986 Sparks restructured its lineup, releasing Bohem and Kendrick. Uncertain of their subsequent direction, the Gleaming Spires disbanded. David Kendrick later performed with Devo before joining the Los Angeles post-punk group Xiu Xiu, while Leslie Bohem maintained a modest solo career and achieved recognition as a screenwriter. In 2021, Omnivore Recordings issued deluxe remastered editions of all three Gleaming Spires albums, each augmented with bonus tracks and newly written liner notes.
Albums
Singles
