Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls

Following the end of Penetration, Murray—born on 8 March 1958 in Durham, England—joined forces with bassist Robert Blamire to launch a fresh project. Producers Martin Hannett and Steve Hopkins were viewed as the project’s so-called “Invisible” contributors, while the performing lineup featured John Maher, formerly of Buzzcocks, alongside Dave Rowbotham and Dave Hassell. Serving as both studio ensemble and touring unit for John Cooper Clarke, the Invisible Girls drew in additional personnel such as Pete Shelley, Karl Burns of the Fall, Bill Nelson, Vini Reilly of Durutti Column, and a host of others. Released in 1980 under the name Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls, their self-titled album arrived together with the single “Dream Sequence,” earning widespread critical praise. Wayne Hussey, previously with Dead Or Alive, Sisters Of Mercy, and the Mission, added guest contributions to the record, which also showcased the earlier-noted participants. Despite the strength of the collection, the group disbanded after issuing two further singles drawn from the album—“Searching For Heaven” and “Mr. X.” Blamire turned to production duties, while Murray stepped away from the industry for two years, later reflecting: “I just... retreated from music really, just backed right out and decided what I wanted to do. Which took about a year to two years... I think Penetration to the Invisible Girls was such a vast leap that it lost everyone. It lost us as well.” She and Blamire later reconvened briefly in Pauline Murray And The Storm before both withdrew from music entirely at the beginning of the following decade.