The Escape Club

Having spent five years establishing themselves before achieving any breakthrough, the British outfit Escape Club finally reached the summit of the American singles chart with their inaugural release. The ensemble coalesced from the remaining members of two prior London outfits, the Espressos and Mad Shadows, both of which had been building momentum on the local club circuit until lineup shifts occurred. Vocalist Trevor Steel and guitarist John Holliday had performed in Mad Shadows, yet after that band’s drummer departed, Milan Zekavica from the Espressos was brought in to fill the role. By 1983 bassist Johnnie Christo had joined the Mad Shadows roster as well, prompting the collective to adopt the name Escape Club and commence live performances.

The newly christened group soon issued the independent single “Breathing,” which failed to register commercially. Their onstage popularity nevertheless secured a contract with EMI. Working with producer Scott Litt, they completed the album White Fields, which earned opening slots on tours by China Crisis and the Alarm yet still yielded no tangible sales. Returning to the studio under Chris Kimsey’s guidance, the band deliberately incorporated stronger dance influences. EMI rejected the resulting material, but Atlantic stepped forward to release Wild Wild West in 1988. The title song, propelled by frequent MTV rotation of its video, ascended the U.S. charts and reached number one that autumn, earning gold status for both the single and the album. Follow-up tracks “Shake for the Sheik,” which reached the Top 40, and the minor hit “Walking Through Walls” sustained their momentum.

In 1991 Escape Club delivered Dollars & Sex, shifting toward a more rock-driven approach. The lead single “Call It Poison,” which incorporated a sample from Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan, peaked at number 44. Greater traction came with the subsequent release “I’ll Be There,” a song composed after the passing of a friend’s wife; listener requests gradually propelled it into the Top Ten and secured the band another gold single. Despite these accomplishments, mounting debts caused the members to go their separate ways. Christo and Zekavica turned to separate endeavors, while Steel and Holliday focused on writing and production for other artists. Although Escape Club never reconvened for further recordings, the group retained visibility as enthusiasts of 1980s music continued to champion “Wild Wild West” well into the new millennium.