Biography
The pioneers of power pop, including the Raspberries and Big Star, garnered scant notice upon their emergence in the early 1970s, yet by decade’s end several acts they inspired had reached the upper echelons of the charts, among them Cheap Trick, the Knack, and the Romantics. What set the Romantics apart from their stylistic counterparts was their adoption of the ferocious, high-energy approach pioneered by Detroit’s earlier rock acts together with their taste for towering hairstyles and coordinated period attire.
Formed on Detroit’s east side in 1977, the original Romantics lineup featured singer and guitarist Wally Palmar, singer and drummer Jimmy Marinos, guitarist Mike Skill, and bassist Richie Cole.
After cultivating a local audience through live performances, the band issued the single “Little White Lies” b/w “I Can’t Tell You Anything” on its own Spider Records imprint; an energetic Toronto appearance then sparked a short-lived association with the respected punk and power pop independent Bomp!, which released “Tell It to Carrie” b/w “First in Line.” These recordings attracted attention from additional labels, prompting the Romantics to sign with Nemperor/Epic in 1979.
Their self-titled debut album appeared the following year after only three weeks of recording and is widely regarded as the group’s strongest effort, containing such standouts as “When I Look in Your Eyes,” a version of Ray Davies’ “She’s Got Everything,” and the signature power-pop track “What I Like About You.” Although that single peaked at number 49 upon release, it later became an early MTV staple and classic-rock radio perennial, and in the 1990s it appeared in numerous commercials.
Also released in 1980, National Breakout broadened the band’s palette to embrace surf and classic Motown influences and was supported by an extensive world tour that included the Romantics’ first visits to Europe and Australia. Around the same time the Quark subsidiary of Bomp! issued the compilation Midwest Pop Explosion!, credited to Romantics & Friends and featuring several early recordings.
Strictly Personal, released in 1981, introduced the first lineup change when Coz Canler replaced Skill; although the group’s following continued to expand, the album failed to deliver commercial breakthrough, a shortcoming that would be remedied on the next release.
In Heat (1983) became the Romantics’ best-selling album, earning gold certification on the strength of the Top Ten hits “Talking in Your Sleep” and “One in a Million,” and the quartet traded its raw early sound for more streamlined songwriting. Despite this long-sought success, tensions with management surfaced, resulting in Marinos’ departure.
The band carried on with new drummer Dave Petratos, yielding 1985’s Rhythm Romance, an album that moved further from power-pop roots toward mainstream rock both sonically and visually on its cover art. Rhythm Romance proved to be the Romantics’ final studio album for Nemperor/Epic; a complete rupture with management led to litigation that curtailed touring and recording, prompting many observers to conclude the group had disbanded. During the ensuing lull, the ten-track best-of collection What I Like About You (& Other Romantic Hits) appeared in 1990.
By 1990 former Blondie drummer Clem Burke had joined, and this lineup appeared on the 1993 five-track EP Made in Detroit, which mixed originals with Funkadelic covers; the band also performed at the memorial service for MC5 singer Rob Tyner. In 1995 the Romantics settled their lawsuit against former management and regained control of their publishing rights and catalog. Marinos returned briefly in 1996, yet by 1997 the original drummer had exited once more and Burke had resumed the drum chair.
Throughout the late 1990s additional compilations surfaced, including 1996’s Breakout and 1998’s Super Hits, along with concert recordings such as 1996’s King Biscuit Flower Hour and 2000’s Live (reissued the following year as Hits You Remember: Live). Although two decades have passed without a new studio album, the Romantics remain an active touring act.
Formed on Detroit’s east side in 1977, the original Romantics lineup featured singer and guitarist Wally Palmar, singer and drummer Jimmy Marinos, guitarist Mike Skill, and bassist Richie Cole.
After cultivating a local audience through live performances, the band issued the single “Little White Lies” b/w “I Can’t Tell You Anything” on its own Spider Records imprint; an energetic Toronto appearance then sparked a short-lived association with the respected punk and power pop independent Bomp!, which released “Tell It to Carrie” b/w “First in Line.” These recordings attracted attention from additional labels, prompting the Romantics to sign with Nemperor/Epic in 1979.
Their self-titled debut album appeared the following year after only three weeks of recording and is widely regarded as the group’s strongest effort, containing such standouts as “When I Look in Your Eyes,” a version of Ray Davies’ “She’s Got Everything,” and the signature power-pop track “What I Like About You.” Although that single peaked at number 49 upon release, it later became an early MTV staple and classic-rock radio perennial, and in the 1990s it appeared in numerous commercials.
Also released in 1980, National Breakout broadened the band’s palette to embrace surf and classic Motown influences and was supported by an extensive world tour that included the Romantics’ first visits to Europe and Australia. Around the same time the Quark subsidiary of Bomp! issued the compilation Midwest Pop Explosion!, credited to Romantics & Friends and featuring several early recordings.
Strictly Personal, released in 1981, introduced the first lineup change when Coz Canler replaced Skill; although the group’s following continued to expand, the album failed to deliver commercial breakthrough, a shortcoming that would be remedied on the next release.
In Heat (1983) became the Romantics’ best-selling album, earning gold certification on the strength of the Top Ten hits “Talking in Your Sleep” and “One in a Million,” and the quartet traded its raw early sound for more streamlined songwriting. Despite this long-sought success, tensions with management surfaced, resulting in Marinos’ departure.
The band carried on with new drummer Dave Petratos, yielding 1985’s Rhythm Romance, an album that moved further from power-pop roots toward mainstream rock both sonically and visually on its cover art. Rhythm Romance proved to be the Romantics’ final studio album for Nemperor/Epic; a complete rupture with management led to litigation that curtailed touring and recording, prompting many observers to conclude the group had disbanded. During the ensuing lull, the ten-track best-of collection What I Like About You (& Other Romantic Hits) appeared in 1990.
By 1990 former Blondie drummer Clem Burke had joined, and this lineup appeared on the 1993 five-track EP Made in Detroit, which mixed originals with Funkadelic covers; the band also performed at the memorial service for MC5 singer Rob Tyner. In 1995 the Romantics settled their lawsuit against former management and regained control of their publishing rights and catalog. Marinos returned briefly in 1996, yet by 1997 the original drummer had exited once more and Burke had resumed the drum chair.
Throughout the late 1990s additional compilations surfaced, including 1996’s Breakout and 1998’s Super Hits, along with concert recordings such as 1996’s King Biscuit Flower Hour and 2000’s Live (reissued the following year as Hits You Remember: Live). Although two decades have passed without a new studio album, the Romantics remain an active touring act.
Albums
Singles
