The Teardrops

Formed from Manchester new wave veterans, the Teardrops united Buzzcocks bassist Steve Garvey with Tony Friel, the Fall’s original bass player whose earlier credits included Contact and the Passage, plus drummer Karl Burns, whose résumé already listed the Fall, the Passage and Public Image Limited. Their opening release, the single ‘Seeing Double’ on the regional TJM label, offered the sturdy yet murky post-punk that the members’ histories suggested. After contributing ‘Colours’ to TJM’s Identity Parade sampler, the group issued the 12-inch EP Leave Me No Choice and then concluded their activities with the aptly named Final Vinyl in 1981. Burns returned to the Fall in time for ‘Lie, Dream Of Casino Soul’.