In the closing years of the 1970s the new wave outfit TV21 came together, its roster featuring drummer Colin Maclean, guitarist Ally Palmer, bassist Neil Baldwin, and vocalist/guitarist Norman Rodger. The quartet borrowed its name from the fanzine issued by Thunderbirds creator Gerry Anderson. Following the appearance of its opening two singles on Powerbeat in the first months of 1980, the band taped a session for John Peel’s BBC radio show. A further brace of singles arrived on the Demon imprint during 1981. Maclean then exited, his place taken by Ali Patterson, previously of the Rezillos. Deram signed the group and released its sole long-player, A Thin Red Line, toward the end of 1981. Ian Broudie—already known for his work with Original Mirrors and later the Lightning Seeds—had produced an earlier single by the band and contributed to one track on the album. One more single emerged in the opening weeks of 1982; momentum culminated when TV21 supported the Rolling Stones on their Scottish dates. Sensing a creative standstill, the members chose to disband midway through the year.
