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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZTHOMPSON TWINS, TheUK new wave group formed in Sheffield '77 by Tom Bailey (b 18 Jan '57, Halifax), vocals and bass; Chris Bell, drums; Peter Dodd and John Roog, guitars. Devo-esque quartet evolved into seven pieces and tribal rhythms on A Product Of '81: fluctuating cast incl. Jane Shorter, sax; Joe Leeway (b 15 Nov. '57, London), percussion; Alannah Currie (b 20 Sep. '59, Auckland, N.Z.), sax; name derived from characters in Herg‚s Tintin cartoons. Four flop singles, cult following; Set '82 incl. ex-Soft Boys bassist Matthew Seligman: Bailey had come stage centre as vocalist; Shorter had left; Currie became permanent member, took over lyric writing. First two singles from LP flopped but "In The Name Of The Law', disco-infl. synthesised throwaway written by Bailey to fill LP, hit top of Billboard dance chart: Bailey, Currie and Leeway shed the others, evolved synth/percussion-based sound. "Lies' from Quick Step And Side Kick '83 (prod. by Alex Sadkin at Compass Point) reached USA top 30 before audience at home caught on; two more made top 10 UK, another top 40. Distinctive image (one white man, one black, one woman) was popular on ITV, which boosted "Hold Me Now' to no. 3 USA '84, from Into The Gap '84 (co-prod. by Bailey and Sadkin); three singles from the LP charted in USA, five in UK. Here's To Future Days '85 lacked this potency; Bailey (now sole prod.) collapsed and Chic's Nile Rodgers was brought in to finish the job: facile anti- heroin "Don't Mess With Doctor Dream' followed by "King For One Day'; appalling cover of Beatles' "Revolution' didn't chart at all. Popular on dance floor (cassettes and 12} singles all had different mixes), their glossy pop was ultimately meaningless, and Howard Jones (for one) was doing it better; despite participation in Live Aid and CND affiliation, they'd sacrificed credibility for success. Leeway left '86; Currie lost Bailey's baby, they released Close To The Bone '87, but the moment had gone with their earlier idiosyncracy. |