After the Fire
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| After the Fire (ATF) | ||
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 classic After the Fire in 1980 (l to r: Andy Piercy, Pete King, Pete Banks, and John Russell)
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| Background information | ||
| Origin | London, England | |
| Genre(s) | Rock New Wave Progressive Rock |
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| Years active | 1974 - present | |
| Label(s) | Rapid CBS Records Epic Records |
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| Members | ||
| Peter Banks John Russell Keith Smith Ian Niblo Matthew Russell |
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| Former members | ||
| Andy Piercy Nick Battle Ivor Twidell Pete King Nick Brotherwood Ian Adamson Robin Childs |
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After the Fire (or ATF) was a British rock band that went from playing Christian progressive rock to Christian new wave over the twelve years it was together, while having only one hit in the United States ("Der Kommissar") and the UK ("One Rule for You").
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[edit] Early career
Keyboard player Peter Banks originally formed the band in the early 1970s in London, England. After The Fire then went through several personnel changes before settling on Banks, guitarist and vocalist Andy Piercy, bassist Nick Battle, and drummer Ivor Twidell. This lineup enjoyed local success in London, and released an album, Signs of Change, in 1978, on their own label. Having become a highly-priced collectors' item, it was reissued on CD in 2004 with several bonus tracks. At this time, the band's sound was similar to bands like Genesis and Yes.
[edit] Success beckons
After Battle left, Piercy switched to bass, and John Russell joined on guitar. The group signed to CBS, and released their second album, Laser Love, in 1979, which marked the band's move towards new wave, with shorter, more catchy pop rock tracks. Drummer Nick Brotherwood took over for Twidell briefly, after Laser Love was recorded. Brotherwood left to become an Anglican cleric. Banks changed his name to "Memory" Banks to not be confused with the ex-Yes guitarist, around this time. As these changes took place, After The Fire's single, "One Rule for You", entered the UK Top 40. The group were scheduled to perform it on BBC TV's Top of the Pops that week, a move which would have been almost certain to see it rise much higher, but their appearance was cancelled when live sport overran by a few minutes, resulting in a shortened programme.
The band's third and fourth albums, 80-f and Batteries Not Included, were released in the early 1980s to little fanfare, with Pete King (formerly of the Flys) on drums. They came back into the UK spotlight when their English-language cover of Austrian musician Falco's song, "Der Kommissar", rocketed in to the U.S. top ten in 1983, though it only just made the top fifty in the UK. This was followed by the release of their first and only US album, ATF, a compilation of their career.
[edit] Dissolution and aftermath
This success had come too late, however, as After the Fire had been slowly coming apart in the year leading to "Der Kommissar", and they officially split soon after it peaked in the top ten. A final album, Free Heat, was scheduled but never released. Banks went on to build his own studio before becoming managing director of Maldon Computer Company, a software and networking enterprise. Russell worked in a music shop following the split and later was involved in youth work, while Piercy became a record producer. King died of testicular cancer in 1985. Twidell released three solo albums after leaving the band, and then became a police officer.
[edit] Rebirth
In 2004 at the Friends Reunion Pete & John were joined by Ian Niblo on bass and Matt Russell on drums to perform a karaoke set. Pete was latter talked into the (now famous) capacity reunion gig at the Greenbelt Festival, Keith Smith completing the lineup on lead vocals.
Recently they re-worked and released the song "One Rule" for Trade Justice, a new recording of their 1979 UK hit. They released the second track from the current line up, "Forged from Faith", as a digital download in October 2005. There are plans to re-enter the recording studio.
[edit] Discography
| (1971-1972) |
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| (1974-1974) |
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| (1975-1977) |
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| (1977-1978) |
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| (1979) |
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| (1979-1983) |
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| (2004-present) ATF2 |
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[edit] Singles
- "One Rule for You" (1979) - CBS
- "Laser Love" (1979) - CBS
- "Life in the City" (1979) - CBS
- "Love Will Always Make You Cry" (1980) - Epic
- "Wild West Show" (1980) - Epic
- "Rich Boys" (1982) - CBS
- "Dancing in the Shadows" (1982) - CBS
- "Der Kommissar" (1983) - CBS
- "One Rule (for Trade Justice)" (2005)
- "Forged from Faith" (2005) - RoughMix; available as a digital download
[edit] Albums
- Signs of Change (1978) - Rapid
- Laser Love (1979) - CBS
- 80-f (1980) - Epic
- Batteries Not Included (1982) - CBS
- Der Kommissar (1982) - Epic - the band's only U.S. album release (a compilation)
- Signs of Change (2004) - RoughMix - CD re-mastered version of the 1978 vinyl album (plus demos from that era)
- Der Kommissar - The CBS Recordings (2005) - Edsel - all the band's vinyl releases on a double CD collection
- Live at Greenbelt (live at the 2004 Greenbelt Festival)
- AT2F (2006) - Angel Air - 1982 CBS demos finally released
[edit] DVDs
- You Had to Be There!: Live at the Greenbelt Festival (2005) - RoughMix
[edit] References
Guinness Book of British Hit Singles 7th edition
