Altered Images
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| Altered Images | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Genre(s) | New Wave Post-Punk Art Rock Indie pop |
| Years active | 1979-1983 |
| Label(s) | Epic Records Diablo Records |
| Associated acts | Siouxsie & the Banshees Texas Universal Love School Hipsway |
| Members | |
| Clare Grogan Johnny McElhone Tony McDaid Michael Anderson |
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| Former members | |
| Caesar Steve Lironi David Wilde Jim Prime |
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Altered Images were a 1980s Scottish New wave/Post-punk band.
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[edit] Formation
Ex-school friends with an equal interest in the UK post punk scene, Clare Grogan (vocals), Caesar (guitar), Michael 'Tich' Anderson (drums), Tony McDaid (guitar) and Johnny McElhone (bass guitar), sent a demo tape to Siouxsie and the Banshees, who soon gave the band a support slot on their Kaleidoscope tour of 1980.
[edit] Early Singles
After being championed by legendary DJ John Peel, they quickly garnered enough attention to be offered a deal with Epic Records, but mainstream success was not immediate; their first two singles, "Dead Pop Stars" and "A Day's Wait", failed to reach the top 40. "Dead Pop Stars" was particularly controversial at the time, sung at the viewpoint of a "has-been" icon with much irony, perhaps badly timed in its release shortly after John Lennon's death, even though it was recorded earlier. It was absent from their studio album releases. After these two singles and their first two sessions for John Peel, Caesar left and formed The Wake.
[edit] Happy Birthday
With additional guitarist Jim McKinven, they recorded their debut LP, Happy Birthday (1981) seeing them continue their link with Siouxsie and the Banshees, as the band's bassist Steve Severin produced several tracks on it besides the title track, which became their third single and biggest hit. "Happy Birthday" saw them be catapulted to fame with Grogan standing centre, quirky voice and bubbly character sending the band to number 2 in the singles chart in the summer of that year, establishing the band as one of the biggest New Wave acts around. This was confirmed when they were voted "Best New Group" at the NME awards. "Happy Birthday" was brought to more widespread American audiences when included in the soundtrack to the John Hughes movie Sixteen Candles.
[edit] Pinky Blue
After a successful headlining tour they released Pinky Blue (1982) showing them following a more pop route than before, providing two more top 20 hits, "I Could Be Happy" and "See Those Eyes". The album also went top 20, but many critics who supported them previously began to turn sour. Meanwhile, after McKinven and Anderson left to be replaced by multi-instrumentalist Steve Lironi they began to work with pop producer Mike Chapman, providing them with another hit, "Don't Talk To Me About Love".
[edit] Bite
This continued collaboration (and one with Tony Visconti) was seen with Bite (1983), a severe departure from their former dream punk not far removed from Siouxsie to a far more conventional, studio based sound. Grogan pictured on the album's cover sleeve wearing a sophisticated, movie star-like dress and Audrey Hepburn look eluded many fans, and after the album's brief commercial spell, forced her and her band out of the spotlight and to their disbanding, post-tour with David Wilde(ex Endgames) on drums and saxophone and Jim Prime on keyboards.
[edit] Breakup
After the break up of the band, Grogan attempted a solo career, signing to London Records and releasing a single and recording an unreleased album in 1987 called Love Bomb. She also became a film and television actress, appearing in productions such as Gregory's Girl, Red Dwarf (in which she originated the role of Kristine Kochanski), EastEnders, and Father Ted. In recent years she has also become a presenter on UK television.
Grogan and Steve Lironi formed Universal Love School, performing together but never releasing any recordings. Johnny McElhone went on to perform with Hipsway and eventually Texas.
[edit] Reunion
Clare Grogan sang live under the name of Altered Images in 2002 for the Here and Now UK tour, showcasing a revival of popular bands of their era alongside the likes of The Human League, ABC, and T'Pau, and again for some separate shows in 2004.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Year | Album | UK | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altered Images: | |||
| 1981 | Happy Birthday | 26 | - |
| 1982 | Pinky Blue | 12 | - |
| 1983 | Bite | 12 | - |
| 1984 | Collected Images | - | - |
| 1992 | The Best of Altered Images | - | - |
| 1996 | Reflected Images | - | - |
| 1997 | I Could Be Happy - The Best of Altered Images | - | - |
| 2003 | Destiny - The Hits | - | - |
[edit] EPs
| Year | EP | UK | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altered Images: | |||
| 1982 | Greatest Original Hits - 4 Track EP | - | - |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Song | UK | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | "Dead Pop Stars" | 67 | - |
| 1981 | "A Day's Wait" | - | - |
| 1981 | "Happy Birthday" | 2 | - |
| 1981 | "I Could Be Happy" | 7 | - |
| 1982 | "See Those Eyes" | 11 | - |
| 1982 | "Pinky Blue" | 35 | - |
| 1983 | "Don't Talk To Me About Love" | 7 | - |
| 1983 | "Bring Me Closer" | 29 | - |
| 1983 | "Love To Stay" | 46 | - |
| 1983 | "Change of Heart" | 83 | - |
[edit] Compilations and special releases
| Year | Song |
|---|---|
| 1981 | "Happy New Year" flexidisc released with Flexipop magazine |
| 1982 | "See Those Eyes" flexidisc released with Trouser Press magazine |
| 1982 | "Little Town Flirt" on the Party Party soundtrack |
