Shock (troupe)
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Shock is a music/mime/dance/pop group that was notable in the early 1980s for supporting English pop groups such as Gary Numan, Adam and the Ants, Depeche Mode and Famous Names, led by Steve Fairnie.
In 1979, mime artists Tim Dry and Barbie Wilde united with disco champion dancers Robert Pereno, LA Richards and Karen Sparks to produce Shock. In April 1980, they recruited another mime, Sean Crawford, who had a unique robotic act called Plastic Joe. The line-up changed with the departure of Karen and the introduction of Carole Caplin.
Based in London, England, Shock performed in clubs like The Haçienda, The Warehouse (Leeds) and The Blitz Club (home of the Blitz Kids) and The Venue (London). With costumes from Kahn and Bell (designers for Duran Duran), miming to music by Fad Gadget, Landscape, Kate Bush and Wilson Pickett, they found themselves in the vanguard of the New Romantic cult of the early '80's, alongside Boy George, Duran Duran, Steve Strange and Spandau Ballet.
Their first record 'Angel Face' on RCA Records -- with production by Rusty Egan (Visage) and Richard James Burgess (Landscape) -- was a dance floor hit, as was the second 'Dynamo Beat'. In 1981, Shock co-starred with Ultravox at the legendary 'People's Palace Valentine's Ball' at the Rainbow Theatre. LA, Barbie and Carole appeared in the video for Landscape's 'Einstein a Go-Go'. Sean and Barbie starred in the video for Ultravox's 'Passing Strangers'.
Shock went on to perform at the The Ritz rock club in Manhattan and extensively toured Europe and the Far East. Their biggest live concerts were in April 1981 with Gary Numan at Wembley Arena.
Shock eventually broke up and reformed as a foursome with Barbie, Tim, Sean and Carole and released the single, 'Dynamo Beat', on RCA Records. However, soon Tim and Sean as Tik and Tok broke away to form their own successful double act. Barbie went back to her first loves of acting and TV presenting. Carole went on to become a lifestyle advisor to Cherie Blair.
