The Names are a post-punk band from Brussels (Belgium), formed in 1978 around bassist and songwriter Michel Smordynia. After local gigs as The Passengers, they changed their name in time for their debut single, "Spectators of Life", released by WEA in 1979 to test the market for home-grown new wave music.
The band were keen to sign to a British label, and connected with Factory Records at a gig by Joy Division at the Plan K venue in Brussels. The Names recorded "Nightshift" in Manchester in August 1980, with producer Martin Hannett. The single is representative of their overall sound: dark, controlled modern rock in the mould of Magazine, Comsat Angels and Joy Division/early New Order, with accomplished keyboards and songwriting.
The Names enjoyed a long and rewarding relationship with mercurial producer Hannett, who also oversaw their next single "Calcutta" (Factory Benelux, 1981) and debut album, Swimming (Les Disques du Crepuscule, 1982). With him, the band created a lush, syncopated sound for Smordynia's memorable melodic hooks, resulting in some of the more evocative records by any of the moody, atmospheric bands of the day.
The group played live mostly in the Benelux countries and France, including the ambitious Crepuscule multi-media package Dialogue North-South in February 1982. The group had also been booked to appear in Manchester in July 1980 as support to A Certain Ratio at The Beach Club. When The Names were delayed, New Order stepped in for their first live performance after the end of Joy Division.
A final Names single, "The Astronaut", appeared in 1982, again produced by Hannett, who had by then split from Factory Records. However the post-punk era was ending, and the band split.
In 1995 original core trio of Michel Smordynia (vocals/bass), Marc Deprez (guitar) and Christophe Den Tandt (keyboards) reunited as Jazz, releasing one album, Nightvision.
In December 2007, the Names reunited for a gig during A Factory Night (once again). In April 2009, they released a new album called Monsters Next Door under the label Str8line. Christophe Den Tandt left the band in December 2009 and was replaced by Christophe Boulenger. Since then, The Names have appeared live in Italy and France.