The Danse Society

The Danse Society

The Danse Society, October 2011
Background information
Origin Barnsley, England
Genres Gothic rock, post-punk, synthpop, new wave
Years active 1980 (1980)–present (present)
Labels Society, Arista
Associated acts Johnny in the Clouds, Society, Meridian Dream, Party Day
Members Maethelyiah
Paul Nash
David Whitaker
Lee Jones
Iain Hunter
Past members Paul Gilmartin
David Whitaker
Steve Rawlings
Lyndon Scarfe
Tim Wright

The Danse Society are an English gothic rock band, formed in Barnsley in 1980. They were originally active until 1987, reforming in 2011. They achieved moderate success during their career. Their lineup included Steve Rawlings (vocals), Paul Nash (guitar), Lyndon Scarfe (keyboards), Tim Wright (bass guitar) and Paul Gilmartin (drums). Scarfe was replaced by David Whitaker (formerly of Music for Pleasure) after the Heaven Is Waiting album.

Background

First incarnation

Originally called Y? and then Danse Crazy[1] (changed due to the emerging Two Tone scene), Danse Society recorded and released their first single, "Clock", on their own newly formed record label Society in 1980. They released their debut studio album, Seduction, in 1982. It reached No. 3 in the UK Indie Chart.[2]

Their second studio album, Heaven Is Waiting, was released in December 1983 on record label Arista. It reached No. 39 in the UK albums chart.[3] The album contained a cover of The Rolling Stones' song "2000 Light Years from Home", also edited in 1984 as a 12" single and as a limited-edition double single. In 1986, after releasing their final album, Looking Through, as The Danse Society International, all of the band members except lead singer Rawlings left to form Johnny in the Clouds.

Rawlings continued as Society, and in 1987, released a single, "Saturn Girl".[4] After 1987, Rawlings continued to pursue music with the electronic dance music act Meridian Dream.

Reformation

A campaign titled The Danse Society Reformation Plot was started on Facebook at the end of 2009 and succeeded in bringing most of the band back together. The reformed Danse Society, featuring new vocalist Maethelyiah from the group Blooding Mask, released their fourth studio album, Change of Skin, in July 2011. This was followed in November 2011 with the first single to be taken from the album, "God Cry". In April 2012 they released the second single from Change of Skin, "Vatican", backed with a reworking of their classic early song "Seduction". Their first live gig in 25 years was performed at Germany's Wave-Gotik-Treffen festival in May 2012, followed by selected festival dates and the addition of bassist Martin Roberts.

Their fifth studio album, Scarey Tales, was released in February 2013.

Alternate Danse Societies

On 1 February 2014, Danse Society issued an official announcement that Gilmartin and Roberts had unexpectedly resigned from the band, resulting in the cancellation of a series of tour dates. Nash, Whitaker and Maethelyiah continued with Danse Society, joined by new bassist Lee Jones and drummer Iain Hunter.[5]

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Singles

Month Year Title UK Singles Chart[3] UK Indie Chart[2] Record label
September 1980 "Clock"/"Continent" — No. 11 Society
March 1981 "There Is No Shame in Death" — No. 26 Society
May 1981 "Womans Own" — — Society
December 1982 "Somewhere" — No. 2 Society
March 1983 "Somewhere" (re-issue) — — Arista
July 1983 "We're So Happy" — No. 22 Society
August 1983 "Wake Up"/"Seduction" No. 61 — Arista
October 1983 "Heaven Is Waiting" No. 60 — Arista
March 1984 "2,000 Light Years from Home" — — Arista
July 1985 "Say It Again" — — Arista
February 1986 "Hold On (To What You've Got)" — — Arista
August 1987 "Saturn Girl" (as Society) — No. 48 Big Life
November 1987 "Love It" (as Society) — No. 19 Big Life
November 2011 "God Cry" — — Society
April 2012 "Vatican" — — Society

References

  1. ↑ Larkin, Colin. (1992) The Guinness Who's Who of Indie and New Wave Music. Guinness Publishing Ltd. p84. ISBN 0-85112-579-4
  2. 1 2 Lazell, Barry (1997). Indie Hits 1980–1989. Cherry Red Books. ISBN 0-9517206-9-4.
  3. 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 140. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. ↑ Strong, Martin C. (1999). The Great Alternative & Indie Discography. Canongate. ISBN 0-86241-913-1.
  5. ↑ "Danse Society Official". Danse Society Official. Retrieved 2014-06-06.

External links

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