Radio Blank
Encyclopedia
Radio Blank was a short-lived R&B
and punk
band formed on the Wirral Peninsula
, in November 1976, by Alan Gill
(guitar), Keith Hartley (vocals), David Balfe
(bass) and Steven Brick (drums).
In mid 1970s, Gill, Hartley and Balfe, who lived in Thingwall
, Wirral, were in a band called Mr. McKenzie. In November 1976, the band changed their name to Radio Blank, and were inspired by punk and popular Liverpool
band Deaf School
, playing only fifteen times, five of those at the Eric's Club
, in Liverpool. The band were playing their own material, and also covers
such as The Kinks
' "You Really Got Me
" and "Peaches
" (originally by The Stranglers
).
At the end of 1977, Gill and Balfe felt punk was not interesting, and they decided to disband Radio Blank. They went on to form Dalek I Love You
in December 1977, alongside keyboardist Dave Hughes and Chris Teepe.
After leaving Radio Blank, Brick went on to roadie for several other local bands and was making more money roadying than playing. He continued roadying until 1985. Today, he is happily married with 3 children and is peacefully retired, but has vowed to come back and play the drums one more time.
Balfe quit Dalek I Love You to join Big In Japan
and The Teardrop Explodes
, who, in 1980, included Gill. He released three singles and an album called Compass Kumpas, between 1979 and 1980, with Dalek I Love You, without Balfe, and, after being in The Teardrop Explodes, he revived the band, and included singer Keith Hartley to sing in the eponymous Dalek I Love You
album in 1983.
Before joining Dalek I Love You, Hartley formed Godot
, alongside Hughes.
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
and punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band formed on the Wirral Peninsula
Wirral Peninsula
Wirral or the Wirral is a peninsula in North West England. It is bounded by three bodies of water: to the west by the River Dee, forming a boundary with Wales, to the east by the River Mersey and to the north by the Irish Sea. Both terms "Wirral" and "the Wirral" are used locally , although the...
, in November 1976, by Alan Gill
Alan Gill
Alan Gill is a vocalist, guitarist and songwriter, who formed part of the synthpop band Dalek I Love You and the Neo-psychedelic band The Teardrop Explodes.-Early career:...
(guitar), Keith Hartley (vocals), David Balfe
David Balfe
David Balfe is most notable for playing keyboards with The Teardrop Explodes, founding the Zoo and Food record labels, signing Blur and for being the subject of their number one hit - "Country House".-Biography:...
(bass) and Steven Brick (drums).
In mid 1970s, Gill, Hartley and Balfe, who lived in Thingwall
Thingwall
Thingwall is a village on the Wirral Peninsula, England. The village is situated to the south west of Birkenhead and north east of Heswall. It is part of the Pensby & Thingwall Ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral and is situated within the parliamentary constituency of Wirral West...
, Wirral, were in a band called Mr. McKenzie. In November 1976, the band changed their name to Radio Blank, and were inspired by punk and popular Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
band Deaf School
Deaf School
Deaf School are an English rock band, formed in the mid 1970s and hailing from Liverpool. Their style is somewhere in between pub rock, punk, glam rock and art rock. They originally disbanded after their third album but their influence lived on...
, playing only fifteen times, five of those at the Eric's Club
Eric's Club
Eric's Club was a music club in Liverpool, England. It opened on October 1, 1976 in a building basement on Mathew Street opposite The Cavern Club where The Beatles and other bands of the 1960s played, and became notable for hosting early performances by many punk and post-punk bands.The club was...
, in Liverpool. The band were playing their own material, and also covers
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
such as The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
' "You Really Got Me
You Really Got Me
"You Really Got Me" is a rock song written by Ray Davies and performed by his band, The Kinks. It was released on 4th August 1964 as the group's third single, and reached Number 1 on the UK singles chart the next month, remaining for two weeks...
" and "Peaches
Peaches (song)
"Peaches" is a song and single by The Stranglers. It was one of the big summer hits of 1977 in the UK, a close rival to The Sex Pistols' "God Save The Queen" in terms of notoriety.-Song Information:...
" (originally by The Stranglers
The Stranglers
The Stranglers are an English punk/rock music group.Scoring some 23 UK top 40 singles and 17 UK top 40 albums to date in a career spanning five decades, the Stranglers are the longest-surviving and most "continuously successful" band to have originated in the UK punk scene of the mid to late 1970s...
).
At the end of 1977, Gill and Balfe felt punk was not interesting, and they decided to disband Radio Blank. They went on to form Dalek I Love You
Dalek I Love You
Dalek I Love You may refer to:* Dalek I Love You, a synthpop group* Dalek I Love You , the group's self-titled album* Dalek I Love You , an audio play broadcast on BBC Radio...
in December 1977, alongside keyboardist Dave Hughes and Chris Teepe.
After leaving Radio Blank, Brick went on to roadie for several other local bands and was making more money roadying than playing. He continued roadying until 1985. Today, he is happily married with 3 children and is peacefully retired, but has vowed to come back and play the drums one more time.
Balfe quit Dalek I Love You to join Big In Japan
Big in Japan
Big in Japan was a punk band that emerged from Liverpool, England in the late 1970s. They are better known for the later successes of their band members than for their own music...
and The Teardrop Explodes
The Teardrop Explodes
The Teardrop Explodes were an English post-punk/neo-psychedelic band formed in Liverpool in 1978. Best known for their Top Ten UK single "Reward" the group originated as a key band in the emerging Liverpool post-punk scene of the late 1970s, the group also launched the career of group frontman...
, who, in 1980, included Gill. He released three singles and an album called Compass Kumpas, between 1979 and 1980, with Dalek I Love You, without Balfe, and, after being in The Teardrop Explodes, he revived the band, and included singer Keith Hartley to sing in the eponymous Dalek I Love You
Dalek I Love You (album)
Dalek I Love You was the eponymous 1983 album from Dalek I Love You.On 2 April 2007, it was made available for the first time on CD.-LP:Korova KODE 7 , 24-0258-1 Side One...
album in 1983.
Before joining Dalek I Love You, Hartley formed Godot
Godot (band)
Godot was a synthpop band formed in England, in November 1980, by Merseyside musicians Dave Hughes on instruments, and Keith Hartley on vocals and instruments.Hughes and Hartley had relations with also synthpop band Dalek I Love You...
, alongside Hughes.