The Passengers (band)
Encyclopedia
The Passengers were a late-1970s Brussels postpunk / new wave band that later became better known as The Names (see The Names (band)
). Original line-up included Michel Sordinia (bass, vocals), Isabelle Hanrez (vocals), Marc Deprez (guitar), Robert Franckson (guitar), and Christophe Den Tandt (drums).
, and Television.
In March 1978, they won a punk contest and, symptomatically, turned down the first prize. They were slated to record a single ("Danger Zone" / "Hole in Your Mind") with local punk / new wave label Romantik Records, but the effort never materialized.
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The Names (band)
The Names are a post-punk band from Brussels , 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...
). Original line-up included Michel Sordinia (bass, vocals), Isabelle Hanrez (vocals), Marc Deprez (guitar), Robert Franckson (guitar), and Christophe Den Tandt (drums).
Formation
The band formed in late 1977 and gave their first gig in February 1978, playing a pop-oriented brand of postpunk. Musical influences at the time included the Velvet Underground, Richard Hell, BlondieBlondie (band)
Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
, and Television.
In March 1978, they won a punk contest and, symptomatically, turned down the first prize. They were slated to record a single ("Danger Zone" / "Hole in Your Mind") with local punk / new wave label Romantik Records, but the effort never materialized.
Lineup and name change
In mid-1978, Hanrez and Franckson left the band. By late 1978, the Passengers, now influenced by Magazine and XTC, shifted to a new line-up including Den Tandt on keyboards. By mid-1979, the band changed names, to become The NamesThe Names (band)
The Names are a post-punk band from Brussels , 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...
.
Members
- Michel Sordinia (bass, vocals)
- Isabelle Hanrez (vocals)
- Marc Deprez (guitar)
- Robert Franckson (guitar)
- Christophe Den Tandt (drums, keyboards)