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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZDANSE SOCIETYUK new wave band formed '79 in Barnsley by Steve Rawlings, vocals; Paul 'Gigi' Gilmartin, drums; Paul Nash, guitar; Tim Wright, bass; Lyndon Scarfe, keyboards. Emerged from local bands Y (Rawlings, Gilmartin) and Lipps (Nash, Wright). [Guitarist Nash d 20 Jan. 2005 aged 56, of brain cancer in NYC.] They achieved cult status through sessions on John Peel's Radio 1 show; then developed back in Yorkshire away from the media; doomladen songs allied them with Cult and Sex Gang Children in the post-punk morass of the early '80s. They released singles '81 on their own Society label ('The Clock') and on Pax ('There Is No Shame In Death'); they rose from supporting act to headliners as single 'Woman's Own'/'We're So Happy' showed musical improvement. Mini-LP Seduction achieved their longest stay in the indie chart to date '83 reaching no. 2 (single 'Somewhere' from LP did well; title cut was a minor hit). The music moved towards an electro dancefloor style; they were signed by Arista for single 'Wake Up' (minor hit); LP Heaven Is Waiting '84 included a cover of Rolling Stones' '2000 Light Years From Home', a good sample of Rawlings's half-sung, half-spoken vocals, chilling guitar/ keyboards over robotic rhythms. Despite diverse reference points (Pink Floyd, Joy Division, Doors etc) 'doom rockers' had yet to justify fans; their final LP was Looking Through '86 on Society, last single 'Hold On To What You've Got' before split. Rawlings retained the name, the others became Johnny and the Clouds. |