- The Danse Society
-
The Danse Society Origin Barnsley, England Genres Gothic rock
Electronic
Post-punkYears active 1981–1987; 2011-present Labels Society Records, Arista Associated acts Y!, Lips-X, Blooding Mask Members Maethelyiah
Paul Nash
David Whitaker
Paul GilmartinPast members Steve Rawlings
Lyndon Scarfe
Tim WrightThe Danse Society are a positive punk (the precursory term for gothic rock) group from Barnsley, England, active from 1981 to 1987. They achieved moderate fame during their short career. Their line-up included Steve Rawlings (voice), Paul Nash (guitar), Lyndon Scarfe (keyboards), Tim Wright (bass) and Paul Gilmartin (drums). Lyndon Scarfe was replaced by David Whitaker (formally of Music for Pleasure) after the Heaven is Waiting Album.
In 1980, they recorded and released their first single, "Clock," on their own newly formed record label, Society Records.
Their most well known album, Heaven is Waiting, was released in December, 1983 by Arista. 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, the other band members left to form Johnny In The Clouds, after releasing their final album as Danse Society International, Looking Through. Rawlings later reappeared in 1987 as Society with the single, "Saturn Girl."[1]
After 1987, Rawlings continued to pursue his path in music with the electronic dance music act, Meridian Dream.
A recent campaign on Facebook (The Danse Society Reformation Plot) has brought most of the band back together, and they are currently working on a new project "Change of Skin' to be released in July 2011 featuring former founder of Blooding Mask vocalist Maethelyiah.[2]
Contents
Discography
Albums
- Seduction (September 1982 - Society Records) (UK Indie #3)[3]
- Heaven Is Waiting (1983 Arista - reprint in 2002) UK Albums Chart #39[4]
- Looking Through (1986)
- Change of Skin (2011)
Compilation albums
- The Danse Society (1983)
- Demos, Vol. 1 (2011)
All three original albums have been recently re-issued on CD with bonus tracks
Singles
Month Year Title UK Singles Chart[4] UK Indie Chart[3] Record Label September 1980 "Clock" / "Continent " - #11 Society Records March 1981 "There Is No Shame In Death" - #26 PAX Records May 1981 "Womans Own" - - PAX Records December 1982 "Somewhere" - #2 Society Records March 1983 "Somewhere" (re-issue) - - Arista Records July 1983 "We're So Happy" - #22 Society Records August 1983 "Wake Up" / "Seduction" #61 - Arista Records October 1983 "Heaven Is Waiting" #60 - Arista Records March 1984 "2,000 Light Years From Home" - - Arista Records July 1985 "Say It Again" - - Arista Records February 1986 "Hold On (To What You've Got)" - - Arista Records August 1987 "Saturn Girl" (as Society) - #48 Big Life November 1987 "Love It" (as Society) - #19 Big Life References
- ^ Strong, Martin C.:"The Great Alternative & Indie Discography," 1999, Canongate, ISBN 0-86241-913-1
- ^ http://www.facebook.com/pages/THE-DANSE-SOCIETY-REFORMATION-PLOT/227357422417
- ^ a b Lazell, Barry (1997) "Indie Hits 1980-1989", Cherry Red Books, ISBN 0-9517206-9-4
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 140. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
External links
Categories:- English punk rock groups
- British post-punk music groups
- Musical groups established in 1981
- Musical groups disestablished in 1987
- Musical groups reestablished in 2011
- Gothic rock groups
- British New Wave musical groups
- Darkwave musical groups
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