Teenage Filmstars
Encyclopedia
Teenage Filmstars are an English
, post punk, independent, psychedelic
1980s-90s band, formed in 1979 by Edward Ball
, Daniel Treacy and Joseph Foster
. The band segued into The Times
in 1980, re-appearing on Creation Records
in 1992.
single "We Love Malcolm" (1978) by himself, Edward Ball
dropped the name in favour of the Teenage Filmstars, spring 1979. Opting to record as a band again, He invited old school friends Daniel Treacy and Joseph Foster
to guest on the first single, "(There's a) Cloud Over Liverpool" (1979). Championed by Radio 1
DJ John Peel
(perhaps for the song's sideways nod to Liverpool FC, of whom Peel was a fan), the record received a further lease of life more than a year later when American record shops and college radio stations mistook it for a tribute to the recent death of John Lennon
.
Followed by "The Odd Man Out" (1980), which highlighted Ball's musical ability to mimic contemporary pop music at will, especially ska
and electro pop, the Teenage Filmstars and TV Personalities played their first live shows with Ball playing in both groups. During this period of exposing newly-written compositions to live audiences (sometimes even making them up on the spot) Treacy and Ball nominated personal figureheads that almost personified their own destinies - Teenage Filmstars "I Helped Patrick McGoohan
Escape" (1980) and the TV Personalities "I Know Where Syd Barrett
Lives" (1981).
As the Teenage Filmstars began recording their debut album in November 1980, Ball once again changed the band's name, this time to The Times. These sessions eventually appeared as "Go! With The Times" (1985). Had the Teenage Filmstars ended here they would perhaps be recalled for two singles of some interest in the formative UK DIY 7" singles foodchain.
Following their debut to its next level, "Rocket Charms" (1993) is a tighter concept, though perhaps suffering from this as a result. The band sound, everything recorded backwards with little regard to recognised stereo placement and instrumentation levels is present and correct, but the danger element quota is lower.
So for the third issue by the new Teenage Filmstars to be considered by some to be the last great record released by Creation is more than a little surprising. On "Ssenkcis Rou Troppus Drocer Ruo Yub" aka "Buy Our Record Support Our Sickness" (1997), the Teenage Filmstars fulfill the ambitious psychedelic album concept, and haul in an avant-garde sixties / seventies progressive rock hybrid that resembles the morphing creatures in Alien movies.
(There's a) Cloud over Liverpool / Sometimes Good Guys Don't Follow Trends
7" Clockwork Records (COR 002) Sep 1979
The Odd Man Out
The Odd Man Out / I Apologise
7" Wessex Records (WEX 275) Mar 1980
7" Blueprint Records (BLU 2013) June 1980
I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape
I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape / We're Not Sorry
7" Fab Listening Records (FL 1) Nov 1980
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, post punk, independent, psychedelic
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
1980s-90s band, formed in 1979 by Edward Ball
Ed Ball (musician)
Edward "Ed" Ball is a songwriter, singer, guitarist and keyboard player from London, who has recorded both solo and as a member of the Television Personalities, 'O' Level, Teenage Filmstars, The Times, and Conspiracy of Noise. He also served as an executive at Creation Records...
, Daniel Treacy and Joseph Foster
Joseph Foster
Joseph Foster is a Democratic member of the New Hampshire Senate, representing the 13th District since 2002. Previously he was a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1994 through 1998.-External links:* official NH Senate website...
. The band segued into The Times
The Times (band)
The Times are a British, 1980s-90s, independent band, the brainchild of Ed Ball, co-founder member of the Television Personalities, Teenage Filmstars and 'O' Level.-Whaam! Records 1981-1982:...
in 1980, re-appearing on Creation Records
Creation Records
Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were...
in 1992.
Teenage Filmstars 1979-1980
Having recorded and released the last 'O' Level'O' Level
O' Level were a British, late 1970s, post punk, indie band, founded in 1976 by Ed Ball with friends John and Gerard Bennett. The group's name refers to the 'O'-Level of the British General Certificate of Education.-History:...
single "We Love Malcolm" (1978) by himself, Edward Ball
Ed Ball (musician)
Edward "Ed" Ball is a songwriter, singer, guitarist and keyboard player from London, who has recorded both solo and as a member of the Television Personalities, 'O' Level, Teenage Filmstars, The Times, and Conspiracy of Noise. He also served as an executive at Creation Records...
dropped the name in favour of the Teenage Filmstars, spring 1979. Opting to record as a band again, He invited old school friends Daniel Treacy and Joseph Foster
Joseph Foster
Joseph Foster is a Democratic member of the New Hampshire Senate, representing the 13th District since 2002. Previously he was a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1994 through 1998.-External links:* official NH Senate website...
to guest on the first single, "(There's a) Cloud Over Liverpool" (1979). Championed by Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
DJ John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
(perhaps for the song's sideways nod to Liverpool FC, of whom Peel was a fan), the record received a further lease of life more than a year later when American record shops and college radio stations mistook it for a tribute to the recent death of John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
.
Followed by "The Odd Man Out" (1980), which highlighted Ball's musical ability to mimic contemporary pop music at will, especially ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
and electro pop, the Teenage Filmstars and TV Personalities played their first live shows with Ball playing in both groups. During this period of exposing newly-written compositions to live audiences (sometimes even making them up on the spot) Treacy and Ball nominated personal figureheads that almost personified their own destinies - Teenage Filmstars "I Helped Patrick McGoohan
Patrick McGoohan
Patrick Joseph McGoohan was an American-born actor, raised in Ireland and England, with an extensive stage and film career, most notably in the 1960s television series Danger Man , and The Prisoner, which he co-created...
Escape" (1980) and the TV Personalities "I Know Where Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett , born Roger Keith Barrett, was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter, best remembered as a founding member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic...
Lives" (1981).
As the Teenage Filmstars began recording their debut album in November 1980, Ball once again changed the band's name, this time to The Times. These sessions eventually appeared as "Go! With The Times" (1985). Had the Teenage Filmstars ended here they would perhaps be recalled for two singles of some interest in the formative UK DIY 7" singles foodchain.
Teenage Filmstars 1992-1999
The Teenage Filmstars reappeared twelve years later with the album 'Lift Off Mit Der Teenage Filmstars' (AKA 'Star' 1992) on Creation Records. Partly bearing witness to My Bloody Valentine's release 'Loveless' from the previous year, the forthcoming progressive 90's psychedelia and Ball's own troubled vision of popular music, it prompted Kevin Shields to remark of Ball in 1995, "A sensitive soul from another planet. A modernist musical alchemist - where other people struggle Ed plays what we're thinking."Following their debut to its next level, "Rocket Charms" (1993) is a tighter concept, though perhaps suffering from this as a result. The band sound, everything recorded backwards with little regard to recognised stereo placement and instrumentation levels is present and correct, but the danger element quota is lower.
So for the third issue by the new Teenage Filmstars to be considered by some to be the last great record released by Creation is more than a little surprising. On "Ssenkcis Rou Troppus Drocer Ruo Yub" aka "Buy Our Record Support Our Sickness" (1997), the Teenage Filmstars fulfill the ambitious psychedelic album concept, and haul in an avant-garde sixties / seventies progressive rock hybrid that resembles the morphing creatures in Alien movies.
Studio albums
- "Lift Off Mit Der Teenage Filmstars aka Star" (LP & CD Creation Records (CRELP 111) 1992)
- "Rocket Charms" (LP & CD Creation Records (CRELP 141) 1993)
- "Buy Our Record, Support Our Sickness" (LP Creation Records (CRELP 177) 1997)
- "Bring Back The Cartel" (LP Creation Records (CRELP 207) 1999) (a reference to The CartelThe Cartel (record distributor)The Cartel, usually known as the Cartel without capitalisation but with the definite article, was a co-operative record distribution organisation in the United Kingdom, set up by a number of small independent record labels to handle their distribution to record shops...
)
Compilations
- 3. 1977 - 1980 A Day in the Life of Gilbert and George - CD Rev-Ola (CREV 005CD) 1992
- 3. Here's To Old England! - October 2005
Singles & EPs
(There's A) Cloud Over Liverpool(There's a) Cloud over Liverpool / Sometimes Good Guys Don't Follow Trends
7" Clockwork Records (COR 002) Sep 1979
The Odd Man Out
The Odd Man Out / I Apologise
7" Wessex Records (WEX 275) Mar 1980
7" Blueprint Records (BLU 2013) June 1980
I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape
I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape / We're Not Sorry
7" Fab Listening Records (FL 1) Nov 1980