Dalek I Love You (band)
Encyclopedia
Dalek I Love You were a synthpop
group from Liverpool
. At various points in their existence the band was also known as Dalek I. Record executives at Phonogram
shortened the band's name without telling them for the "Freedom Fighters" single.
, Keith Hartley and David Balfe
, three residents in Thingwall
on the Wirral Peninsula
, were in a band called Mr. McKenzie. In November 1976, as punk was emerging and influencing them, the group changed their name to Radio Blank
, composed of Alan Gill on guitar and vocals, Keith Hartley on lead vocals and guitar, David Balfe on bass and Keyboards, and Stephen Brick on drums.
They played their own material and also some covers, such as "You Really Got Me" and "Peaches". 5 of the 15 times they played live, were at the Eric's Club
, in Liverpool. But Gill and Balfe, who through 1977 were becoming uninterested with punk, dissolved the band in October 1977 to form a more experimental project.
, formed Dalek I Love You, which came about as a result of a compromise between two of the members: Balfe wanted to call the band Dalek
(after the Doctor Who
villains) and Gill wanted to call the band Darling, I Love You. Other founding members were Dave Hughes (keyboards) and Chris Teepee (rhythm unit and tapes).
In mid to late 1978, Balfe left the group to manage other bands, and to eventually join Big in Japan
and later The Teardrop Explodes
. In August, the band were joined by The Worm, stage name of Gordon Hon, (on poems), Max The Actor (on poems), Martin Cooper
(on sax), Andy McCluskey
(on lead vocals and bass), who was previously in The Id
, and Ken Peers; however, big part of that line-up lasted a brief time. In September, McCluskey quit to rejoin his former Id bandmate, Paul Humphreys
, to form Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
, and in October only Gill and Hughes remained in the band. As duo, they signed to Inevitable Records and recorded there, although somewhat interested in attracting Phonogram
, a demo called "Freedom Fighters". That interest was successful, so the latter label signed them.
However, in Phonogram there were some problems. The label shortened the name of the band as Dalek I, for the releases, and wanted to change the chords on "Freedom Fighters". On 16 July 1979, Dalek I released their first single, "Freedom Fighters", which contained the eponymous song and "Two Chameleons" (as b-side). It was followed by "The World" (2 October 1979) and "Dalek I Love You (Destiny)" (1 May 1980), released on the Back Door subsidiary, founded by The Blitz Brothers
, New Wave duo composed of Chris Hughes
and Paul Collister
, then OMD's manager, who produced the singles under that name.
On 24 May 1980, Compass Kumpas
, Dalek I's debut album was released on the Phonogram label, being critically acclaimed, but commercially unsuccessful. By the time of that release, Alan Gill was the only remaining member, maintaining the Dalek I Love You name. Soon, the project went on hiatus and Gill joined The Teardrop Explodes in July 1980, replacing Mick Finkler. Gill contributed two important things to the band; their most successful single, "Reward" which he co-wrote and LSD
which he introduced to Cope. His stay with the band was short-lived however.
By 1983, the band consisted of Alan Gill, Keith Hartley, Gordon Hon (who had previously performed with the original band as a poet called 'The Worm') and Kenny Peers. They released an eponymously titled album
in November 1983. Gordon Hon left for London to study fine art.
Gill continued making and recording music with local artists, starting his own cassette only label, Bop-a-dub. In 1985, the band released the cassette only Naive, which is available as a free download here and effectively called it a day shortly afterwards, although Gill did release a single under the Dalek moniker in 1990.
, a radio drama
which premiered on the British
digital radio
station BBC 7
on 11 February 2006. The story centred on a man obsessed with Doctor Who who falls in love at a science fiction convention
.
The band also inspired the title of Dalek I Loved You, an autobiography by the journalist Nick Griffiths about his life as a Doctor Who fan, published in 2007.
The first album was reissued on CD in 1989 on Fontana (U.K.) with 4 bonus tracks.
The second album was reissued on CD in 2007 on Korova (U.K.) in a remastered and expanded edition.
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
group from 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...
. At various points in their existence the band was also known as Dalek I. Record executives at Phonogram
Phonogram Records
Phonogram Records was started in 1962 as a joint venture between Philips Records and Deutsche Grammophon. In 1972, Phonogram was merged with Polydor Records into PolyGram....
shortened the band's name without telling them for the "Freedom Fighters" single.
Roots: Mr. McKenzie and Radio Blank
By the mid 1970s, Alan GillAlan 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:...
, Keith Hartley and 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:...
, three residents 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...
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...
, were in a band called Mr. McKenzie. In November 1976, as punk was emerging and influencing them, the group changed their name to Radio Blank
Radio Blank
Radio Blank was a short-lived R&B and punk band formed on the Wirral Peninsula, in November 1976, by Alan Gill , Keith Hartley , David Balfe and Steven Brick ....
, composed of Alan Gill on guitar and vocals, Keith Hartley on lead vocals and guitar, David Balfe on bass and Keyboards, and Stephen Brick on drums.
They played their own material and also some covers, such as "You Really Got Me" and "Peaches". 5 of the 15 times they played live, were 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. But Gill and Balfe, who through 1977 were becoming uninterested with punk, dissolved the band in October 1977 to form a more experimental project.
First years (1977–1980)
In December 1977, Gill and Balfe, influenced by KraftwerkKraftwerk
Kraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
, formed Dalek I Love You, which came about as a result of a compromise between two of the members: Balfe wanted to call the band Dalek
Dalek
The Daleks are a fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Within the series, Daleks are cyborgs from the planet Skaro, created by the scientist Davros during the final years of a thousand-year war against the Thals...
(after the Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
villains) and Gill wanted to call the band Darling, I Love You. Other founding members were Dave Hughes (keyboards) and Chris Teepee (rhythm unit and tapes).
In mid to late 1978, Balfe left the group to manage other bands, and to eventually 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 later 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...
. In August, the band were joined by The Worm, stage name of Gordon Hon, (on poems), Max The Actor (on poems), Martin Cooper
Martin Cooper (artist)
Martin Cooper is a painter and a musician.-Musical career:From 1980 until 1989 Cooper was a member of the rock group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. Prior to joining OMD, Cooper played the saxophone at some of their concerts, or they used his pre-recorded work. He also played with Dalek I Love...
(on sax), Andy McCluskey
Andy McCluskey
George Andrew "Andy" McCluskey is the lead singer, bass guitarist, and primary songwriter for the band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark ....
(on lead vocals and bass), who was previously in The Id
The Id
-External links:*...
, and Ken Peers; however, big part of that line-up lasted a brief time. In September, McCluskey quit to rejoin his former Id bandmate, Paul Humphreys
Paul Humphreys
Paul Humphreys is a British musician.-Life and career:He is best known as a member of synth pop group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark , which he founded with Andy McCluskey in 1978.He grew up on the Wirral Peninsula in North West England, during which time he developed his interest in German...
, to form Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark are a synthpop group whose founding members are originally from the Wirral Peninsula, England...
, and in October only Gill and Hughes remained in the band. As duo, they signed to Inevitable Records and recorded there, although somewhat interested in attracting Phonogram
Phonogram
Phonogram may refer to:* Phonogram , a comic book by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie* Phonogram , a grapheme which represents a phoneme or a combination of phonemes...
, a demo called "Freedom Fighters". That interest was successful, so the latter label signed them.
However, in Phonogram there were some problems. The label shortened the name of the band as Dalek I, for the releases, and wanted to change the chords on "Freedom Fighters". On 16 July 1979, Dalek I released their first single, "Freedom Fighters", which contained the eponymous song and "Two Chameleons" (as b-side). It was followed by "The World" (2 October 1979) and "Dalek I Love You (Destiny)" (1 May 1980), released on the Back Door subsidiary, founded by The Blitz Brothers
The Blitz Brothers
The Blitz Brothers were a New Wave band based in Merseyside, England, comprising Chris Hughes , Dave Bates , Steve Lovell and Hugh Jones ....
, New Wave duo composed of Chris Hughes
Chris Hughes (record producer)
Chris Hughes is a music producer and a former drummer for Adam and the Ants....
and Paul Collister
Paul Collister
Paul Collister is an English musicians manager. He was known during the late 70s and early 80s for his work with Liverpool bands such as Dalek I Love You and OMD....
, then OMD's manager, who produced the singles under that name.
On 24 May 1980, Compass Kumpas
Compass Kumpas (album)
Compass Kumpas was the first album from Dalek I Love You, shortened to Dalek I for this album and accompanying singles. It was released on May 24, 1980 by Back Door/Phonogram records....
, Dalek I's debut album was released on the Phonogram label, being critically acclaimed, but commercially unsuccessful. By the time of that release, Alan Gill was the only remaining member, maintaining the Dalek I Love You name. Soon, the project went on hiatus and Gill joined The Teardrop Explodes in July 1980, replacing Mick Finkler. Gill contributed two important things to the band; their most successful single, "Reward" which he co-wrote and LSD
LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated LSD or LSD-25, also known as lysergide and colloquially as acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug of the ergoline family, well known for its psychological effects which can include altered thinking processes, closed and open eye visuals, synaesthesia, an...
which he introduced to Cope. His stay with the band was short-lived however.
Reforming
By 1981, Alan reformed Dalek I Love You, although being the only member, with Hugh Jones on vocal harmonies, Chris Hughes on drums and Chuka Russo on vocal harmonies collaborating for the recording of a single, "Heartbeat", released on 28 February 1981.By 1983, the band consisted of Alan Gill, Keith Hartley, Gordon Hon (who had previously performed with the original band as a poet called 'The Worm') and Kenny Peers. They released an eponymously titled album
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...
in November 1983. Gordon Hon left for London to study fine art.
Gill continued making and recording music with local artists, starting his own cassette only label, Bop-a-dub. In 1985, the band released the cassette only Naive, which is available as a free download here and effectively called it a day shortly afterwards, although Gill did release a single under the Dalek moniker in 1990.
In popular culture
The band inspired the title of Dalek I Love YouDalek I Love You (radio)
Dalek I Love You was a radio drama broadcast on the British digital radio station BBC 7. The half-hour-long play premiered on 11 February 2006...
, a radio drama
Radio drama
Radio drama is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance, broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine the characters and story...
which premiered on the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
digital radio
Digital radio
Digital radio has several meanings:1. Today the most common meaning is digital radio broadcasting technologies, such as the digital audio broadcasting system, also known as Eureka 147. In these systems, the analog audio signal is digitized into zeros and ones, compressed using formats such as...
station BBC 7
BBC 7
BBC Radio 4 Extra, formerly known as BBC 7 and BBC Radio 7, is a British digital radio station broadcasting comedy, drama, and children's programming nationally 24 hours a day. It is the principal broadcasting outlet for the BBC's archive of spoken-word entertainment...
on 11 February 2006. The story centred on a man obsessed with Doctor Who who falls in love at a science fiction convention
Science fiction convention
Science fiction conventions are gatherings of fans of various forms of speculative fiction including science fiction and fantasy. Historically, science fiction conventions had focused primarily on literature, but the purview of many extends to such other avenues of expression as movies and...
.
The band also inspired the title of Dalek I Loved You, an autobiography by the journalist Nick Griffiths about his life as a Doctor Who fan, published in 2007.
Albums
- Compass KumpasCompass Kumpas (album)Compass Kumpas was the first album from Dalek I Love You, shortened to Dalek I for this album and accompanying singles. It was released on May 24, 1980 by Back Door/Phonogram records....
[aka Compass kum'pəs] (Back Door/Phonogram, 1980) UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#54 - Dalek I Love YouDalek 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...
(Korova, 1983) - Naive (cassette only) (Bop-a-dub, 1985)
The first album was reissued on CD in 1989 on Fontana (U.K.) with 4 bonus tracks.
The second album was reissued on CD in 2007 on Korova (U.K.) in a remastered and expanded edition.
Singles
- "Freedom Fighters"
- 7": Vertigo/Phonogram DALEK 1
- "The World"
- 7": Vertigo/Phonogram DALEK 2
- "Dalek I Love You (Destiny)"
- 7": Back Door/Phonogram DOOR 005
- "Heartbeat"
- 7": Back Door/Phonogram DOOR 10
- 12": Back Door/Phonogram DOOR 10-12
- "Holiday in Disneyland"
- 7": Korova/WEA KOW 25
- 12": Korova/WEA KOW 25T
- "Ambition"
- 7": Korova/WEA KOW 29
- 12": Korova/WEA KOW 29T
- "Horrorscope"
- 7": Korova/WEA KOW 31
- 12": Korova/WEA KOW 31T
Various artists compilations
- Small Hits and Near Misses (featuring the demo version of "Freedom Fighters" made on Inevitable Records) (Inevitable/RCA 1984)
- Liverpool: All This and Heaven Too (featuring "Everything I Do") (1990)