Play Dead (band)
Encyclopedia
Play Dead were an English
Goth rock
group from Oxford
that grew out of the fading English punk
scene in 1980. Though the band was identified with groups like UK Decay
and Sex Gang Children
, the band felt they didn't belong under the "Gothic
" title. The band made three studio album
s for four different small label
s—Fresh Records
, Jungle Records
, Situation 2, and Clay Records
—before forming their own label, Tanz, for their final album, Company Of Justice, which appeared in 1985.
The original lineup of Play Dead was Rob Hickson (vocals), Pete Waddleton (bass
), Mark "Wiff" Smith (drums
), and Re-Vox (guitar
). In July 1981, Re Vox was replaced by Steven Green. In 1984, Rob and Pete created the project "Mankind's Audio Development
" nicknamed M.A.D. Only one single
was recorded with the two songs "Craving" and "Sunfeast." Waddleton left the group in 1986 and after a brief period as "The Beastmaster Generals" the band dissolved.
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...
Goth rock
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
group from Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
that grew out of the fading English punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
scene in 1980. Though the band was identified with groups like UK Decay
UK Decay
UK Decay are Luton-based post punk band, formed out of the ashes of another local band called The Resistors, who were Steven Abbot guitar, Steve Harle on drums, Paul Wilson vocals, and Martin Smith bass....
and Sex Gang Children
Sex Gang Children
The Sex Gang Children are a positive punk group that formed in the early 1980s in England. Although the original group only released one official studio album, they remain one of the more well-known bands out of the early Batcave scene and have reformed for new albums and touring various times...
, the band felt they didn't belong under the "Gothic
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
" title. The band made three studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
s for four different small label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
s—Fresh Records
Fresh Records (UK)
Fresh Records was an independent record label, and distributor based in the United Kingdom. Most popular in the latter 1970s, the label once supported punk groups like UK Decay, Play Dead, Family Fodder, Cuddly Toys, The Dark, Wilko Johnson and Big Hair competed with labels such as 4AD.The label...
, Jungle Records
Jungle Records
Jungle Records is a British-based record label formed in 1982, specializing in classic punk rock, post punk, gothic and alternative releases.They recorded albums by Johnny Thunders such as 'Copy Cats' and 'Que Sera Sera' and are licensors of the classic Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers tape...
, Situation 2, and Clay Records
Clay Records
Clay Records was an independent record label founded by Mike Stone in 1980 out of a record shop in the English city of Stoke-on-Trent.-History:...
—before forming their own label, Tanz, for their final album, Company Of Justice, which appeared in 1985.
The original lineup of Play Dead was Rob Hickson (vocals), Pete Waddleton (bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), Mark "Wiff" Smith (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
), and Re-Vox (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
). In July 1981, Re Vox was replaced by Steven Green. In 1984, Rob and Pete created the project "Mankind's Audio Development
Mankind's Audio Development
In 1984, a project called Mankind's Audio Development was developed by Rob Hickson and Pete Waddleton of eighties Gothic rock group Play Dead and signed on to Criminal Damage Records. Mankind's Audio Development was also known as "M.A.D." for short and featured the backing vocals of Michelle...
" nicknamed M.A.D. Only one single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
was recorded with the two songs "Craving" and "Sunfeast." Waddleton left the group in 1986 and after a brief period as "The Beastmaster Generals" the band dissolved.
Discography
- 1981 - Poison Takes a Hold/Introduction
- 1981 - T.V. Eye/Final Epitaph
- 1982 - Metallic Smile/Pray to Mecca/Propaganda/ Effigy (Peel Session)
- 1983 - The First FlowerThe First FlowerThe First Floweris Play Dead's debut album, recorded at the Jungle Records studio in March 1983. Originally titled "The First Flower: A Six Track Album," this album came totally unexpected as the group had disappeared since their last record company Fresh Records had gone under. The album was...
- 1983 - shine / Gaze
- 1983 - Total Decline/The Tenant/Gaze (Peel Session)
- 1983 - Peel Sessions
- 1983 - The Whip Compilation
- 1984 - Break/Return to the East/No Motive (Peel Session)
- 1984 - From the Promised LandFrom the Promised LandFrom The Promised Land is a 1984 album by Play Dead, and the original version of the band's Resurrection . Only 1000 copies of this LP were pressed because the band members decided they were dissatisfied with the album....
- 1985 - Company of JusticeCompany of JusticeCompany of Justice was Play Dead's final studio album. After a series of signing with multiple flopping independent record labels, Play Dead created their own record label called Tanz in early 1985 just after the end of the From the Promised Land tour....
- 1985 - Into the Fire LiveInto the Fire LiveInto The Fire Live is a live album by the band Play Dead, recorded February 23, 1985 in Oxford, England. It was released as an LP and on VHS by Clay Records. It is not a bootleg...
- 1985 - The Final Epitaph LiveThe Final Epitaph LiveThe Final Epitaph Live is the recording of Play Dead's final performance in Stevenage, England on December 22, 1985. The album was released only on LP by Jungle Records...
- 1985 - The Singles 1982 ~ 85The Singles 1982 ~ 85The Singles 1982 ~ 85, released in 1985, is an 8 track collection of Play Dead's singles featured on the albums From the Promised Land, The First Flower, and eventually Resurrection...
- 1986 - In the Beginning - The 1981 SinglesIn the Beginning - The 1981 SinglesIn the Beginning – The 1981 Singles is an EP by Play Dead. Just after Play Dead broke up in January 1986, Jung Records released this 4 track collection of their pre-The First Flower tracks. The four songs were originally released by the Fresh Records in 1981. The four songs were released on to the...
- 1986 - Caught from Behind: Live in England, France, Germany, and SwitzerlandCaught from Behind: Live in England, France, Germany, and SwitzerlandCaught From Behind: Live In England, France, Germany, And Switzerland is a collection of various live concerts by Play Dead recorded from October 1984 to September 1985. The song "Last Degree" is misspelled as "Last Dance" on the track list. This album is not available on CD."Break" and "Last...
- 1992 - ResurrectionResurrection (Play Dead album)Originally released in 1984, Play Dead's "Resurrection" is probably the group's most eclectic album. It ranges from synth-based tracks like "Conspiracy" to non-synth like "Pale Fire" and "Sacrosanct."...
- 1992 - Gothic Rock Volume 1
- 1995 - Gothic Rock Volume 2: 80's Into 90'sGothic Rock Volume 2: 80's Into 90'sGothic Rock Volume 2: 80's Into 90's is the second of a trio of double-disc Gothic Rock compilations produced by Cleopatra Records. Jungle Records has also released the album . The album also features an article on the development of the Gothic Rock movement by Mick Mercer...
- 2003 - The Final Pieces (Bootleg)
Bootlegs
- 1983 - May 12, 1983 Leeds Warehouse
- 1983 - Live in Norwich, Ska Ballroom - May 13, 1983
- 1983 - Live - July 28, 1983 Hull, Dingwalls / Live October 13, 1983 Hammersmith, Klub Foot
- 1984 - Live in France at Forum Des Halles - July 1, 1984
- 1984 - Oct 7th, Kolingsborg, Stockholm, Sweden
- 1984 - Live in Norrkoping Sweden - October 10, 1984
- 1985 - Dec 18th 1985, Tufnel Park, Penthouse, London(previously listed as 1984 )
- 2003 - The Final Pieces (Bootleg)