The Invisible Girls
Encyclopedia
The Invisible Girls were a British
rock
band
, formed in Salford, Greater Manchester
in 1978, to provide a musical backdrop to the recorded output of Salford punk poet John Cooper Clarke
. The band was based around the nucleus of Joy Division
producer Martin Hannett
and keyboardist Steve Hopkins
, with contributions from, amongst others, Pete Shelley
of Buzzcocks
and Bill Nelson
of Be-Bop Deluxe. The band also played on the first solo album by Pauline Murray
(lead singer of Penetration
), the eponymous Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls
and some singles, and later with Nico
for the single "Procession".
producer Martin Hannett on bass guitar, Steve Hopkins on keyboards, 10cc
drummer Paul Burgess and guitarist Lyn Oakey. This line-up played on Cooper Clarke's debut album Où est la maison de fromage?
, before they named themselves The Invisible Girls. Disguise in Love
(billed as being by "John Cooper Carke with The Invisible Girls") was produced by Hannett and released in 1978, and featured collaborations with Be-Bop Deluxe's Bill Nelson
and Buzzcock
Pete Shelley
. Another guitarist who collaborated was John Scott, but he was considered a member in an interview to him and C.P. Lee about Martin Hannett. A second album, Snap, Crackle & Bop
, followed in 1980.
, who in the same year dissolved her punk band Penetration
. Burgess had left The Invisible Girls by this point in order to dedicate more time to 10cc. During Murray's period with the band, Hannett worked as producer, being replaces on bass by Robert Blamire
, also a former member of Penetration.
The band's first single, "Dream Sequences", was released in August 1980, featuring Murray, Hannett, Hopkins, Blamire, and Alan Rawlings
from Cowboys International
as guest guitarist. Shortly afterwards, the line-up was extended to The Durutti Column
's Vini Reilly
and Dave Rowbotham
(then with The Mothmen
) on guitar, Dave Hassell on percussion plus John Maher from Buzzcocks on drums. They released an eponymous album
in September, followed by a second single, "Mr X", in November 1980.
In order to perform live, the band recruited guitarist Wayne Hussey
(ex-Walkie Talkies), who had answered an advertisement in the Melody Maker
magazine. The band (comprising Murray, Blamire, Hopkins, Hannett, Maher and Hussey) recorded a final single, "Searching For Heaven
", which they released in 1981: the A-side
featured (but did not credit) Bernard Sumner
as guest guitarist.
After this, Hannett and Hopkins continued as the only remaining members, with Paul Burgess re-joining; Murray and Blamire went on to form The Storm; Hussey joined Dead or Alive
; Maher (who dissolved Buzzcocks in early 1981) continued with his new band, Flag of Convenience
; Reilly continued with The Durutti Column; Rowbotham continued with The Mothmen for a short time but was killed in 1991.
, was released the same year. At the time, former Velvet Underground
singer Nico
was living in Manchester, and she worked with the band. They released only one single, "Procession", produced by Hannett. The title track featured Philip "Toby" Tolman
(formerly of The Nosebleeds
and Ludus
) on drums. The B-side
, a cover
of "All Tomorrow's Parties
", featured Burgess on drums. Shortly afterwards, Nico and Toby went to work with Blue Orchids.
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...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, formed in Salford, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
in 1978, to provide a musical backdrop to the recorded output of Salford punk poet John Cooper Clarke
John Cooper Clarke
John Cooper Clarke is an English performance poet who first became famous during the punk rock era of the late 1970s when he became known as a "punk poet"...
. The band was based around the nucleus of Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
producer Martin Hannett
Martin Hannett
Martin Hannett , sometimes credited as Martin Zero, was a record producer and an original partner in Factory Records with Tony Wilson...
and keyboardist Steve Hopkins
Stephen Hopkins (musician and physicist)
Stephen Hopkins is a former musician who worked, as Steve Hopkins, as musician with different Manchester punk and new wave artists as John Cooper Clarke, Pauline Murray, Morrisey, Ed Garrity, among others...
, with contributions from, amongst others, Pete Shelley
Pete Shelley
Pete Shelley is an English singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as the leader of Buzzcocks.-Biography:...
of Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
and Bill Nelson
Bill Nelson (musician)
Bill Nelson is an English guitarist, songwriter, producer, painter and experimental musician...
of Be-Bop Deluxe. The band also played on the first solo album by Pauline Murray
Pauline Murray
Pauline Murray was the lead singer of the punk rock band, Penetration, which was originally formed in 1976.In May 1976 the then 18-year-old Murray saw the Sex Pistols...
(lead singer of Penetration
Penetration (band)
Penetration is a punk rock band from County Durham, England formed in 1976. They re-formed in 2001 with several new members.Their debut single, "Don’t Dictate", is now acknowledged as a classic punk rock single and their debut album, Moving Targets , is still widely admired-Biography:The lead...
), the eponymous Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls
Pauline Murray and The Invisible Girls (album)
Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls is the only album made by Penetration singer Pauline Murray and The Invisible Girls, John Cooper Clarke's backing band...
and some singles, and later with Nico
Nico
Nico was a German singer, lyricist, composer, musician, fashion model, and actress, who initially rose to fame as a Warhol Superstar in the 1960s...
for the single "Procession".
History
The band was formed to provide backing music for punk poet John Cooper Clarke. It initially featured Factory RecordsFactory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
producer Martin Hannett on bass guitar, Steve Hopkins on keyboards, 10cc
10cc
10cc are an English art rock band who achieved their greatest commercial success in the 1970s. The band initially consisted of four musicians -- Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley, and Lol Creme -- who had written and recorded together for some three years, before assuming the "10cc" name...
drummer Paul Burgess and guitarist Lyn Oakey. This line-up played on Cooper Clarke's debut album Où est la maison de fromage?
Où est la maison de fromage?
Où est la maison de fromage is the debut album by John Cooper Clarke, originally released in 1978. It comprises a mix of live performances, demos and rehearsals. The name means "where is the house of cheese?" in French.-Track listing:#"The Serial, Pt...
, before they named themselves The Invisible Girls. Disguise in Love
Disguise in Love
Disguise in Love is the second studio album by John Cooper Clarke, first released in 1978. Most of the tracks are spoken over musical accompaniment provided by Clarke's band The Invisible Girls, except "Psycle Sluts 1&2" and "Salome Maloney" — both live recordings from the Ritz Ballroom in...
(billed as being by "John Cooper Carke with The Invisible Girls") was produced by Hannett and released in 1978, and featured collaborations with Be-Bop Deluxe's Bill Nelson
Bill Nelson (musician)
Bill Nelson is an English guitarist, songwriter, producer, painter and experimental musician...
and Buzzcock
Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
Pete Shelley
Pete Shelley
Pete Shelley is an English singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as the leader of Buzzcocks.-Biography:...
. Another guitarist who collaborated was John Scott, but he was considered a member in an interview to him and C.P. Lee about Martin Hannett. A second album, Snap, Crackle & Bop
Snap, Crackle & Bop
Snap, Crackle & Bop is the fourth album by John Cooper Clarke, originally released in 1980. As with Disguise in Love, the album was backed by The Invisible Girls and produced by Martin Hannett....
, followed in 1980.
Pauline Murray
In 1980, the band began to work with Pauline MurrayPauline Murray
Pauline Murray was the lead singer of the punk rock band, Penetration, which was originally formed in 1976.In May 1976 the then 18-year-old Murray saw the Sex Pistols...
, who in the same year dissolved her punk band Penetration
Penetration (band)
Penetration is a punk rock band from County Durham, England formed in 1976. They re-formed in 2001 with several new members.Their debut single, "Don’t Dictate", is now acknowledged as a classic punk rock single and their debut album, Moving Targets , is still widely admired-Biography:The lead...
. Burgess had left The Invisible Girls by this point in order to dedicate more time to 10cc. During Murray's period with the band, Hannett worked as producer, being replaces on bass by Robert Blamire
Robert Blamire
Robert Blamire is known for being bassist of punk and new wave band Penetration.He formed along singer Pauline Murray, the punk band Penetration, in 1976, after seeing The Sex Pistols live. After the band split up, Murray and him went to form a project along John Cooper Clarke's backing band The...
, also a former member of Penetration.
The band's first single, "Dream Sequences", was released in August 1980, featuring Murray, Hannett, Hopkins, Blamire, and Alan Rawlings
Alan Rawlings
Alan Rawlings is a guitarist who played during the British New Wave era by the late 1970s and early 1980s.By 1980, he joined Cowboys International, as Allan Rawlings, replacing Rick Jacks. He played some material which appeared in the Revisited compilation, in 2003...
from Cowboys International
Cowboys International
Cowboys International were a New Wave and synthpop band formed by vocalist and songwriter Ken Lockie that put out one album in 1979, the influential The Original Sin, and a handful of 45s before dissolving in 1980...
as guest guitarist. Shortly afterwards, the line-up was extended to The Durutti Column
The Durutti Column
The Durutti Column are an English post-punk band formed in 1978 in Manchester, England. The band is an ongoing project of guitarist Vini Reilly who is often accompanied by drummer Bruce Mitchell. Other current members are Keir Stewart and Reilly's girlfriend Poppy Morgan...
's Vini Reilly
Vini Reilly
Vincent "Vini" Gerard Reilly is an English musician and leader of the post-punk group The Durutti Column.-Biography:...
and Dave Rowbotham
Dave Rowbotham
Dave Rowbotham was a rock musician who played guitar and bass with different Manchester bands in the 1970s and the 1980s, and as studio musician.-Biography:...
(then with The Mothmen
The Mothmen
The Mothmen were a short-lived post-punk band from England, formed around 1979 by Dave Rowbotham, Chris Joyce and Tony Bowers, shortly after they left The Durutti Column, including ex-Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias singer Bob Harding.-History:...
) on guitar, Dave Hassell on percussion plus John Maher from Buzzcocks on drums. They released an eponymous album
Pauline Murray and The Invisible Girls (album)
Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls is the only album made by Penetration singer Pauline Murray and The Invisible Girls, John Cooper Clarke's backing band...
in September, followed by a second single, "Mr X", in November 1980.
In order to perform live, the band recruited guitarist Wayne Hussey
Wayne Hussey
Wayne Hussey is a British musician, best known as lead singer of The Mission and guitarist with The Sisters of Mercy....
(ex-Walkie Talkies), who had answered an advertisement in the Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
magazine. The band (comprising Murray, Blamire, Hopkins, Hannett, Maher and Hussey) recorded a final single, "Searching For Heaven
Searching For Heaven
Searching For Heaven is the third and last single of Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls, released in April 1981 on Illusive Records, and produced by Martin Hannett...
", which they released in 1981: the A-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
featured (but did not credit) Bernard Sumner
Bernard Sumner
Bernard Sumner , also known as Bernard Dickin, Bernard Dicken and Bernard Albrecht is an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, keyboard player and producer....
as guest guitarist.
After this, Hannett and Hopkins continued as the only remaining members, with Paul Burgess re-joining; Murray and Blamire went on to form The Storm; Hussey joined Dead or Alive
Dead or Alive (band)
Dead or Alive were a British New Wave band from Wirral, England, United Kingdom, Europe. The band rose to fame in the 1980s with their number one single on the UK Singles Chart, "You Spin Me Round ". They were the first group to have a number one single under the production team Stock Aitken Waterman...
; Maher (who dissolved Buzzcocks in early 1981) continued with his new band, Flag of Convenience
Flag of Convenience (band)
Flag of Convenience were a rock group formed in 1982 by former Buzzcocks members Steve Diggle and John Maher, along with bassist Dave Farrow and keyboard player D.P. The band continued with a changing line-up until 1989, with later incarnations releasing records under the names F.O.C. and Buzzcocks...
; Reilly continued with The Durutti Column; Rowbotham continued with The Mothmen for a short time but was killed in 1991.
Later projects
In 1982, the band returned to work with John Cooper Clarke; his final album, Zip Style MethodZip Style Method
Zip Style Method is the sixth album by John Cooper Clarke, originally released in 1982.-Track listing:#"Midnight Shift"#"New Assassin"#"Face Behind the Scream"#"Travel in Biscuits"#"The Day the World Stood Still"#"Heart Disease Called Love"...
, was released the same year. At the time, former Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...
singer Nico
Nico
Nico was a German singer, lyricist, composer, musician, fashion model, and actress, who initially rose to fame as a Warhol Superstar in the 1960s...
was living in Manchester, and she worked with the band. They released only one single, "Procession", produced by Hannett. The title track featured Philip "Toby" Tolman
Toby Tomanov
Toby Toman , is a drummer who played with various British bands including The Nosebleeds, Ludus, The Durutti Column, Blue Orchids, and Primal Scream, working often with German singer Nico, known for her role with The Velvet Underground, while she was living in Manchester, England through the...
(formerly of The Nosebleeds
The Nosebleeds
The Nosebleeds was a short-lived punk band formed in Wythenshawe, Manchester, England in 1976. Though the band never recorded an album and released just one single, it is well known in modern rock history for the later successes of its individual members...
and Ludus
Ludus
Luduș is a town in central Romania in Mureș County, 44 km south-west from the county's capital Târgu Mureș.Six villages are administered by the town: Avrămeşti , Cioarga , Ciurgău , Fundătura , Gheja and Roșiori .-History:* 1330 - First mentioned as Plehanus de...
) on drums. The B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
, a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "All Tomorrow's Parties
All Tomorrow's Parties
"All Tomorrow's Parties" is a song by The Velvet UndergroundAll Tomorrow's Parties may also refer to:* All Tomorrow's Parties , an annual festival in England...
", featured Burgess on drums. Shortly afterwards, Nico and Toby went to work with Blue Orchids.
Albums
- Disguise in LoveDisguise in LoveDisguise in Love is the second studio album by John Cooper Clarke, first released in 1978. Most of the tracks are spoken over musical accompaniment provided by Clarke's band The Invisible Girls, except "Psycle Sluts 1&2" and "Salome Maloney" — both live recordings from the Ritz Ballroom in...
(1978) - Snap, Crackle & BopSnap, Crackle & BopSnap, Crackle & Bop is the fourth album by John Cooper Clarke, originally released in 1980. As with Disguise in Love, the album was backed by The Invisible Girls and produced by Martin Hannett....
(1980) - Pauline Murray And The Invisible GirlsPauline Murray and The Invisible Girls (album)Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls is the only album made by Penetration singer Pauline Murray and The Invisible Girls, John Cooper Clarke's backing band...
(September 1980) - Zip Style MethodZip Style MethodZip Style Method is the sixth album by John Cooper Clarke, originally released in 1982.-Track listing:#"Midnight Shift"#"New Assassin"#"Face Behind the Scream"#"Travel in Biscuits"#"The Day the World Stood Still"#"Heart Disease Called Love"...
(1982)
Singles
- "Dream Sequences" (Illusive, August 1980)
- "Mr X" (Illusive, November 1980)
- "Searching For HeavenSearching For HeavenSearching For Heaven is the third and last single of Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls, released in April 1981 on Illusive Records, and produced by Martin Hannett...
" (Illusive, April 1981) - "Procession" (as Nico & The Invisible Girls) (1/2, 1982)