These UK goth rock innovators hailed from Barnsley in South Yorkshire and self-released their debut single Clock (1980) and the EP There Is No Shame In Death (1981).
A 1982 mini-album (Seduction) gained strong support from the media. Following one further independent single (Somewhere), the band signed with Arista and released the dramatic Wake Up (1983).
Their major label debut album, Heaven Is Waiting (1983), received favourable airplay from BBC disc jockeys John Peel and Janice Long, but the group’s relationship with Arista turned sour when the label failed to back an American tour. Further recordings were stalled by litigation until a compromise was reached in March 1985.
When The Danse Society returned with Say It Again (produced by Stock, Aitken and Waterman), it was to a bemused audience who had not anticipated such a sudden shift in musical style. The more commercial nature of their subsequent work failed to impress, and Arista rejected their proposed second album, Heaven Again.
When the band split in April 1986, vocalist Steve Rawlings attempted to persevere with the funk-oriented Society, while the rest of the band continued briefly as Johnny In The Clouds.
The Danse Society reformed in 2011 with new (female) vocalist Maethelyiah, releasing the studio album, Change of Skin. Scarey Tales was released in February 2013. The new band continue to record and perform live.
Steve Rawlings
Vocals Paul Nash
Guitar Lyndon Scarfe
Keyboards Tim Wright
Bass Paul Gilmartin
Drums David Whitaker
Keyboards
Video
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