Starting out as a trio called The Strutters, singer/songwriter Mark Kjeldsen along with rhythm section Bobby Irwin and Ron François re-branded themselves as The Sinceros, trading in New Wave and melodic power pop.
Epic Records took notice and signed the band in the late ’70s, but not before Irwin and François were tapped on the shoulder to play on Lene Lovich’s New Wave classic, Stateless, and support her on tour.
After this brief detour, The Sinceros released their debut, The Sound Of Sunbathing in 1979. A single, Take Me To Your Leader, did well in the UK and the band toured heavily there and in the States with a power pop dream line-up co-featuring 20/20 and Paul Collins’ Beat.
After picking up Don Snow as a keyboardist, the band began work on their second album in 1980, but the proposed LP was shelved by Epic. Reworking the existing tracks with Elton John’s super-producer Gus Dudgeon, the redone album was finally released in 1981 as Pet Rock.
Unfortunately, despite plenty of hard touring, Pet Rock failed to break big and The Sinceros quietly faded away.
After the group disbanded, Don Snow took Paul Carrack’s place in Squeeze. Bassist Ron Francois ended up in Australian band, Eurogliders.
Mark Moesgaard Kjeldsen
Vocals, guitar
Ron François
Bass
Bobby Irwin
Drums
Don Snow
Keyboards
