Classix Nouveaux

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Classix Nouveaux were a 1980s new wave band from England.Classix had number one hits in Poland, Portugal, Yugoslavia, Israel, Iceland and other countries. In the UK Singles Chart they had various Top 50 hits but only a Top20 with "Is It A Dream" - a Number 11 hit record.^[1]

Biography

Formation

The break up of X-Ray Spex triggered an advertisement to be placed in Melody Maker, searching for a new lead singer.^{[citation needed]} Sal Solo (formerly with The News) answered the advertisement. Jak Airport and B. P. Hurding left X-Ray Spex to form Classix Nouveaux with Mik Sweeney and Sal Solo. Their first gig was on 25 August 1979 at Camden Palace. With publicity growing for the band, their dramatic and heavily made up image helped quickly associate them with the New Romantic movement, alongside bands like Japan and Ultravox.^{[citation needed]} In 1980 the band recorded a four track session for Capital Radio and one track, Robots Dance, was picked up and played regularly by DJ Nicky Horne. This got the interest of A&R at United Artists, but as negotiations dragged on Classix decided to release the track as their debut single studio recording single, on their own ESP label. "Robots Dance" was released on 29 August and, when negotiations with UA were finalised, by EMI ^[2] They also performed for the first time on television on Thames TV in London. Robots Dance spent 11 weeks on the indie charts, reaching number 22, and became a popular alternative dance floor track. The groups second single "Nasty Little Green Men" followed on 10 November 1980.

Night People

In 1981 the band released their album, Night People, featuring the single "Guilty".

Album track listing: "Forward", "Guilty" - 3:19, "Run Away", "No Sympathy No Violins" - 4:06, "Inside Outside" - 3:18, "623", "Every Home Should Have One", "Tokyo, Or A Movie" - 2:39, "Soldier" - 3:46, "The Protector Of Night". CD bonus tracks: "The Robot's Dance", "Nasty Little Green Men" - 3:16, "Test Tube Babies", "Night People", "Old World For Sale", "627", "We Don't Bite".

La Verité

Releasing their next album La Verité in 1982, led to the release of their highest UK charting single, "Is It A Dream". The band toured worldwide.

Album track listing: "Foreward", "Is It A Dream" - 3:37, "To Believe", "Because You're Young" - 3:21, "Six To Eight", "La Verité" - 5:16, "Never Again" - 3:51, "It's All Over", "1999", "I Will Return", "Finale". CD bonus tracks: "It's Not Too Late, Where To Go".

Secret

In 1983 was released the album Secret, produced by Alex Sadkin, featuring tracks such as "Never Never Comes" and "Heart From The Start". They become one of the first modern bands to perform in communist Poland.

Album track listing: "All Around The World", "Manitou", "Heart From The Start", "The Fire Inside", "Forever And A Day", "Never Never Comes" - 2:53, "The Unloved", "When They All Have Gone", "No Other Way" - 4:51.

Breakup

Band members continued to come and go, and by the end of the band's existence Sal Solo was the only original member remaining.

Solo went on to become heavily involved in Catholicism, releasing several Christian-oriented albums after Classix Nouveaux's break up.

Mik Sweeney went on to move to Los Angeles, California where he built fretless basses and recorded studio session work; he currently lives in Ireland. Gary Steadman went on to join A Flock of Seagulls. Jimi Sumen became a record producer in Finland and released a number of successful solo works there.

The band's full-length albums were re-issued by Cherry Red Records. In 2006 River Records released The River Sessions, which was recorded live at Strathclyde University in 1982.

Discography

Albums

Singles

^[1]

Curiosities

• "Guilty" - silver disc in Yugoslavia, Top 20 in Sweden and #66 in Club Play Singles.

• Gold in Portugal with #1 single ("Never Again"), album ("La Verité") and video. #1 in various other countries (1982).

• Top 1 in Poland with "Never Never Comes" and "Heart From the Start" (1984).

• "San Damiano" by Sal Solo in UK Top 20, and #1 in Poland (1985).

See also

• One-hit wonders in the UK
• List of New Wave bands and artists
• O.T.T.
• List of Liberty Records artists

External links

• http://www.salsolo.com/classix.html

References