The Invisible Girls | |
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 GuitaristVini Reilly | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Salford, Greater Manchester, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1978–c. 1982 |
| Labels | |
| Past members |
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The Invisible Girls were a British rock band formed inSalford, Greater Manchester in 1978 to provide a musical backdrop to the recorded output of Salford punk poetJohn Cooper Clarke. The band's nucleus wasJoy Division andNew Order producerMartin Hannett and keyboardistSteve Hopkins, with contributions fromPete Shelley ofBuzzcocks andBill Nelson ofBe-Bop Deluxe, amongst others.
The band played on the first solo album byPauline Murray (lead singer ofPenetration), the eponymousPauline Murray and the Invisible Girls and some singles, and later withNico for her 1982 single "Procession".
The Invisible Girls was a band formed inSalford,Greater Manchester, in 1978,[1] to provide backing music for punk poet John Cooper Clarke.[2] It initially featuredFactory Records producer Martin Hannett on bass guitar, Steve Hopkins on keyboards,10cc drummerPaul Burgess, and guitarist Lyn Oakey.[3] This line-up played on Cooper Clarke's debut albumOù est la maison de fromage?, before they named themselves the Invisible Girls.[2]
Disguise in Love (billed as being by "John Cooper Clarke with the Invisible Girls") was produced by Hannett and released in 1978, and featured collaborations withBe-Bop Deluxe'sBill Nelson andBuzzcockPete Shelley.[2] John Scott was also either a collaborator or full-time member.[4] A second album,Snap, Crackle & Bop, followed in 1980.
In 1980, the band began to work withPauline Murray, who in the same year dissolved her punk bandPenetration.[2] Burgess had left The Invisible Girls by this point to dedicate more time to 10cc. During Murray's period with the band, Hannett worked as producer, being replaced on bass byRobert Blamire, also a former member of Penetration.[2]
The band's first single, "Dream Sequences", was released in August 1980, featuring Murray, Hannett, Hopkins, Blamire, andAlan Rawlings fromCowboys International as guest guitarist. Shortly afterwards, the line-up was extended tothe Durutti Column'sVini Reilly andDave Rowbotham (then withthe Mothmen) on guitar, Dave Hassell on percussion plusJohn Maher from Buzzcocks on drums.[5] They released aneponymous album in September, followed by a second single, "Mr X", in November 1980.[2]
To perform live, the band recruited guitaristWayne Hussey (ex-Walkie Talkies), who had answered an advertisement in theMelody Maker magazine. The band (comprising Murray, Blamire, Hopkins, Hannett, Maher, and Hussey) recorded a final single, "Searching For Heaven", which they released in 1981: theA-side featured (but did not credit)Bernard Sumner as guest guitarist.[citation needed] 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 and Hussey joinedDead or Alive. Maher (after the demise of the Buzzcocks in early 1981) continued with his new band,Flag of Convenience and Reilly continued with The Durutti Column. Rowbotham continued with The Mothmen for a short time but was murdered in 1991.[citation needed]
In 1982, the band returned to work with John Cooper Clarke; his final album,Zip Style Method, was released the same year.[6]
At the time,Nico, former singer with theVelvet Underground, was living in Manchester, and she worked with the band. They released only one single, "Procession", produced by Hannett. The title track featuredToby Toman (formerly ofthe Nosebleeds andLudus) on drums. TheB-side, acover of "All Tomorrow's Parties", featured Burgess on drums.[7] Shortly afterwards, Nico and Toby went to work withBlue Orchids.[8]
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