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The Photos | |
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 Wendy Wu performing with The Photos, 1980 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Satan's Rats |
| Origin | Evesham, England |
| Genres | New wave |
| Years active | 1977–1978 (as Satan's Rats) 1979–1981, 1983 (as The Photos) |
| Labels | CBS,Epic, Rialto |
| Past members | Steve Eagles Dave Sparrow Olly Harrison Paul Rencher (Satan's Rats) Wendy Wu (The Photos) Ché Zuro (The Photos) Angus Hines (The Photos) |
The Photos were an Englishnew wave band fronted byWendy Wu, who had a top 5 album on theUK Albums Chart in 1980.
The Photos were originally apunk band named Satan's Rats that formed inEvesham, Worcestershire in 1977, with the first stable line-up of Paul Rencher (vocals), Steve Eagles (guitar/vocals), Roy Wilkes (bass guitar), andOlly Harrison (drums). They released three singles as Satan's Rats before Wilkes left, to be replaced by Dave Sparrow; and then Rencher left, after which the others deciding to expand the group with the addition of a female singer. They unsuccessfully tried to getBig in Japan's Jayne Casey to join, but convinced Wendy Wu (born Wendy Cruise, 29 November 1959), the former manager ofpub rock band City Youth to join in 1979.[1] The Photos signed toCBS Records but moved on toEpic Records after one single.[1] They released a self-titled album (Epic, 1980) and number ofsingles. These included "I'm So Attractive" and "Barbarellas" (concerning the closure of aBirminghamnightclub).[2]
The album was successful, reaching number 4 in theUK Albums Chart,[3] and Wu's picture was briefly a regular item in themusic press. Initial copies of the vinyl release of the album (with the exception of the US) came with a bonus album,The Blackmail Tapes, the additional tracks also included on the cassette release, and the album was supported by the group performing numerous concerts around the UK.
The album was later re-released in CD format, although only a limited number of copies were pressed. The CD was re-released in October 2007 byCherry Red Records, the label originally due to have signed the band before they were contracted toCBS. The re-release includes some additional tracks including "I'm So Attractive."
They released several singles in the UK including "I'm So Attractive". which was added to the US album release. "I'm So Attractive" was not included on the CD that was released in 1999, along with eight additional tracks fromThe Blackmail Tapes.
At the height of their career, the band made a number of TV appearances. Their scheduled slot onBBC Television'sTop of the Pops was cancelled due to industrial action, but their appearances onTop Pop in Holland (1980), Runaround (1980) andThe Old Grey Whistle Test (1981) were broadcast. In 1981 they went on a stadium tour supportingThe Police in Europe and headlined theLyceum in London the same year supported by theThompson Twins.[4] Their highest entry in the UK singles chart was "Irene" which reached number 56 in theUK Singles Chart in May 1980.[3] The eponymously named first album got to number 4 in theUK Albums Chart,[3] although it was surrounded by controversy that the record company had hyped it (unbeknownst to the band).
A second album,Crystal Tips and Mighty Mice, was released in promotional form in 1981, but withdrawn before it reached the shops, and reissued by Cherry Red Records in 2008. Wu left the band in 1981, to be replaced by Ché Zuro, and The Photos split up later that year.[1]
Wu went on to release some generally poorly received solo singles during 1982 and 1983, and then joinedSteve Strange to form the duoStrange Cruise in 1986.[1]
The Photos reformed without Wu, although this line-up only released one single, "There's Always Work", in 1983. Later, when Harrison had left the band, they reformed briefly with Angus Hines playing drums. They were joined by Wu for a one-off gig at London'sMarquee Club, before finally disbanding. Steve Eagles became guitarist inTed Milton'sBlurt, and later formedBang Bang Machine.[1]Oliver Harrison[5] went on to become a filmmaker.
In 2022, members of the original Satan's Rats collaborated withPussycat and the Dirty Johnsons frontwoman Puss Johnson as "Satan's Cats".[6]
(Puss Johnson & Satan's Rats):
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