Berlin Blondes were a new wave/ synth-pop group from

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

which formed in 1978. They released an album in 1980 on the label

EMI EMI Group Limited (originally an initialism for Electric and Musical Industries, also referred to as EMI Records Ltd. or simply EMI) was a British Transnational corporation, transnational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate founded in March 1 ...

. The band were influenced and inspired by Kraftwerk,

Roxy Music Roxy Music are an English rock band formed in 1970 by Bryan Ferry—who became the band's lead vocalist and principal songwriter—and bassist Graham Simpson. The other longtime members are Phil Manzanera (guitar), Andy Mackay (saxophone ...

and 'Berlin period'

David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...

. Live gigs saw the band covering such songs as Iggy Pop's " Funtime" and "Sister Midnight" and Kraftwerk's " The Model" as well as playing their own material. They built up a substantial following of fans, in and around Glasgow, due to their stylish live performances both as support act to bands like fellow Glaswegians Simple Minds, and as headliners in their own right of such venues as Glasgow's famous Mars Bar.

Positive Noise Positive Noise were a new wave and synthpop band from Scotland who had a number of indie hits in the 1980s. They released three albums and several singles and were together for over five years. History The band was formed in 1979 by Ross Middl ...

founder and frontman Ross Middleton was an early fan, enthusing "Berlin Blondes are Fireball XL5" in a review he wrote of one of their gigs for ''

Sounds In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave, through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid. In human physiology and psychology, sound is the ''reception'' of such waves and their ''perception'' by the ...

'' (as Maxwell Park).

History

The original line-up consisted of Steven Bonomi (vocals), Robert Farrell (guitar, synth), David Rudden (bass) and Jim Spender (aka Jim McKinven) (keyboards & synths). The band's sound was enhanced by the use of a drum machine which further added to their "Futurist/New Musik" tag at the time. They recorded their eponymous album (which was to be called Building on the Sand'' before a last minute change) at Rock City, Shepperton in January 1980. However, before the album's release, Rudden left due to "artistic differences" with Bonomi and McKinven and was replaced firstly by Russell Barrie for a very brief period in one or two gigs (Barrie is seen dressed in pink on the cover of their single "Science") and then by Nick Clark from Cuban Heels (Clark is credited on the album, although it was Rudden who played.) David Rudden went on to form Endgames. In early 1980, the single "Science"/"Manikin" was released. "Manikin" was an instrumental version of the album track "Mannequin" which itself was inspired by Kraftwerk's " Showroom Dummies". The

Mike Thorne Mike Thorne (born 25 January 1948) is an English record producer, arranger, composer, engineer, and musician. He started playing the piano at the age of 10. After studying physics at Hertford College, Oxford, in the late 1960s he worked as a ta ...

produced album ''Berlin Blondes'' was released much later in the year (September 1980) along with the single "Framework"/"Zero Song". However, sales did not live up to expectations and the band was dropped from the label. ''

Trouser Press ''Trouser Press'' was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow fan of the Who Dave Schulps and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" (a reference ...

'' reviewed the album (years after its original release) and rather haughtily describes it as "undistinguished, danceable hybrid synth/bass/drums clichés, occasionally adding colorful Sparks-like vocals for character." In truth, Bonomi's vocal style owed much more to

Bryan Ferry Bryan Ferry CBE (born 26 September 1945) is an English singer and songwriter. His voice has been described as an "elegant, seductive croon". He also established a distinctive image and sartorial style: according to ''The Independent'', Ferry an ...

and

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('' Judy Teen'' era) than it did to

Russell Mael Russell Craig Mael (born October 5, 1948) is an American singer best known as the lead singer for the band Sparks which he formed in 1971 with his elder brother Ron Mael. Mael is known for his wide vocal range, in particular his far-reaching ...

. Many fans believed the album did not capture the power of the band's live performances whilst Robert Farrell stated that (as it was one of the first 'Futurist/New Musik' albums released) people were "not ready for it". Their last incarnation saw them adding drummer Brian MillerBerlin Blondes
(Louisa Hennessey, ''ZigZag'' July 1981, p26) and bassist Alasdair Gowans and releasing their last single "Marseille"/"The Poet" on independent label Scratch Records in 1981 before finally disbanding indefinitely.

Post break-up careers

* Steven Bonomi is now an award-winning chef and restaurateur in Glasgow. * Robert Farrell went on to play with The Wedding (among others) and is still in the music business. He lives in North London. * Jim Spender/McKinven joined

Altered Images Altered Images are a Scottish new wave/post-punk band who found success in the early 1980s. Fronted by singer Clare Grogan, the group branched into mainstream pop music, having six UK top-40 hit singles and three top-30 albums from 1981 to 1 ...

, was in Dove/

One Dove One Dove were a Scottish electronic music group active in the early 1990s, consisting of Dot Allison, Ian Carmichael and Jim McKinven, a former member of Berlin Blondes and Altered Images. History Originally called Dove, the group released ...

and lives in Glasgow. * David Rudden is still involved in the music business and has more recently moved into collaborative art projects, examples of which can be seen on his "World of Found" website.

Discography

Album

* ''Berlin Blondes'' (LP, EMI EMC-3346, September 1980)

Singles

* "Science"/"Manikin" (7", EMI EMI-5031, 1980) * "Framework"/"Zero Song" (Instrumental Mix) (7", EMI EMI-5147, 1980; 12", EMI 12-EMI-5147, 1980) * "Marseille"/"The Poet" (7", Scratch Records SCR-005, 1981)

References

{{reflist

External links

Official Myspace page, maintained by Robert Farrell

Robert Farrell Myspace
Musical groups established in 1978 Musical groups from Glasgow British synth-pop new wave groups Scottish new wave musical groups Musical groups disestablished in 1981 1978 establishments in Scotland