David Balfe | |
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Birth name | David Balfe |
Also known as | Dave Balfe, The Chameleons (along Bill Drummond) |
Born | 2 October 1958 |
Origin | Carlisle, Cumberland, England |
Genres | Punk rock, new wave, post-punk, synthpop |
Occupation(s) | Musician, record producer |
Instruments | Bass guitar, keyboards |
Years active | Mid 1970s–present |
Labels | Zoo Records |
Associated acts | Mr. McKenzie, Radio Blank, Dalek I Love You, Big in Japan, Lori and the Chameleons, The Teardrop Explodes |
David Balfe (born 2 October 1958 in Carlisle, Cumberland) is a musician and record company executive, most notable for playing keyboards with The Teardrop Explodes, founding the Zoo and Food independent record labels, signing Blur and for being the subject of their first number one hit, "Country House".
David Balfe grew up in Merseyside, where he played with several Liverpool bands in the late 1970s that emerged from the city's legendary Eric's club scene including Radio Blank, Big in Japan, Dalek I Love You and The Teardrop Explodes. He also played keyboards on and co-produced the first Echo & the Bunnymen and Teardrop Explodes albums, as well as managing both bands with Bill Drummond for the years from their inception to their early success.
Balfe and Drummond, having met while playing together in Big in Japan, founded the Zoo record label in 1978 in order to release Big in Japan's posthumous EP From Y to Z and Never Again. The label went on to sign and release the early work of The Teardrop Explodes and Echo & the Bunnymen.
Balfe and Drummond did their production work under the name of The Chameleons, and also released the singles "Touch" and "The Lonely Spy" – credited to Lori and The Chameleons – on the Zoo label, later licensing them to Sire/Korova.