Television personalities
| Television Personalities | |
|---|---|
| Origin | England |
| Genres | Post-punk, punk, mod revival, psychedelia, new wave,indie pop |
| Years active | 1978–1998, 2004-2011 |
| Labels |
Little Teddy Recordings Domino Records Rocket Girl Rough Trade Records Fire Records (UK) |
| Associated acts | |
| Website | windlessairmusic.tripod.com |
| Members |
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| Past members |
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The Television Personalities were an English post-punk band formed in 1978. The band was led by singer-songwriter Dan Treacy who teamed up with fellow London Oratory school mates.
The band's first release was in January 1978 with the single "14th Floor"/"Oxford Street W1", while their second, the EP Where's Bill Grundy Now? features one of their best-known songs, "Part Time Punks".
In the middle of 1980, the Television Personalities made their live debut following the recruitment of Joe Foster on bass and Mark Sheppard (known as Empire) on drums. This line-up was short-lived, reportedly due to differences in opinion between Foster and Sheppard, resulting in Joe's departure. Prior to this, Dan and Mark helped out with Joe's solo project, the Missing Scientists, which also included Mute Records boss Daniel Miller. The Television Personalities' first album ...And Don't The Kids Just Love It was released in 1981. It set the template for their subsequent career: neo-psychedelia, an obsession with youth culture of the 1960s, a fey, slightly camp lyrical attitude, and the occasional classic pop song. Their second album Mummy Your Not Watching Me [sic] demonstrated increased psychedelic influences. Their third album, entitled They Could Have Been Bigger Than The Beatles showed Treacy's sense of humour; the TVPs were never to have any major commercial success in the UK – although their albums sold respectably in Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands. The first three albums featured Treacy and schoolmate Ed Ball; Ball left the band to found The Times, but rejoined in 2004.
The band were offered the support slot on Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour's 1984 UK solo dates, but were promptly dropped after reading out former Pink Floyd member Syd Barrett's home address.
The 1984 album The Painted Word was unexpectedly dark in content, reflecting Treacy's despair at Thatcherite Britain and his personal circumstances.
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