The Distractions
| The Distractions | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Manchester, England |
| Genres | Punk rock, new wave |
| Years active | 1975–1981, 2010–present |
| Labels | TJM, Factory, Island, That, Rough Trade, Occultation Recordings |
| Associated acts | The Purple Gang, Manicured Noise, Ludus, The Secret Seven, Art of Noise, Glass Animals, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Republic of Swing |
| Website | Official Distractions website |
The Distractions are a British punk rock/new wave band from Manchester, England.
The band was originally formed in 1975 by college friends Mike Finney (vocals) and Steve Perrin (guitar), alongside Lawrence Tickle (bass) and Tony Trappe (drums).
The band changed tack with the advent of punk in 1977 and Finney and Perrin recruited a new line-up of Pip Nicholls (bass), Adrian Wright (guitar), and Alec Sidebottom (drums, formerly of The Purple Gang), now mixing punk rock with sixties influences.
They shared bills with the likes of Buzzcocks, Magazine and Joy Division, and their debut EP, You're Not Going Out Dressed Like That, released in 1979, led to a deal with Factory Records, who released the follow-up, Time Goes By So Slow. In a 1979 newsletter, Tony Wilson described the band: "Reminds the management of AustinTexas 66, but take your choice".
The band had already signed a deal with Island Records in September 1979, before the Factory single was released, according to Wilson "due to irresistible desire to play the game". Two further singles were issued – It Doesn't Bother Me and Boys Cry before the release of Nobody's Perfect, the group's first album that, ultimately, received significantly more media plaudits than it achieved sales.
Shortly after the album's release Perrin quit the band to be replaced by former Ludus guitarist, Arthur Kadmon. The group continued to tour (including playing shows in New York) but eventually disbanded in 1981. Before their end, the band included another latter member, Debbie Shure.
After the band imploded, Finney went on to work with the Secret Seven and the Art of Noise; Kadmon played briefly with The Fall and later went to work in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, who released a single in 1987; Pip Nicholls went to play drums in Glass Animals, alongside Miaow singer Cath Carroll. while Sidebottom founded and continues to lead the Republic of Swing samba band.
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