Teenage Filmstars

Teenage Filmstars 1979-1980

Having recorded and released the last 'O' Level single "We Love Malcolm" (1978) by himself, Edward Ball dropped the name in favour of the Teenage Filmstars, spring 1979. Opting to record as a band again, He invited old school friends Daniel Treacy and Joseph Foster to guest on the first single, "(There's a) Cloud Over Liverpool" (1979). Championed by Radio 1 DJ John Peel (perhaps for the song's sideways nod to Liverpool F.C., of whom Peel was a fan), the record received a further lease of life more than a year later when American record shops and college radio stations mistook it for a tribute to the recent death of John Lennon. Followed by "The Odd Man Out" (1980), which highlighted Ball's musical ability to mimic contemporary pop music at will, especially ska and electropop, the Teenage Filmstars and TV Personalities played their first live shows with Ball playing in both groups. During this period of exposing newly written compositions to live audiences (sometimes even making them up on the spot) Treacy and Ball nominated personal figureheads that almost personified their own destinies - Teenage Filmstars "I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape" (1980) and the TV Personalities "I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives" (1981).

As the Teenage Filmstars began recording their debut album in November 1980, Ball once again changed the band's name, this time to The Times. These sessions eventually appeared as "Go! With The Times" (1985). Had the Teenage Filmstars ended here they would perhaps be recalled for two singles of some interest in the formative UK DIY 7" singles foodchain.

Teenage Filmstars 1992-1999

The Teenage Filmstars reappeared twelve years later with the album 'Lift Off Mit Der Teenage Filmstars' (AKA 'Star' 1992) on Creation Records. Partly bearing witness to My Bloody Valentine's release 'Loveless' from the previous year, the forthcoming progressive 90's psychedelia and Ball's own troubled vision of popular music, it prompted Kevin Shields to remark of Ball in 1995, "A sensitive soul from another planet. A modernist musical alchemist - where other people struggle Ed plays what we're thinking." Following their debut to its next level, "Rocket Charms" (1993) is a tighter concept, though perhaps suffering from this as a result. The band sound, everything recorded backwards with little regard to recognised stereo placement and instrumentation levels is present and correct, but the danger element quota is lower. So for the third issue by the new Teenage Filmstars to be considered by some to be the last great record released by Creation is more than a little surprising. On "Ssenkcis Rou Troppus Drocer Ruo Yub" aka "Buy Our Record Support Our Sickness" (1997), the Teenage Filmstars fulfill the ambitious psychedelic album concept, and haul in an avant-garde sixties / seventies progressive rock hybrid that resembles the morphing creatures in Alien movies.

Studio albums

Compilations

Singles & EPs