After
a classic debut single, Independence Day, and
three acclaimed albums for Polydor (Waiting
For A Miracle, Sleep No More
and Fiction), they released two more
LPs for Jive Records (Land
and 7 Day Weekend) but with little
success. Signed to Island, they wangled money
to set up their own studio, where they recorded Chasing
Shadows. Hassled in America by the Communications
Satellite Inc, who prevented them from using their
name, they changed it to Dream Command, but
the following album, Fire On The Moon,
wasn't even released in the UK. What happened next?
enquires Graham Varney of Hull.
Steve
Fellows (vocals/guitar): Looks back to the name
change as "a good idea at the time but we all
make mistakes. Fire On The Moon was
very commercial, but we're crap at being commercial."
With the band on hold, Fellows got an SOS call from
Robert Palmer "who'd run out of steam
with lyrics. I half edited some ideas and suggested
a couple of changes in melodies; he was very generous
with crediting me."
Has
since pursued local projects, co-producing The
Eye Dance and playing guitar on The Harbour
Kings' new LP. The Comsat's have kept going -
hence a new album, "which is a killer. We're
better at working in squirts than in a production
line way." Currently securing a deal. "After
all this time, without having any big hits, you wonder
if you're doing the wrong thing with your life. But
if it's the last one, its a good way to go out."
Andy
Peake (keyboards): Has stuck it out with the Comsat's,
and feels the band have written" some of our
best stuff for ages. We just need a deal.". Admits
to missing playing live, as their last show was 18
months back and the last tour five years ago: "It
gets frustrating being a band on paper."
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Kevin
Bacon
(bass): After years dabbling, has shifted toward studio
work. Has just finished co-producing the debut album
for local singer Ephraim Lewis - "You'll
be hearing a lot about him. He's a big priority at
Elektra this year." Admits he wasn't
feeling positive about the Comsat's last year, "but
having taken a six month sabbatical, I feel good.
I wouldn't carry on if I didn't think the new stuff
was any good."
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