Help me remember the name of a British band from the 1980s!

Philtre

There was/is a band that I remember seeing on the telly in the late 80s, and they were still active in the 90s. Not a massively popular band but had a cult following in the UK.

I remember they were a bit mad and played manic angular stuff. I think the keyboard player had his face painted white or was pale and had greasy hair, and wore glasses, looked odd and geeky. I'm sure they were called something like "The Cramps" (not that, because that's another band) or something like "The Creeps" or "The..." something. It's on the tip of my tongue...

thecolourbox

Do you mean Sparks?

Edit: although I'd have said more 70s

Philtre

thecolourbox said:

Do you mean Sparks?

No. But I can see why you'd say that. :-)

The band I'm thinking of were pretty obscure, were British.

strumjoughlamps

dammit thought I would easy suss this one for ya but since I have thought of and dismissed The Buggles I cannot think of anything but The Buggles now

what genre were they?

TonyR

The Creepers? (Marc Riley and the Creepers)

A song title might give more clues - I was into some pretty obscure stuff in the 80s, but can’t recall a band where the keyboard player looked as you describe!

Philtre

Their music was angular, not easy to categorise. All I remember was the keyboard player, he sat at his keyboard, wore glasses, looked like some greaze ball horror, nerdy. Not very popular, doubt if many will have heard of them.

Philtre

Got it! I just emailed a pal who remembered.

THE CARDIACS!

TonyR

TonyR said:

...I was into some pretty obscure stuff in the 80s...

But not The Cardiacs!

p90fool

Tight band! Lots of early Mothers and Canterbury type influences in there...

Grangousier

No "The". Just "Cardiacs". Absolutely glorious insanity. 

prowla

Not Split Enz, then?

RandallFlagg

Philtre said:

There was/is a band that I remember seeing on the telly in the late 80s, and they were still active in the 90s. Not a massively popular band but had a cult following in the UK.

I remember they were a bit mad and played manic angular stuff. I think the keyboard player had his face painted white or was pale and had greasy hair, and wore glasses, looked odd and geeky. I'm sure they were called something like "The Cramps" (not that, because that's another band) or something like "The Creeps" or "The..." something. It's on the tip of my tongue...

Killing Joke?

spark240

@HarrySeven ?

EricTheWeary

Philtre said:

Got it! I just emailed a pal who remembered.

THE CARDIACS!

As often reference by Dan from TPS, otherwise I was unaware of them. 

jonnyburgo

Cardiacs are amazing

Philtre

Grangousier said:

No "The". Just "Cardiacs".

Indeed. Just in case anyone confuses them with The Cardigans.

fandango

Philtre said:

Got it! I just emailed a pal who remembered.

THE CARDIACS!

Poor Rickenbacker bass. The embarassment.

HarrySeven

Love Cardiacs.

I wonder how many people bought stuff on the back of ‘Is This the Life’ and were totally baffled...

tekbow

I know who you're talking about. Cant remember name.. keyboard player with a little pencil tache, slicked back black hair, glared at the camera or whoever's?

Philtre

tekbow said:

I know who you're talking about. Cant remember name.. keyboard player with a little pencil tache, slicked back black hair, glared at the camera or whoever's?

Er, Cardiac Sparks?

tekbow

Oh wait, already got figured out.