After The Fire

After The Fire (or ATF) was a British band that went from playing Christian prog rock to Christian new wave over the 12 years it was together, while having only one hit in the US ("Der Kommissar") and UK ("One Rule for You").

Related Topics:
Prog rock - New wave - US - UK

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Keyboard player Peter Banks originally formed the band in the early 1970s in England. After The Fire then went through several lineups before settling on Banks, bass player and vocalist Andy Piercy, guitarist John Russell, and drummer Ivor Twiddell. This lineup enjoyed local success in London, and released an album, Signs of Change, in 1978, on a label they had formed. During these years, the band's sound was similar to bands like Genesis and Yes.

Related Topics:
England - London - 1978 - Genesis - Yes

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After gaining a following and minus Twiddell, After The Fire was signed to CBS, and released their second album, Laser Love, in 1979, which marked the band's move toward new wave. Drummer Nick Brotherwood took over for Twiddell on the album. Banks also changed his name to "Memory" Banks to not be confused with the ex-Yes guitarist, around this time. As these changes took place, After The Fire's single, "One Rule for You," moved into the UK Top 40.

Related Topics:
CBS - 1979 - Yes - UK - Top 40

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The band's third album, 80F, and their fourth album, Batteries Not Included, were released in the early 1980s to little fanfare, with Pete King on drums. They came back into the spotlight (or for the first time) when their cover of German musician Falco's song, "Der Kommissar," rocketed in to the US Top Ten in 1983. This was followed by the release of their first and only US album, ATF, a compilation of their career.

Related Topics:
Falco - US - Top Ten - 1983

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This success had come too late however, as After The Fire had been slowly coming apart the years leading to "Der Kommissar," and officialy split soon after it peaked in the Top Ten. Banks went on to built his own studio before becoming managing director of Maldon Computer Company, a software and networking enterprise. Russell worked at a hi-fi shop following the split, while Piercy became a producer. The early drummer Twidell, meanwhile, released three solo albums after leaving the band, and then a police officer.

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Recently, in 2004 the band have had a revival after a successful reunion gig at the Greenbelt Festival, yet they have had to replace some of there members due to the gap between their original split up and their getting together again. Recently they wrote and performed the song "One Rule" for Trade Justice.

Related Topics:
2004 - Greenbelt Festival - Trade Justice

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