About Me
The band was formed in Liverpool in 1977 by Alan Gill (Vocals, Guitar) and David Balfe (Bass, Keyboards). Both had been members of the punk band Radio Blank. Their general approach to things was still punk (much of their equipment had been aquired through theft) but with a more arty & experimental approach to the music and their performances (artists & poets joining them on stage). They had a fluctuating line up including; Dave Hughes, Chris Teepee, Martin Cooper (later OMD) Andy McCluskey (later OMD), Kenny Peers, Gordon Hon and Max. In 1978, Balfe left the group to join Big In Japan and later The Teardrop Explodes. The band was finally pared down to just Gill and Dave Hughes by the time they released their debut album Compass Kumpas in 1980 on the Phonogram label. This is a very beautiful record. Some tracks from it can be heard on this other dalek page
Soon after the album's release, the band went on hiatus.
Gill proceeded to join Balfe in The Teardrop Explodes in July of 1980. Gill co-wrote their most successful single, Reward. His stay with the band was short-lived however, and by 1981 he reformed Dalek I Love You.
By that point, the band consisted of Alan Gill, Gordon Hon (who had been involved in the bands first stage shows), Kenny Peers and Keith Hartley (who was the voice of Radio Blank). They released an eponymously titled album in November of 1983. The music here is taken from that. Not as distinctive as the first album but it has its moments.
In 1985, the band released the cassette only Naive, and effectively called it a day shortly afterwards, although Gill did release a single under the Dalek moniker in 1990.
At various points in their existence the band was also known as Dalek I. Record executives at Phonogram shortened the band's name without telling them for the "Freedom Fighters" single.
According to Julian Cope, Alan Gill was arrested and put in jail for 18 months for being a drug dealer. His defense was that he gave most of the drugs away and that through the free distribution of skunk he was providing access to a higher realm of consciousness.
After setting up Zoo records with Bill Drummond, Balfe went on to be a record company mogul via Food Records (Blur etc). Blur's Country House is about him. Dave Hughes has made a very respectable living making film music. Mc Clusky became a popstar & latterday impresario of the avant-guarde death-metal combo 'Atomic Kitten'. Keith Hartley became a producer, Gordon Hon dropped out to go to Art School & now teaches in an Art School. Kenny Peers went on to study Political Philosophy, God only knows where that took him...
In March, 2007, the self-titled album was re-released by the Wea/Korova label as a re-mastered cd featuring seven previously un-heard bonus tracks and a few little extras in the sleeve. Watch this space.....
