Being signed by famous Manchester label Factory early in 1980 helped Brussels based band The Names to achieve a strong reputation both in Belgium and abroad.
The single "Nightshift" marked the beginning of their collaboration with Martin Hannett, the producer of Joy Division, with whom the band were to record an album ("Swimming") and two more singles ("Calcutta" and "The Astronaut").
The band was formed in the beginning of 1978 by Michel Sordinia (vocals and bass) and Marc Deprez (guitar), soon joined by drummer Christophe Den Tandt. Initially called The Passengers, they worked with female singer Isabelle Hanrez and guitarist Robert Franckson before Sordinia, Deprez and Den Tandt (now on keyboards) evolved as The Names, with drummer Luc Capelle. "Spectators Of Life", their first single, was released in 1979.
On their Factory, and later Disques du Crépuscule, recordings with Martin Hannett, Capelle played the drums, except for "The Astronaut" where a serious bike accident led him to be replaced by Michel Silverstein. He was back when the band reunited in 1997 to record an album ("Night Vision") under the name Jazz and with Eric De Bruyne taking over on bass guitar, Michel Sordinia concentrating on vocals.
The Names recently made their return on stage (with new drummer Laurent Lodenwijckx) during a Factory Night event at Plan K, in Brussels. A live DVD and a new studio album are planned for 2008.
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All recordings by The Names are available on LTM records.
