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293:), with Jeffrey Bloom from 1983-94. The threesome of Treacy, Head, and Bloom formed the longest unchanged line-up and as a result is considered by many to be the definitive line-up, performing hundreds of gigs around the world and recording many of the band's most popular songs like "How I Learned to Love the Bomb", "Salvador Dali's Garden Party" and "Strangely Beautiful". Despite this, the Television Personalities are best known for their early single "
350:. Ever unconventional, Treacy said he was not that much interested in music and the band rarely rehearsed. Treacy did not prepare set-lists for live performances, preferring to keep the band on their toes. Head remembers "us rehearsing once in late 1983. We did another one five years later, and that was about it." The band struggled to find a name, and early suggestions included the names of mainstream and often ridiculed television hosts such as
516:
of Europe but shortly afterwards Foster and Musker left. This left the band as a guitar, bass and drums threesome and Treacy, Head, and Bloom would continue as the
Television Personalities for the next 14 years. The band were regulars on the London gig scene and also did several tours of the UK, Europe, the U.S. and Japan. The Chocolate Art and Camping in France live albums were recorded during this time.
429:
In the middle of 1980, the
Television Personalities made their live debut following the recruitment of Joe Foster on bass and Mark Sheppard (known as Empire) on drums. This line-up was short-lived, reportedly due to differences in opinion between Foster and Sheppard, leading to Joe's departure. Prior
515:
In 1983 the band comprised Treacy, Dave Musker on keyboards, Joe Foster on guitar and Mark
Flunder on bass. Jeffrey Bloom joined on drums at a gig in Alan McGee's Living Room club and shortly afterwards Stephen Bird, AKA Jowe Head, replaced Flunder on bass. This line up went on the band's first tour
408:
came in one day when I was reading an interview I'd done, and I told him I had a record out. So then, he walks me upstairs to a wardrobe brimming with guitars, hands me one and five minutes later, I was jamming with Jimmy Page. He was good, but he weren't as good as me." Later the promotion of the
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described it as a "stunningly original record-harrowing and hilarious in equal amounts", while the BBC wrote that the album "captures the offbeat brilliance that made the TVPs indie legends in the 70s, characterised by Treacy’s endearingly slapdash attitude towards singing in tune and playing in
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in
Portland Harbour, Dorset, England. A gig at the Hanbury Ballroom, Brighton on 6 August 2005 ended in chaos after half an hour when Treacy had apparent difficulties with his guitars and mic stand. His bandmates left him on stage and the gig was halted by the management. His 2006 comeback album
552:
time." He was reportedly seriously ill in
October 2011 following brain surgery to remove a blood clot. He regained consciousness in December, but remained hospitalised. By 2016 he was recovering from the surgery and said that he intended to return to music.
467:
showed Treacy's sense of humour; the TVPs were never to have any major commercial success in the UK – although their albums sold respectably in
Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands. The first three albums featured Treacy and schoolmate
389:. Ball was amazed at the quality of Treacy's writing, and admitted that he "couldn't believe the lyrics. Suddenly, my best friend was coming out with these amazing songs." With the financial backing of his mother, Treacy
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In 2006, music critic Cam
Lindsay described Treacy as having "recorded some of the most bizarre, unlistenable and brilliant pop songs in the last three decades".
534:
Treacy later struggled with mental health issues and drug addiction, and from 1998 to June 2004 was incarcerated for theft. He spent time on the prison ship HMP
404:
The song title and resulting media attention brought the band to the notice of the music press and rock establishment royalty they were parodying. Treacy said: "
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500 copies of "'Where's Bill Grundy Now?", each with a photocopied sleeve, which he sent to various record companies and radio DJs. The track was
507:, but were fired when they performed their song "I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives", during which Treacy read out Barrett's real address on stage.
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Their first single "14th Floor" was released in
January 1978 to critical acclaim. It was followed by the 1978 EP
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band formed in 1977 by London singer-songwriter Dan Treacy. Their varied, volatile and long career encompasses
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scattered throughout the TVPs' lyrics, album titles and record artwork. Most of the references are to (mostly
118:
1090:"The Missing Man of Music: A Search for the Elusive Dan Treacy of Television Personalities | Brag Magazine"
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1064:"Update: Television Personalities' Dan Treacy Regains Consciousness Following Coma But Still Hospitalized"
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to this, Dan and Mark helped out with Joe's solo project, the
Missing Scientists, which included
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Despite their relatively minor commercial success (their third album was sardonically titled
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which brought them to popular attention. The EP features their lone chart hit, the seminal "
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The
Missing Man Of Music: A Search For The Elusive Dan Treacy Of Television Personalities
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received widespread critical acclaim, including for the single "Velvet Underground". The
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and ultra-restrained rock that's hauntingly beautiful, like the most delicate moments of
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was a combination of sixties style pop and darker material, and was similar in tone to
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Treacy was inspired to form the Television Personalities after hearing the
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The following is a complete list of the Television Personalities albums.
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Official site: Treacy's web journal, live gig archive, photos, tour info
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Various line-up changes and circumstances prevented the recordings for
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was released in 1981. It set the template for their subsequent career:
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The Creation Records Story: My Magpie Eyes Are Hungry for the Prize
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A Day in Heaven: An unofficial Television Personalities website
595:(who covered the song "You’ll Have To Scream Louder" in 2020),
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as the band's twelfth album. It had been recorded in 1990 on a
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Lost Television Personalities album to be released in January
55:
Dan Treacy performing with Television Personalities in Japan
982:(1st US paperback ed.). Dell Publishing. p. 123.
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Bands that have cited them as formative influences include
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940:". Creation Records, August 2005. Retrieved 12 May 2018
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from being released until 1990. Their subsequent album
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According to critic Ira Robbins, with their 1984 album
381:", written while Treacy was 17 years and living in a
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This article is about the band. For the concept, see
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1328:They Could Have Been Bigger than the Beatles
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493:." The band were hired that year to support
465:They Could Have Been Bigger Than The Beatles
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830:, 16 March 2006. Retrieved 12 May 2018
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1223:Alan McGee article in The Guardian
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444:...And Don't The Kids Just Love It
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718:A Memory Is Better Than Nothing
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364:Hughie Green
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222:Mark Flunder
219:Arnau Obiols
205:John Bennett
188:Past members
175:Lee McFadden
106:Years active
36:
1155:Discography
1126:11 February
1094:Thebrag.com
607:Discography
585:The Pastels
487:psychedelia
461:psychedelic
387:King's Road
373:Bill Grundy
344:Sex Pistols
299:John Peel's
216:Bernard Fox
167:Dave Musker
127:Rocket Girl
91:psychedelia
86:mod revival
1423:Categories
1280:Mike Stone
1274:Dan Treacy
1096:. The Brag
1068:exclaim.ca
1026:Metacritic
731:References
631:cult films
504:About Face
497:guitarist
495:Pink Floyd
415:Alan McGee
406:Jimmy Page
291:Swell Maps
164:Jeff Bloom
161:Mike Stone
155:Dan Treacy
1403:The Times
1398:'O' Level
1342:Privilege
1304:Jowe Head
1100:18 August
1049:Hot Press
925:NTS Radio
865:Pitchfork
827:Pitchfork
677:Privilege
571:Influence
521:Privilege
474:The Times
399:John Peel
397:by BBC's
395:picked up
338:Formation
287:Jowe Head
275:indie pop
267:post punk
263:post-punk
171:Jowe Head
96:indie pop
81:Post-punk
1383:" (1980)
1159:AllMusic
769:The Brag
623:in-jokes
597:Pavement
371:Where's
320:Pavement
250:Homepage
1373:Singles
1294:Ed Ball
1169:Sources
1073:18 June
938:Ed Ball
845:Exclaim
627:British
565:4-track
470:Ed Ball
283:Ed Ball
246:Website
201:Ed Ball
149:Members
69:England
1199:
1182:
986:
963:12 May
637:Albums
333:Career
115:Labels
74:Genres
66:Origin
1009:Metro
537:Weare
434:head
1197:ISBN
1180:ISBN
1128:2018
1102:2016
1075:2016
984:ISBN
965:2018
601:MGMT
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