40:
282:), 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 "
339:. 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
505:
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.
418:
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
504:
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
397:
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
540:
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
529:
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
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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.
456:
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
378:. 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
39:
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315:. Treacy's unconventional but dryly witty and culture infused lyrics, have led to his reputation as a seminal and iconic figure within the independent music scene.
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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".
523:
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
393:
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
496:, 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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299:), the Television Personalities are highly regarded by critics and have been widely influential, especially on the
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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
111:
20:
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scattered throughout the TVPs' lyrics, album titles and record artwork. Most of the references are to (mostly
107:
1079:"The Missing Man of Music: A Search for the Elusive Dan Treacy of Television Personalities | Brag Magazine"
266:; the only constant being Treacy's songwriting. Present and former members include Chelsea childhood mates
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1053:"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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390:. Treacy said "Peel loved it, but my mum was hassling me to pay back the money."
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1105:"Television Personalities' Lost Album Beautiful Despair Announced | Pitchfork"
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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
508:
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
584:(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
537:
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Lost Television Personalities album to be released in January
44:
Dan Treacy performing with Television Personalities in Japan
971:(1st US paperback ed.). Dell Publishing. p. 123.
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Bands that have cited them as formative influences include
1133:". m-magazine.co.uk 14 December 2017 Retrieved 13 May 2018
929:". 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
370:", written while Treacy was 17 years and living in a
19:
This article is about the band. For the concept, see
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307:in the 1990s, and on American artists such as
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916:, 30 October 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2022
8:
1317:They Could Have Been Bigger than the Beatles
969:Saucerful of Secrets: the Pink Floyd Odyssey
941:"trouserpress.com: Television Personalities"
880:Television Personalities are back on the box
650:They Could Have Been Bigger than the Beatles
482:." The band were hired that year to support
454:They Could Have Been Bigger Than The Beatles
296:They Could Have Been Bigger than the Beatles
303:generation, on many of the bands signed to
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430:The Television Personalities' first album
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897:Spacemen 3 and the Birth of Spiritualized
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856:, 26 January 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018
811:Television Personalities: My Dark Places
452:influences. Their third album, entitled
899:. Omnibus Press, 2009. ASIN: B0030V0PEC
788:, 24 August 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2018
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819:, 16 March 2006. Retrieved 12 May 2018
461:; Ball left the band in 1982 to found
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398:"14th Floor" single was supported by
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1131:INTERVIEW: TELEVISION PERSONALITIES
867:Television Personalities: Biography
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1310:...And Don't the Kids Just Love It
1212:Alan McGee article in The Guardian
869:". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 May 2018
636:...And Don't the Kids Just Love It
433:...And Don't The Kids Just Love It
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685:Don't Cry Baby, It's Only a Movie
606:Treacy is known for the numerous
444:of the 1960s. Their second album
679:I Was a Mod Before You Was a Mod
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1433:English new wave musical groups
782:Daniel Treacy as seen on Screen
707:A Memory Is Better Than Nothing
490:on the tour for his solo album
1438:English post-punk music groups
1184:. London: Virgin Books, 2000.
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1428:Indie rock groups from London
1077:Earp, Joseph (26 July 2016).
687:(1998, Damaged Goods Records)
440:married to an obsession with
967:Schaffner, Nicholas (1991).
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661:(1984, Illuminated Records)
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1443:British mod revival groups
703:(2007, Overground Records)
681:(1995, Overground Records)
643:Mummy Your Not Watching Me
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446:Mummy Your Not Watching Me
268:'Slaughter Joe' Joe Foster
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1345:Are We Nearly There Yet?
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700:Are We Nearly There Yet?
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248:Television Personalities
112:Domino Recording Company
32:Television Personalities
21:Television personalities
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1165:The Rough Guide to Rock
1150:. Retrieved 12 May 2018
1017:. Retrieved 12 May 2018
740:. Retrieved 13 May 2018
548:released the long lost
500:Later years and revival
448:demonstrated increased
270:, one time best friend
108:Little Teddy Recordings
99:1977–1998, 2004–present
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1278:'Slaughter Joe' Foster
1217:ARC magazine interview
1167:. Rough Guides, 2003.
993:60 SECONDS: Dan Treacy
653:(1982, Whaam! Records)
645:(1982, Whaam! Records)
480:The Velvet Underground
406:when he began to form
201:Mark 'Empire' Sheppard
185:'Slaughter Joe' Foster
50:Background information
16:English post-punk band
570:Half Man Half Biscuit
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715:(2018, Fire Records)
675:(1992, Fire Records)
669:(1989, Fire Records)
566:Jesus and Mary Chain
1463:Rocket Girl artists
1031:Lanigan, Michael. "
797:Buckley (2003), 106
709:(2010, Rocket Girl)
639:(1981, Rough Trade)
120:Rough Trade Records
1111:. 14 November 2017
910:Missing Scientists
372:high-rise building
286:", a favourite of
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1397:Teenage Filmstars
1352:Beautiful Despair
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978:978-0-385-30684-3
850:Beautiful Despair
780:Baal, Iphgenia. "
713:Beautiful Despair
550:Beautiful Despair
544:In January 2018,
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330:
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211:Mark Flunder
208:Arnau Obiols
194:John Bennett
177:Past members
164:Lee McFadden
95:Years active
25:
1144:Discography
1115:11 February
1083:Thebrag.com
596:Discography
574:The Pastels
476:psychedelia
450:psychedelic
376:King's Road
362:Bill Grundy
333:Sex Pistols
288:John Peel's
205:Bernard Fox
156:Dave Musker
116:Rocket Girl
80:psychedelia
75:mod revival
1412:Categories
1269:Mike Stone
1263:Dan Treacy
1085:. The Brag
1057:exclaim.ca
1015:Metacritic
720:References
620:cult films
493:About Face
486:guitarist
484:Pink Floyd
404:Alan McGee
395:Jimmy Page
280:Swell Maps
153:Jeff Bloom
150:Mike Stone
144:Dan Treacy
1392:The Times
1387:'O' Level
1331:Privilege
1293:Jowe Head
1089:18 August
1038:Hot Press
914:NTS Radio
854:Pitchfork
816:Pitchfork
666:Privilege
560:Influence
510:Privilege
463:The Times
388:John Peel
386:by BBC's
384:picked up
327:Formation
276:Jowe Head
264:indie pop
256:post punk
252:post-punk
160:Jowe Head
85:indie pop
70:Post-punk
1372:" (1980)
1148:AllMusic
758:The Brag
612:in-jokes
586:Pavement
360:Where's
309:Pavement
239:Homepage
1362:Singles
1283:Ed Ball
1158:Sources
1062:18 June
927:Ed Ball
834:Exclaim
616:British
554:4-track
459:Ed Ball
272:Ed Ball
235:Website
190:Ed Ball
138:Members
58:England
1188:
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952:12 May
626:Albums
322:Career
104:Labels
63:Genres
55:Origin
998:Metro
526:Weare
423:head
1186:ISBN
1169:ISBN
1117:2018
1091:2016
1064:2016
973:ISBN
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