The Passions

The Passions
Origin	Shepherds Bush, London
Genres	Post-punk, new wave, dream pop
Years active	1978–1983
Labels	Soho Records, Fiction, Polydor
Past members
Barbara Gogan Clive Timperley Kevin Armstrong Claire Bidwell David Agar Richard Williams Mitch Barker Jeff Smith Stephen Wright

The Passions were a British band which formed in 1978, and disbanded in 1983. They were one-hit wonders with their misty song, "I'm in Love with a German Film Star". which was released in early 1981.

Career

Based in Shepherds Bush, west London, The Passions' music was grounded mainly in Barbara Gogan's voice, and Clive Timperley's delicate echoplex guitar work. Before forming in 1978, most of the group's members had played in other groups. Timperley was formerly with the 101ers, whilst drummer Richard Williams and singer/guitarist Barbara Gogan were in the punk rock outfit, The Derelicts. The Passions' first single, issued in March 1979, was "Needles and Pills", which assisted in gaining a recording contract with Fiction Records. The Passions were predominantly a guitar band but they fitted in with the spirit of the times, being part New Romantics, and part "European grey".

Michael and Miranda, the band's debut album was released in 1980. Singles "Hunted", and "Swimmer" followed, and then their major charting song, "I'm in Love with a German Film Star". Before "Swimmer" was issued, Bidwell and Barker left the band, the former joining The Wall. David Agar took over duties on the bass guitar. The band's second album, 30,000 Feet Over China, was released in August 1981. It included previously released A-sides and several brand new recordings.

Clive Timperley left the band in Verona in December 1981, during the Italian leg of their prophetically named "Tour Till We Crack" tour, as a result of "serious political differences". The follow-up single release "Africa Mine" was recorded with a new line-up. Barbara Gogan explained the situation thus: "It's the same old story. Some bands play together for ten years and it's all very wonderful and imaginative. More often, though, you reach a point where you've done all you can do and you want to change. Whenever we've reached that point someone has always left and brought us a step further on. Any band playing their own songs to the public has a duty to change and keep being imaginative all the time".

Kevin Armstrong (a contributor to a Thomas Dolby album), who had previously been with Local Heroes joined, and the group added a keyboard player, Jeff Smith, best known for his past work with Lene Lovich. Armstrong and Smith took part in the recording of the band's third album, Sanctuary, which appeared in the autumn of 1982.

Stephen Wright, previously in the band Bim, joined in 1982, replacing Armstrong. The band toured Europe and the US, appeared on the Old Grey Whistle Test on BBC 2, and Whatever You Want on Channel 4, but dissolved for good in the summer of 1983, after playing their last show at London's Marquee Club on 12 August that year.

I'm in Love with a German Film Star

The lyrics for "I'm in Love with a German Film Star" were written by Barbara Gogan about a one time roadie for The Clash and the Sex Pistols, Steve Connelly, who had minor roles in several German films. It was produced by Pete Wilson, who was the in house producer for Polydor Records. According to Wilson "It was a song that almost seemed to write itself". The music weeklies declared the song 'Single of the Week' while it was named 'Peoples Choice' on Capital Radio. This led to two Top of the Pops appearances. The single peaked at #25 in the UK Singles Chart.

Post Passions

• Gogan resurfaced in 1998, when she issued Made on Earth, an album she recorded with the experimentalist, Hector Zazou.
• There have been several cover versions of "I'm in Love with a German Film Star", including the Foo Fighters in 2005, Chris Whitley in 2006, and a collaboration between Sam Taylor-Wood and the Pet Shop Boys in October 2008.
• "I'm in Love with a German Film Star" was re-released as a download, in December 2006.
• In the first episode of the BBC Television cop-drama Ashes to Ashes, when DI Alex Drake enters Luigi's restaurant, "I'm in Love with a German Film Star" is the backing track as she walks in slow motion.
• Thirty Thousand Feet Over China was re-issued on CD with five bonus tracks on Cherry Red Records, on 21 July 2008.
• Gogan and Wright are currently playing together as The Monarchs.^{[citation needed]}
• Richard 'Rick' Williams appeared on the 'Identity Parade' on BBC Television's programme, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, on 7 February 2007.

Band members

• Barbara Gogan — guitar, vocals
• Clive Timperley — guitar (up to 1981)
• Kevin Armstrong — guitar (from 1981 to 1982)
• Claire Bidwell — bass guitar (up to 1980)
• David Agar — bass guitar (from 1980)
• Richard Williams — drums
• Mitch Barker — vocals (up to 1980)
• Jeff Smith — keyboards (from 1981)
• Stephen Wright — guitar (from 1982)
• Dack Dyde — Guitar/songwriting (up to 1980)

Discography

Singles

• 1979: "Needles and Pills" (Soho Records)
• 1979: "Hunted" (Fiction)
• 1980: "Swimmer" (Polydor) — reissued 1982
• 1981: "I'm in Love with a German Film Star" (Polydor) — Number 25 (UK Singles Chart)
• 1981: "Skin Deep" (Polydor)
• 1982: "Africa Mine" (Polydor)
• 1982: "Jump for Joy" (Polydor)
• 1982: "Sanctuary" (Polydor)
• 2006: "I'm in Love with a German Film Star" (Polydor) (download only)

Albums

• 1980: Michael and Miranda (Fiction)
• 1981: Thirty Thousand Feet Over China (Polydor) — Number 92 (UK Albums Chart)
• 1982: Sanctuary (Polydor)
• 1985: Passion Plays (Polydor) — compilation album
• 2008: Thirty Thousand Feet Over China (Cherry Red)

See also

• List of dream pop artists
• List of post-punk bands
• List of performers on Top of the Pops
• List of Peel sessions

External links

• Official Passions website
• The Passions on MySpace
• The Passions biography at Allmusic website