Be Bop Deluxe

Bridging the gap between glam rock and new wave, the British band Be-Bop Deluxe has gained considerable respectability despite its lack of commercial success. Formed in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, in 1972, the band was led by inventive guitarist Bill Nelson, and also included Ian Parkin (guitar), Robert Ryan (bass) and Nicholas Chatterton-Dew (drums). After the release of their first album for the Harvest label, Axe Victim (1974), the line-up was renewed with Milton Reame-James (keyboards), Paul Jeffreys (bass) and Simon Fox (drums), then Charlie Tumahai (bass) and Andy Clark (drums) for Futurama (1975), followed by Sunburst Finish (1976), containing the band's only hit "Ships in the Night" (No. 23), then Modern Music (1976) and Drastic Plastic (1978). In addition to several compilations, there was the live album Live! In the Air Age (1977). Nelson went on to form the band Red Noise, before going solo.