I held off on featuring this fabulous 80’s post-punk band because a reunion gig was in the works in Sheffield, UK for this past April. I belong to a Comsat Angels group on Yahoo and was interested to hear what the fans would report after having lived the dream of being there.
Not a negative word from the entire group of fans who were wildly lucky enough to attend. Apparently, the Comsat Angels put on a superb show that was so well-received and successful, that the band has decided to do it again this coming October.
A music blogging friend, Joey from Teatro Triste Del Clown just inquired about the Comsats, and I thought that now would be a good time to include them in my “Criminally Underrated” series.
Hailing from Sheffield, the band formed in 1978 with original members Stephen Fellows (vocals, lead guitar), Kevin Bacon (bass), Mik Glaisher (drums), and Andy Peake (keyboards). Their debut EP was called “Red Planet” and was released in 1979. The Comsats were approached by Polydor and agreed to release three LPs under that label. They were Waiting For A Miracle, Sleep No More, and Fiction. Personally, it would be extremely difficult for me to recommend one album over the other, as I believe all three to be works of sheer genius.
The Comsats’ best-known single, “Independence Day,” is from the Waiting For A Miracle album. But there are so many other treasures from all three of their initial albums, the listener would do well to try to locate copies of them all. Additionally, the Comsats’ other 80’s LPs that followed, Land, 7-Day Weekend and Chasing Shadows, contain strong post-punk influenced songs with lyrics that are dark and brooding, deep and meaningful, and at the same time both hopeful and tinged with despair.
The $65,000 question is always the same throughout the series of Criminally Underrated: Why didn’t this band make it in a huge way here in the States? The Comsat Angels were hurt by their name because some inane corporate suits decided the band’s name infringed on their precious copyrighted business moniker. As if a hugely talented post-punk band would negatively impact the bottom line of a communications conglomerate. Whatever.
The Comsats tried a name-change first to C.S. Angels while touring in the US, then as Dream Command. Under the latter, they released another album in 1990 called Fire On The Moon. Unfortunately, the group was never able to gain any traction here in the states. Our huge loss, in my humble estimation.
If you’ve never experienced the sheer genius of the Comsat Angels, there is never a better time than now to start. Some of their music is out of print and extremely expensive. If you can afford to, buy it. The 80’s would have been a much more hollow period musically without the vital and earnest music of The Comsat Angels. Three words: Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.
“Independence Day” via YouTube user fery2:
“The Cutting Edge” via YouTube user videopreditor:
“Will You Stay Tonight?” via YouTube user teawanga:
“Eye Of The Lens” via YouTube user tadeuz30:
80’s Discography
Purchase Comsat Angels music here.
Waiting for a Miracle (1980, Polydor) (reissued in 1995 on RPM & in 2006 on Renascent)
Sleep No More (1981, Polydor) UK #51 (reissued in 1995 on RPM & in 2006 on Renascent)
Fiction (1982, Polydor) UK #94 (reissued in 1995 on RPM & in 2006 on Renascent)
Land (1983, Jive) (reissued on Connoisseur in 2001) UK #92
7 Day Weekend (1985, Jive) (reissued on Connoisseur in 2001)
Chasing Shadows (1986, Island)
Fire on the Moon (as Dream Command) (1990, Island) (U.S. & Netherlands only)
The Payola$ stormed the Canadian music scene from the west coast hotbed of Vancouver, British Columbia. Founded by Paul Hyde (vocals) and Bob Rock (guitars), the duo became friends in high school and shared a passion for punk rock. They hooked up with drummer Taylor Nelson and sax/bass player Gary Middleclass to record their first single “China Boys” released in 1979.
Introducing Payola$, (four-song EP), Payolas, A&M , 1980
In a Place Like This, Payolas, A&M, 1981
No Stranger To Danger, Payolas, A&M, 1982
Hammer on a Drum, Payolas, A&M, 1983
Here’s the World for Ya, Paul Hyde and the Payolas, A&M, 1985
Under the Volcano, Rock and Hyde, Capitol/EMI, 1987
Langford Part One, (seven-song EP), Payolas, EMI, July 17, 2007
I’m going to depart from my normal posting pattern and take the time to discuss something very personal and very disturbing that casts a shadow on my life each and every day.
suffered a heart attack.

The Gospel According to The Meninblack (1981)
La Folie (1981)
Feline (1983)
Aural Sculpture (1984)
10 (1990)
By now, it should be apparent that I have an affinity for synthesizer-driven 80’s music. In fact, there is very little of 80’s synth-pop, New Wave, avant-garde that I don’t like.
Folk of the 80’s (1980) EP – Canada only
Rhythm of Youth (1982)
Freeways (1985) – Canada only
Pop Goes The World (1987)
The Adventures Of Men and Women Without Hate in the 21st Century (1989)
Sideways (1991) – Canada only
No Hats Beyond This Point (1993)
Formed in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England, in 1982, Fiat Lux was a short-lived yet powerfully talented 80’s New Wave band. Original members were Steve Wright (vocals) and Dave Crickmore (guitars, bass, keyboards). Ian Nelson (sax, keyboards), younger brother of Bill Nelson, joined shortly afterwards.