Art Objects (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Headquarters | Bristol , United Kingdom |
| Products | Music recordings |
Art Objects was a post-punk group originating from Bristol that later transformed into the Blue Aeroplanes. They issued two singles and one album during the period from 1978 to 1981.
History
The band made their first appearance at Bristol's Ashton Court Festival in the summer of 1978, featuring poet Gerard Langley, dancer Wojtek Dmochowski, and guitarist Jonathan J. Key (known as Jonjo), who employed a Vox AC-30 amplifier and WEM Copicat to produce a variety of sounds. Although initially met with limited enthusiasm, they grew into a staple within the local scene, frequently performing as an opening act without the need for sound checks or drum arrangements.
Drums were incorporated into their setup when Gerard's brother John joined them for a performance in June 1979. Soon after, Bill Stair became the bassist and Robin Key, Jonjo's brother, took on guitar duties, finalizing the ensemble.
Their debut single, the "Hard Objects EP," was released in early 1980 by the Bristol independent label Fried Egg Records. This was followed by a second single titled "Showing Off (To Impress The Girls)" issued through Heartbeat Records.
In mid-1980, Art Objects recorded their sole album, Bagpipe Music, at Crescent Studios located in Bath; it was subsequently released by Heartbeat in 1981. The group disbanded shortly thereafter.
Following the split, Gerard, John, and Wojtek established the Blue Aeroplanes alongside new members. Their first album, Bop Art, featured several late-period Art Objects tracks and demos that included contributions from Jonjo, Robin, and Bill.
In 2007, Bagpipe Music saw a re-release courtesy of Cherry Red Records.
Members
- Gerard Langley – lead vocals
- Jonathan J. Key – guitar
- Robin Key – guitar
- Bill Stair – bass guitar
- John Langley – drums
- Wojtek Dmochowski – dancer
Albums
- Bagpipe Music (1981), Heartbeat Records; reissued by Cherry Red Records in 2007
Singles
- "Hard Objects" b/w "Biblioteque/Fit of Pique" (1980), Fried Egg Records
- "Showing Off to Impress the Girls" b/w "Our Silver Sister" (live) (1980), Heartbeat Records