Comateens
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1978 in New York City, United States |
| Founder | Nicholas Dembling, Ramona Janquitto |
| Defunct | 1985; reestablished 1990; disestablished 1990 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
The Comateens emerged as a new wave duo in 1978, originating in New York City. The founding members were bassist and vocalist Nicholas Dembling (also known by the stage names Nic North and Nick West) alongside guitarist Ramona Janquitto (known as Ramona Jan). Shortly thereafter, Lyn Byrd joined the group, contributing vocals and synthesizer, which expanded the band into a trio. Following Jan’s departure in 1980, Oliver North, Nicholas’s brother, stepped in as guitarist, establishing the final formation of the band.
Their work included two songs featured on the notable compilation Marty Thau Presents 2x5. The group's self-titled debut album, Comateens (1980), blended original compositions with reinterpretations of tracks such as "Summer in the City" by The Lovin' Spoonful, "TVC 15" by David Bowie, and the theme from the television series The Munsters. Their initial release under Virgin Records was Pictures on a String (1983), which generated the club hit "Get Off My Case". The following year’s album, Deal with It (1984), featured live drumming by Chuck Sabo.
The band ceased activity in 1985. Tragically, Oliver North passed away in 1987 due to heart failure related to asthma and complications from a heroin overdose. In 1988, Nic North (Nicholas West) collaborated with Lyn Byrd to produce the album West & Byrd. The Comateens reunited in 1990 and released "A Place for Me," an English-language adaptation of "Fais-moi une place" by Julien Clerc and Françoise Hardy, which achieved success across Europe. Virgin Records later issued a retrospective compilation titled One By One: Best Of Comateens (1991), which has since become a sought-after collector’s item. Additionally, their music video for "The Late Mistake" was showcased on Beavis and Butt-head in 1995.
In November 2023, Nicholas Dembling and Ramona Jan reunited to reissue their original single "Danger Zone," coupled with "Elizabeth's Lover," through Left-for-Dead Records.
Albums
- Comateens (1981)
- Pictures on a String (1983)
- Deal with It (1984)
- Comateens (limited collectors edition) (2007)
Compilations
- One by One - The Best of the Comateens (1991)
West & Byrd
- West & Byrd (1988)
External links
- Official website
- Comateens biography at Trouser Press
- Comateens discography on Discogs
- Comateens profile at AllMusic
- Comateens featured on Beavis and Butthead