Radio Blank
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | November 1976 |
| Defunct | 1977 |
| Headquarters | Wirral Peninsula , England |
Key people | Alan Gill, Keith Hartley, David Balfe, Steven Brick |
| Products | Music (punk and R&B) |
Radio Blank was a brief-lived English band blending R&B and punk, established in November 1976 on the Wirral Peninsula. The group consisted of Alan Gill on guitar, Keith Hartley as vocalist, David Balfe handling bass duties, and Steven Brick on drums.
During the mid-1970s, Gill, Hartley, and Balfe resided in Thingwall, Wirral, where they performed together in a band named Mr. McKenzie. In November 1976, they transitioned to Radio Blank, drawing inspiration from punk music and Liverpool’s notable act Deaf School. The band’s live appearances were limited to fifteen shows, including five performances at Liverpool’s Eric's Club. Their setlist featured both original songs and covers such as "You Really Got Me" by The Kinks and "Peaches" originally by The Stranglers.
By the end of 1977, Gill and Balfe grew disenchanted with punk, leading to the dissolution of Radio Blank. Subsequently, in December 1977, they formed Dalek I Love You alongside keyboardist Dave Hughes and Chris Teepe.
Following Radio Blank’s breakup, Steven Brick engaged in various projects as a session drummer throughout the 1980s but did not embark on extensive tours. He later shifted his focus to working as a roadie until 1989. Presently, Brick serves as an athletics coach at Wirral Athletic Club.
Balfe departed from Dalek I Love You to join Big in Japan and later became part of The Teardrop Explodes, which included Gill by 1980. Between 1979 and 1980, Dalek I Love You issued three singles and the album Compass Kumpas without Balfe’s involvement. After his tenure with The Teardrop Explodes concluded, Balfe reactivated Dalek I Love You, incorporating Keith Hartley on vocals for their self-titled release in 1983.
Prior to his role in Dalek I Love You, Hartley co-established Godot with Hughes.
In 2018, Radio Blank made their vinyl debut via Love Child Records with a four-track 7" E.P. entitled "The Mary Whitehouse E.P."
External links
- https://whycontrol1977.blogspot.com/2007/12/bombsite-fanzine-1977-radio-blank.html – Bombsite Fanzine 1977; Radio Blank
- http://lovechildrecords.co.uk – HOME