Re-Flex
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1981 in Birmingham, England |
| Founder | John Baxter, Paul Fishman |
| Headquarters | Birmingham , England |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Re-Flex was a new wave group originating from Birmingham, England, established in 1981. They are predominantly recognized for their hit single "The Politics of Dancing", which appeared on their 1983 debut album sharing the same title. Although the band stopped regular collaboration by 1985, members occasionally pursued individual projects afterward.
Formation and initial phase (1981–1982)
The band Re-Flex was initiated by John Baxter (vocals, lead guitar) alongside Paul Fishman (keyboards, backing vocals). Early line-up members included François Craig (bass, vocals), John Hodges (guitar), and drummers Phil Gould and Mark King, both of whom later co-founded the jazz-funk ensemble Level 42. Following King's exit, Roland Vaughn Kerridge took over drumming duties. Nigel Ross-Scott replaced Craig on bass through an introduction by Thomas Dolby. Hodges departed prior to the release of their first album, resulting in a quartet formation consisting of Baxter, Fishman, Kerridge, and Ross-Scott.
Global recognition (1983–1984)
In late 1982, Re-Flex recorded their album The Politics of Dancing, which was launched in November 1983 under EMI Records. Produced by John Punter, the album attained moderate commercial success, peaking at No. 53 on the US Billboard 200 chart, No. 58 in Germany, and No. 34 in New Zealand. A CD reissue was issued in 1993 by One Way Records.
The album’s title track gained international acclaim in 1984, reaching No. 24 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 8 on the US Dance chart. It also charted at No. 28 in the UK, No. 9 in Canada, No. 25 in West Germany, No. 11 in Australia, and No. 12 in New Zealand, alongside success across various European and other markets. During this period, the band supported the Police on their US tour. Other singles from the album experienced differing degrees of international success.
"The Politics of Dancing" appeared in films such as Edge of Seventeen (1998) and Atomic Blonde (2017), contributing to its lasting popularity. Additionally, Re-Flex provided the track "Cut It" for the soundtrack of the 1984 film Breakin' released by Polydor Records.
Humanication and break period (1985–1987)
Recorded toward the end of 1984, Humanication was planned as Re-Flex’s sophomore album. Its single "How Much Longer"—which featured Sting on backing vocals—achieved modest success in Germany and focused on environmental themes. Despite favorable reviews, EMI withheld the album from release due to its political content being considered unsuitable for the US market, prompting the band to part ways with the label. Demo versions circulated unofficially but remained unreleased officially for a quarter-century.
Re-Flex continued studio work on a project called Jamming the Broadcast and contributed two songs—"Life's Too Dangerous" and "Revolution Now"—to the soundtrack of the 1987 movie Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. After these recordings, the group ceased active collaboration without formally dissolving.
Recent developments (2010–present)
In September 2010, Re-Flex issued a six-CD collection titled Re-Fuse, assembled by Paul Fishman and Roland Vaughn Kerridge. This set included a remastered version of The Politics of Dancing plus five discs containing previously unreleased material such as complete versions of Humanication and Jamming the Broadcast.
Fishman and Kerridge also launched a website named Connect in 2010 to promote these releases. Created by Fishman’s company PFL-UK, it featured an innovative infinite three-dimensional virtual environment.
Drummer Roland Vaughn Kerridge passed away in February 2012 following surgery for a brain tumor. Prior to his passing, he recorded one last track with Fishman and others titled "Vibrate Generate," which Fishman announced would be issued as both a single and as the title track on a forthcoming compilation.
On 23 May 2022, Fishman confirmed via Re-Flex’s social media channels that "Vibrate Generate" would be released digitally in June alongside a double-CD album. The single became available on major digital platforms on 17 June 2022; subsequently, on 24 June, Cherry Red Records released the double-CD featuring remixes plus new compositions. A music video for "Vibrate Generate" was also produced featuring original members Baxter, Fishman, early bassist François Craig, James Kerridge—son of the late drummer—and guest musicians.
Studio albums
| Release Year | Album Information | Highest Chart Rankings | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | US | AUS | CAN | GER | NL | NZ | SWE | ||
| 1983 | Template:Sort
|
— | 53 | 77 | — | 58 | — | 34 | — |
| 1985 | Humanication
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2010 | Template:Sort
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2010 | Music Re-Action
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2010 | Jamming the Broadcast
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2010 | Re-Fuse (Box Set)
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | Vibrate Generate
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Singles
| Year | Single | Highest chart rankings | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | US | US Dance | AUS | GER | SWI | SA | NL | NZ | CAN | |||
| 1983 | "The Politics of Dancing" | 28 | 24 | 8 | 12 | 25 | 28 | 19 | 43 | 12 | 9 | The Politics of Dancing |
| "Hitline" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Hurt" | — | 82 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1984 | "Praying to the Beat" | 95 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 50 | — | |
| "Couldn't Stand a Day" | 97 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Sensitive" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1985 | "How Much Longer" | — | — | — | — | 59 | — | — | — | — | — | Humanication |