Teenage Filmstars
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Founder | Ed Ball, Daniel Treacy, Joseph Foster |
| Defunct | 1999 |
| Headquarters | London , United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
| Parent | Creation Records (1992–1999) |
Teenage Filmstars was a British band rooted in post-punk and psychedelic music, established in 1979 by Ed Ball, Daniel Treacy, and Joseph Foster. The group transitioned into The Times by 1980 and later reappeared on Creation Records in 1992.
Teenage Filmstars 1979–1980
Following the solo release of the final 'O' Level single "We Love Malcolm" in 1978, Edward Ball adopted the Teenage Filmstars moniker in early 1979. He enlisted his schoolmates Daniel Treacy and Joseph Foster to contribute to their debut single, "(There's a) Cloud Over Liverpool" (1979). The track received support from Radio 1 DJ John Peel, gaining renewed interest more than a year later when American record shops and college radio stations mistakenly associated it with the death of John Lennon.
Their next single, "The Odd Man Out" (1980), highlighted Ball's ability to replicate popular music trends of the time, incorporating elements from ska and electropop. During this era, Teenage Filmstars and TV Personalities embarked on their initial live performances, with Ball participating in both ensembles. Their concerts frequently featured fresh or improvised pieces, with Treacy and Ball composing songs inspired by influential figures—such as Teenage Filmstars' "I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape" (1980) and TV Personalities' "I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives" (1981).
In November 1980, as recording began on their first album, Ball rebranded the band as The Times. These recordings were eventually issued under the title "Go! With The Times" (1985).
Teenage Filmstars 1992–1999
After a twelve-year hiatus, Teenage Filmstars returned with the album Lift Off Mit Der Teenage Filmstars (also known as Star, 1992) released through Creation Records. This work reflected the influence of My Bloody Valentine's 1991 album Loveless, alongside 1990s psychedelia and Edward Ball's unique approach to popular music. In 1995, Kevin Shields described Ball as "a sensitive soul from another planet" and "a modernist musical alchemist." Subsequently, they issued Rocket Charms (1993), a concept album with a more concentrated theme. Their 1997 release, Ssenkcis Rou Troppus Drocer Ruo Yub ("Buy Our Record Support Our Sickness"), presented an ambitious psychedelic project merging avant-garde progressive rock styles from the sixties and seventies.
Studio albums
- Lift Off mit der Teenage Filmstars aka Star (Creation Records, 1992)
- Rocket Charms (Creation Records, 1993)
- Buy Our Record, Support Our Sickness (Creation Records, 1997)
- Bring Back the Cartel (Creation Records, 1999) (named after The Cartel record distributor)
Compilations
- 1977–1980 A Day in the Life of Gilbert and George (Rev-Ola, 1992)
- Here's to Old England! (2005)
Singles & EPs
- "(There's A) Cloud Over Liverpool" (Clockwork Records, 1979)
- "The Odd Man Out" (Wessex Records, 1980)
- "I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape" (Fab Listening Records, 1980)