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Television Personalities

From Alfawiki
Television Personalities
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1977
FounderDan Treacy
Headquarters
London
,
England
ProductsMusic albums, singles
Websitewww.televisionpersonalities.co.uk

The Television Personalities are a post-punk group originating from England, formed in 1977 by London-based singer-songwriter Dan Treacy. Their musical journey encompasses post-punk, neo-psychedelia, and indie pop, with Treacy's songwriting serving as the band's defining element throughout. They gained prominence primarily through their early track "Part Time Punks", which became a favorite of broadcaster John Peel. Notable contributors have included childhood companions such as 'Slaughter Joe' Joe Foster, former close associate Ed Ball, and Jowe Head (formerly of Swell Maps), with Jeffrey Bloom completing the most stable lineup alongside Treacy and Head.

Despite limited mainstream commercial achievements, Television Personalities have earned critical acclaim as pioneers of early DIY music, significantly impacting the C86 and twee movements, as well as influencing labels like Creation Records and American bands including Pavement and MGMT. In 1984, they were invited by Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour to open his shows, and in 1991, Kurt Cobain extended an invitation for them to support Nirvana in London. Treacy’s uniquely dry and witty lyricism, deeply rooted in British pop culture, has solidified his reputation as a seminal figure within independent music circles.

Formation

Inspired by the Sex Pistols and Jonathan Richman, Treacy initiated Television Personalities with an emphasis on theatricality and satire rather than purely musical craftsmanship at the outset. The band seldom rehearsed and deliberately avoided fixed setlists to maintain spontaneity during performances. After initially exploring names associated with mainstream television personalities, they ultimately chose the nondescript title "Television Personalities."

Their debut single "14th Floor" was launched in January 1978, followed by the EP Where's Bill Grundy Now? which garnered notable attention. This EP contained their sole charting track, "Part Time Punks", penned by Treacy at age 17 while residing on King's Road in London. Ed Ball commended Treacy’s songwriting prowess, expressing surprise at the "amazing songs." With financial assistance from his mother, Treacy personally pressed 500 copies of the EP featuring photocopied covers and distributed them to record labels and DJs. The song caught the attention of BBC DJ John Peel, who frequently played it on air. However, Treacy miscalculated the production expenses, leading to financial difficulties.

The provocative title attracted media interest that boosted their profile within the industry. Treacy recounted meeting Jimmy Page, which led to an impromptu jam session. Support for "14th Floor" came from Joe Strummer, helping to establish the band as a foundational influence for Alan McGee during Creation Records' inception.

Mute Records

By mid-1980, Television Personalities debuted live with Joe Foster on bass and Mark Sheppard (from Empire) on drums. This formation was brief due to conflicts between Foster and Sheppard, resulting in Foster’s exit. Prior to this split, Treacy and Sheppard had contributed to Foster’s solo endeavor, the Missing Scientists, which involved Mute Records founder Daniel Miller.

Their initial album ...And Don't The Kids Just Love It (1981) defined their sound through a blend of neo-psychedelia infused with 1960s youth culture references. The follow-up album Mummy Your Not Watching Me [sic] leaned further into psychedelic influences. Their third release, They Could Have Been Bigger Than The Beatles, showcased Treacy’s characteristic humor; although it did not achieve commercial success in the UK, these albums found stronger markets in Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands. Ed Ball contributed during this period before departing in 1982 to form The Times, later rejoining in 2004.

Music critic Ira Robbins observed that their 1984 album The Painted Word represented a transition toward minimalist, droning psychedelia paired with subdued rock reminiscent of The Velvet Underground. That year also saw them recruited to support Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour on his solo tour; however, they were dismissed after performing "I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives," a song that revealed Barrett’s actual address during the show.

Later period and resurgence

By 1983, the lineup consisted of Treacy, Dave Musker on keyboards, Joe Foster handling guitar duties, and Mark Flunder playing bass. Drummer Jeffrey Bloom joined during a performance at Alan McGee's Living Room club, with Stephen Bird (also known as Jowe Head) soon replacing Flunder on bass. This ensemble toured across Europe before Foster and Musker exited, resulting in Treacy, Head, and Bloom forming a trio that persisted for the following 14 years. They maintained an active presence in London's live circuit and embarked on tours throughout the UK, Europe, the United States, and Japan. During this era, live recordings such as Chocolate Art and Camping in France were produced.

The release of Privilege was delayed until 1990. Their subsequent album, Closer to God, blended 1960s pop influences with darker elements reminiscent of The Painted Word.

Treacy encountered significant struggles with mental health and substance abuse; between 1998 and June 2004 he served a prison sentence for theft, spending part of his incarceration aboard the prison ship HMP Weare located in Portland Harbour, Dorset. A 2005 performance at Brighton’s Hanbury Ballroom was cut short due to Treacy's difficulties on stage. His 2006 return with the album My Dark Places was met with critical praise—Pitchfork lauded it, NME described it as "stunningly original," and the BBC commended its distinctive creativity.

In October 2011, Treacy underwent surgery to address a brain blood clot and was critically ill but regained consciousness by December while remaining hospitalized. Although still in recovery by 2016, he expressed intentions to resume his musical career.

In January 2018, Fire Records issued the previously unreleased twelfth album Beautiful Despair, which had been recorded on a 4-track recorder in 1990 between the releases of 1989's "Privilege" and 1992's "Closer to God".

Legacy

Since their formation, The Television Personalities have garnered both influence and critical recognition. Numerous bands have acknowledged their impact, including Half Man Half Biscuit, The Pastels, Jesus and Mary Chain, Beat Happening, Nirvana, Tindersticks (who covered "You’ll Have To Scream Louder" in 2020), Pavement, and MGMT (who composed "Song for Dan Treacy").

In 2006, critic Cam Lindsay characterized Treacy as having created some of the most eccentric, challenging yet brilliant pop songs over the past thirty years.

Discography

Treacy is renowned for embedding numerous cultural references and inside jokes within the band's lyrics, album titles, and artwork—primarily inspired by British cult cinema, 1960s culture, and overlooked musicians.

Albums

A comprehensive list of Television Personalities' albums:

Sources

  • Berton, Benjamin. Dreamworld: The extraordinary life of Daniel Treacy and his band Television Personalities. Mainz: Ventil Verlag, 2022.
  • Buckley, Peter. The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides, 2003.
  • Cavanagh, David. The Creation Records Story: My Magpie Eyes Are Hungry for the Prize. London: Virgin Books, 2000.
  • Robb, John. Punk Rock: An Oral History. London: Ebury Press, 2006.
  • Young, Rob. Rough Trade: Labels Unlimited. London: Black Dog Publishing, 2006.

External links

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