Thompson Twins

Thompson Twins

Company type	Pop ensemble
Industry	Music
Founded	1977 in Sheffield, England
Headquarters	Sheffield , United Kingdom
Products	Music albums, singles

Thompson Twins were a British pop ensemble established in 1977 in Sheffield. Originally part of the new wave movement, they transitioned into mainstream pop and enjoyed considerable acclaim across the UK, US, and global markets during the early to mid-1980s. In 1993, the group rebranded as Babble to signify their shift from pop towards dub-inspired chill-out music, continuing under this name until their disbandment in 1996.

The band's moniker was derived from the detective duo Thomson and Thompson featured in The Adventures of Tintin. Their most notable formation was a trio active between 1982 and 1986. They rose to prominence in the United States during the Second British Invasion and appeared at Live Aid in 1985 alongside artists such as Madonna.

Formation and early years

The initial lineup in 1977 consisted of Tom Bailey handling bass and vocals, Pete Dodd and John Roog on guitars, and Jon Podgorski ("Pod") on drums.

Upon arriving in London with minimal funds, the band members squatted in Clapham. Future member Alannah Currie, who lived nearby, crossed paths with Bailey during this period. Their roadie John Hade, who would later become their manager, also resided in the same dwelling.

After Podgorski remained in northern England, the group held auditions for drummers at Point Studio in Victoria, London. Andrew Edge joined for approximately 18 months before departing to join Savage Progress, a band that later supported Thompson Twins on their UK tour in 1984.

In 1980, with Bailey, Dodd, Roog, and drummer Chris Bell, they released their debut single "Squares and Triangles" through their own Dirty Discs label. Later that year, they followed up with another single titled "She's in Love with Mystery."

Changes in membership

By 1981, the lineup expanded to include Bailey, Dodd, Roog, Bell, former roadie Joe Leeway on percussion, and Jane Shorter on saxophone. This ensemble recorded their first album A Product Of... (Participation), which was featured in the documentary Listen to London. Although Currie contributed to the album sessions, she had not yet become an official member.

Following the debut album's release, Shorter departed and was replaced by Currie, who also added percussion duties. Bassist Matthew Seligman joined the group; meanwhile, Bailey transitioned to keyboards while Leeway assumed some lead vocal responsibilities.

After signing with Arista Records, they released their sophomore album Set. Thomas Dolby provided keyboard contributions both on Set and during live performances while Bailey continued honing his synthesizer expertise. The track "In the Name of Love", predominantly written and sung by Bailey, reached No. 1 on US dance charts. To leverage this achievement, an album titled In the Name of Love, primarily composed of selections from Set along with two songs from their debut album, was issued in the United States and charted on the Billboard 200.

Transition to a trio

Despite moderate success with "In the Name of Love," Bailey, Currie, and Leeway contemplated launching a side project named 'The Bermuda Triangle.' However, when both the single and its parent album Set underperformed on UK charts, they abandoned this concept. Manager Hade recommended reducing the band to a trio in April 1982. The remaining four members received £500 each as compensation and surrendered all rights to use of the band name.

Seeking distance from UK influences to develop new material, the trio relocated overseas to record at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas under producer Alex Sadkin. In 1983, Bailey explained that their objective was to move beyond conventional rock music towards a sound driven by technology that better represented their current artistic direction.

International recognition

Early in 1983, the Thompson Twins broke into both the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100 with the tracks "Lies" and "Love On Your Side," marking their initial entry into the UK Top 10. Their third album, Quick Step & Side Kick (titled Side Kicks in the United States), climbed to number 2 on the UK Albums Chart and achieved platinum status. Following singles such as "We Are Detective" secured a spot within the UK Top 10, while "Watching" reached number 33 in the UK. The songwriting process was a team effort: Currie focused on lyric writing, Bailey developed melodies, Leeway handled stage presentation, Currie directed video production and visual themes, and Bailey took charge of musicianship and production duties. In 1983, the band also served as the opening act for the Police during their US tour.

The trio's unique logo, designed by Andy Airfix, was honored in 2022 by Classic Pop Magazine as the fourth best band logo.

The single "Hold Me Now," released late in 1983, became a global hit, peaking at number 4 on the UK charts—earning a gold certification—and reaching number 3 in the United States, representing their highest-charting American single.

Their fourth studio album, Into the Gap, released in February 1984, sold five million copies worldwide and topped the UK Albums Chart, earning double platinum certification. Singles from this album included "Doctor! Doctor!" which reached number 3 in the UK; "You Take Me Up," peaking at number 2 with silver certification; "Sister of Mercy," which hit number 11; and "The Gap," which was not released in the UK. The band supported this album with an international tour that also saw it break into the US top ten.

In late 1984, "Lay Your Hands on Me" attained number 13 on the UK charts. After parting ways with producer Sadkin, they self-produced their fifth album Here's to Future Days in Paris. However, Bailey’s nervous exhaustion episode in March 1985 forced a delay of both the album's release and the cancellation of the planned single "Roll Over." Subsequently, they brought on producer Nile Rodgers to revise the project.

When it was released in September 1985, Here's to Future Days reached the Top 5 in the UK and Top 20 in the US but did not replicate earlier commercial achievements. Singles included "Don't Mess with Doctor Dream," which peaked at number 15 in the UK; "King for a Day," reaching number 22 in the UK and number 8 in the US; a US remix of "Lay Your Hands on Me," which climbed to number 6 stateside; and a cover of The Beatles' "Revolution," which failed to chart in the UK.

In July 1985, Thompson Twins performed alongside Madonna at Live Aid’s US segment. Scheduled UK tours—including an appearance at Glastonbury—were canceled due to Bailey’s health problems; as compensation, fans received a complimentary live album. Internationally, concerts proceeded successfully with sold-out shows across Japan and the United States. A second planned UK tour was also canceled following promoter insolvency.

Transition to duo

In 1986, Leeway departed from Thompson Twins, leaving Bailey and Currie to continue as a duo for an additional seven years. Their first release as a two-member act was "Nothing in Common," issued exclusively in North America in July 1986; it reached number 54 on US charts and number 68 in Canada.

The duo's sixth studio album Close to the Bone arrived in 1987 along with its lead single "Get That Love," which peaked at number 31 in the US but only reached number 66 in the UK. Commercially, the album underperformed dramatically, charting for just one week at number 90 on the UK Albums Chart without spawning further charting singles.

A remix of "In the Name of Love" by Shep Pettibone appeared in 1988 and entered the UK Top 50. By 1989, they had signed with Warner Bros. Records and released Big Trash. The single "Sugar Daddy" peaked at number 28 on US charts, marking their last significant mainstream chart success. Their final album under Thompson Twins was Queer (1991), featuring techno-influenced singles distributed under the alias Feedback Max aimed at club DJs. The track "Come Inside" achieved number 7 on the US Dance Chart and topped the UK Dance Chart.

By this time, Bailey and Currie were partners personally as well as professionally; they had their first child in 1988 and began concentrating on writing for other artists—most notably contributing to Deborah Harry’s hit "I Want That Man" in 1989. In 1990, they participated with "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" for Red Hot Organization’s Cole Porter tribute compilation Red Hot + Blue. The couple married in Las Vegas during 1991 before relocating to New Zealand a year later. Also in 1992, Thompson Twins contributed "Play with Me" to the soundtrack of Cool World, while Bailey additionally provided "Industry and Seduction."

In 1993, they reinvented themselves as Babble, releasing two albums: The Stone (1993) and Ether (1996).

Unlike many peers from their era, Thompson Twins chose not to revive their band for '80s nostalgia tours or reunions. Nevertheless, Bailey, Currie, and Leeway appeared together on Channel 4's UK program Top Ten Electro Bands in 2001 where Thompson Twins ranked ninth.

After the Twins

Babble put out two studio records, The Stone (1993) and Ether (1996), with tracks appearing in the soundtracks of Coneheads (1993) and With Honors (1994).

During the mid-1990s, Currie exited the music scene to open a glass-casting workshop in Auckland and dedicate time to raising her children. In 2001, she established MAdGE (Mothers Against Genetic Engineering in food and the environment), rallying thousands of New Zealand women to challenge biotechnology industry practices. She spearheaded a provocative billboard campaign spotlighting genetically engineered cows producing human milk, which garnered international recognition in art circles. After divorcing Bailey in 2003, Currie relocated to the UK and now creates visual art under the alias "Miss Pokeno." She is involved with collectives such as the Armchair Destructivists and The Sisters of Perpetual Resistance. Her artwork has been showcased at venues including London’s Guildhall Art Gallery and Geffrye Museum.

In 1999, Bailey took on production and keyboard duties for Stellar’s album Mix, earning him Producer of the Year at the 2000 New Zealand Music Awards. He has composed soundtrack arrangements, released albums under the moniker International Observer—notably Seen (2001), All Played Out (2005), and Felt (2009)—and performs with Holiwater, a group based in India. Returning to live performances as Thompson Twins' Tom Bailey in 2014, he embarked on international tours and released his first solo single "Come So Far" in 2016, followed by the solo album Science Fiction in 2018.

Following his departure from Thompson Twins in 1986, Leeway briefly explored acting and pursued a solo music career that did not achieve significant success. By 2006, he was living in Los Angeles, where he practices hypnotherapy and neuro-linguistic programming at the Hypnosis Motivation Institute.

Other former members have taken varied career directions:

• Dodd and Roog formed Big View, issuing the single "August Grass" in 1982. Dodd now works as a freelance journalist based in Chesterfield and records under Peter & the Wolves; both he and Roog perform with The Flow.
• Roog retired from senior administrative roles within adult services in London boroughs but remains active musically with The Flow.
• Seligman was employed by a law firm in London, participated in Soft Boys reunion events, released solo projects, moved to Sendai, Japan, and contributed to Thomas Dolby’s A Map of the Floating City. In 2012, he co-created Sendai, a charity album supporting earthquake relief efforts. He passed away in 2020 due to complications from COVID-19.
• Bell relocated to Bath, Somerset, performing with acts such as Spear of Destiny, Gene Loves Jezebel, and Hugh Cornwell of The Stranglers.
• Booth has supported Chinese musicians with production and development work; since February 2022 she holds a consulting and executive producer role at RIBA.

Tom Bailey solo shows

On 17 August 2014 at Temple Island Meadows, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, Bailey performed Thompson Twins songs live for the first time in nearly three decades during the Rewind South Festival.

That same year, Bailey joined the Retro Futura Tour across the United States alongside artists including Howard Jones, Midge Ure, China Crisis, and Katrina Leskanich of Katrina and the Waves.

He continues touring globally under the name "Thompson Twins' Tom Bailey," performing across both UK and North American venues, with tours extending through 2016.

In 2016, Bailey was honored with Classic Pop magazine’s 'Best Live Show' award.

During 2018, he toured the US as part of The Life Tour alongside the B-52's and Culture Club.

On 3 September 2022, Bailey delivered a sold-out concert at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, UK, performing the full 'Into the Gap' album live with his band—Alice Offley (bass/backing vocals), Charlotte Raven (keyboards/cello), and Paulina Szczepaniak (drums)—collectively known as 'The Sisters of Mercy.'

The event also included a surprise complete live rendition of Thompson Twins’ hit "We Are Detective." Although Bailey had produced a reworked instrumental version used as his walk-on music since 2014, this marked its first full live inclusion since his return. Alice Offley covered Alannah Currie’s vocal parts while playing bass.

Awards and nominations

Award	Year	Nominee(s)	Category	Outcome
Pollstar Concert Industry Awards	1985	Thompson Twins	Favorite New Headliner of the Year
	1986		Most Creative Tour Package
			Most Creative Stage Set	Band members Core lineup Tom Bailey – vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards (1977–1993) Joe Leeway – vocals, congas, percussion, keyboards (1981–1986) Alannah Currie – vocals, drums, percussion (1981–1993) Additional members Pete Dodd – vocals, guitar (1977–1982) John Roog – guitar (1977–1982) Jon Podgorski – drums (1977–1978) Andrew Edge – drums (1978–1979) Chris Bell – drums (1979–1982) Jane Shorter – saxophone (1981) Matthew Seligman – bass (1981–1982) Michael White – guitar (briefly part of extended lineup in 1982) Discography Albums A Product Of... (Participation) (1981) Set (1982) Quick Step & Side Kick (1983) Into the Gap (1984) Here's to Future Days (1985) Close to the Bone (1987) Big Trash (1989) Queer (1991) Bibliography The Thompson Twins – An Odd Couple (The Official Biography) authored by Rose Rouse. Published by Virgin Books, 1985. Thompson Twin – An '80's Memoir written by Michael White. Released by Little, Brown, 2000. See also Compilation of Billboard number-one dance club tracks List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart List of Second British Invasion artists External links