@tanpiltanpil Oh, come on. We should be happy that someone was making music like Siouxsie and the Banshees. I'm a fan of Sioux and I also love Altered Images, although their genre changed later and nobody really should judge them for being influenced by Banshees...
Just like Blondie starting out with a raw sound and image only to be finely tuned and polished for chart success , ironically both bands were produced by Mark Chapplin. Adored by John Peel, they were quite good really !
@SenualVampire hi ive just uploaded the full albums "Happy Birthday Plus" & "Pinky Blue Plus" by altered images on my channel. a days wait it on the happy birthday one. ther might be some others you want as well. ill be uploading there last album "Bite Plus" soon as well.
Dead pop stars rotting in the fridge! Playing this at night under a railway arch in London Bridge (or elsewhere) at night with coloured 'disco' lights, maybe even dried ice in the early eighties. Now that would be something
Great reading comments, saw them supporting The Banshees and Spizz back in the day. They could rip the shit out of most live bands these days, shame what they turned into.
Brilliant song. Saw them supporting Spizz Energy at the Edinburgh Nite Club. Fantastic, a shame they became a bit poppy/squeaky. DEAD POP STARS, EVERY LITTLE GIRLS DREAM ... brilliant...
Thanks for responding. It was so long ago and I cant remember what vinyl it was on. Who knows maybe I had the full album because I remember now having other songs like Insects, Legionaire's disease, I could be happy, and whatever. Lets see if I can remember.
It was a white background with a photo on it with them seated at a table with a birthday cake.
Oh how cliche and precious and cute for her girly scottish self.
All the songs on their first album "Happy Birthday" are good, except "Happy Birthday"!
Although I still possess that album in vinyl (28 years old aarghh...), a couple of years ago I bought a CD re-release, and it included this song "Dead Pop Stars" as a bonus, and about 4 other songs that I'd never heard before, 3 of which are very good. Maybe they were b-sides for their later "poppy" singles, in which case they should have had them reversed.
I taped a Peel version, and this is the song I most associate with Altered Images - of course, generally most people only know about Happy Birthday and I Could be Happy (which are fun, but not as much in the spirit of Punk/New Wave as this one was and is).
Cool song. This is the first one I ever heard by them back in 1981. This song got a lot of airplay on college stations in the States. The music reminded me of Siouxsie then I found out that it was produced by Steve Severin.
I don't know if those words ever came out on any "officially released" recordings, but it was certainly on a John Peel programmme (other than the "Festive Fifty").
My brother used to tape-record Peel at that time, (neither of us listened to any other radio).
We used to rewind the tape (several times) so as to be able to listen to her intro.
I was disappointed not to find "Dead Pop Stars" on the first album I bought.
I would have gladly bought a record with only her voice on it.
Back in the UK in those punk and early post-punk years, it was considered by many as sacrilege to put singles on albums. No "Hong Kong Garden" on Siouxsie and The Banshees' "The Scream", no Love Will Tear Us Apart on Joy Division's "Closer" for example.
But this gave way to commercial pressures, particularly by the big record companies. "Happy Birthday" unfortunately got onto "Happy Birthday" of course, or the LP wouldn't have been called that, but "filthy lucre" was in full swing by then !
Simple.... it's about teen idols and one-hit wonders... who are controled by managers/record companies and they have their hit only to be disposed of... very insightful
This song was written by Caesar, the guitarist in the band at the time. He went on to form The Wake but their recordings were pretty different from this.
Oh right... I get it (duuuh...me fucking bad).... it's 'Dead Popstars Wotting in the Studio'....now it all makes perfect sense :-(
Loobs666 6 months ago
What the fuck is Wotting in the studio?
Loobs666 6 months ago
So Banshees influenced.......
tanpiltanpil 9 months ago
@tanpiltanpil Oh, come on. We should be happy that someone was making music like Siouxsie and the Banshees. I'm a fan of Sioux and I also love Altered Images, although their genre changed later and nobody really should judge them for being influenced by Banshees...
Marion94 7 months ago
Just like Blondie starting out with a raw sound and image only to be finely tuned and polished for chart success , ironically both bands were produced by Mark Chapplin. Adored by John Peel, they were quite good really !
suzukidan 9 months ago
didn't realise what a great band they were. Only remember their obvious hits....was oblivious to this indie dna. thanks for post
maclachj1 10 months ago
Released just after John Lennon was shot but recorded shortly before, talk about bad timing....still a great song tho'.
JupiterSKin 1 year ago
Brilliant song! Love the audio crackles at the beginning!! had to buy two copies of this, the first one got worn out!
ashingtoon 1 year ago
I love this, and also 'A days wait' but you don't hear it that much, I'll have a look and see if it's on here, if not I'll upload it! :-)
SenualVampire 1 year ago
@SenualVampire hi ive just uploaded the full albums "Happy Birthday Plus" & "Pinky Blue Plus" by altered images on my channel. a days wait it on the happy birthday one. ther might be some others you want as well. ill be uploading there last album "Bite Plus" soon as well.
jamesparkerone 1 year ago
what a song...
daviddgc 1 year ago
Wonderful. Love this, thanks for putting it up!
FoodSexRecords 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
R.I.P. Michael Jackson (King of Pop) 1958 - 2009!
goodtovent 1 year ago
What album is this song on?
imafuckingrobot 1 year ago
Dead pop stars rotting in the fridge! Playing this at night under a railway arch in London Bridge (or elsewhere) at night with coloured 'disco' lights, maybe even dried ice in the early eighties. Now that would be something
Regalseven 1 year ago
great song
mrrtsno 1 year ago
I have this on a "cassingle". It opens like a cigarette box and plays the same tracks on both sides!!
zappydad 1 year ago
Love this! All i ever heard from them before was I Could Be Happy and Happy Birthday.
Tommygun1028 2 years ago
Great reading comments, saw them supporting The Banshees and Spizz back in the day. They could rip the shit out of most live bands these days, shame what they turned into.
CaptainScarlet500 2 years ago
ay no maaaaa k lindahh rolaaa
me enkantaaa me enkanta!
SSkarletiuxxx 2 years ago
Brilliant song. Saw them supporting Spizz Energy at the Edinburgh Nite Club. Fantastic, a shame they became a bit poppy/squeaky. DEAD POP STARS, EVERY LITTLE GIRLS DREAM ... brilliant...
markSTINKS 2 years ago
WOW!!!! where did this come from???? i first heard this song when I was 13......Love it!
cvrboy 2 years ago
I love the lyrics. Kinda silly though that they themselves became a disco band..
Assiman 2 years ago
I dont like to harp on about today, but 60's and late 70s/early 80 s were so inovative and I was 17 when this song burst on the scence. So powerful.
Jon
jon4242 2 years ago
Thanks for responding. It was so long ago and I cant remember what vinyl it was on. Who knows maybe I had the full album because I remember now having other songs like Insects, Legionaire's disease, I could be happy, and whatever. Lets see if I can remember.
It was a white background with a photo on it with them seated at a table with a birthday cake.
Oh how cliche and precious and cute for her girly scottish self.
creamstripe 2 years ago
Did they do anything else like this?
All I had was their 12" of Happy Birthday which I liked but was annoying. Maybe an album too but cant remember.
PRESTOTHECAT 2 years ago
All the songs on their first album "Happy Birthday" are good, except "Happy Birthday"!
Although I still possess that album in vinyl (28 years old aarghh...), a couple of years ago I bought a CD re-release, and it included this song "Dead Pop Stars" as a bonus, and about 4 other songs that I'd never heard before, 3 of which are very good. Maybe they were b-sides for their later "poppy" singles, in which case they should have had them reversed.
roddy76to86 2 years ago
I taped a Peel version, and this is the song I most associate with Altered Images - of course, generally most people only know about Happy Birthday and I Could be Happy (which are fun, but not as much in the spirit of Punk/New Wave as this one was and is).
mutleycrew1 2 years ago
i seem to remember the peel session version being better than the single
GriefTourist 2 years ago
the best images song...1980 ...dark
chris725144 3 years ago 10
cracking song.
drlovepants 3 years ago
what a gem, underated or what??
annabellwells 3 years ago
Cool song. This is the first one I ever heard by them back in 1981. This song got a lot of airplay on college stations in the States. The music reminded me of Siouxsie then I found out that it was produced by Steve Severin.
FaceInTheRain 3 years ago
Maybe then I'm not the only man on Earth that thinks that "Happy Birthday" was Altered Images' worst song ?!!
roddy76to86 3 years ago 5
Agreed.
But, speaking from memory, I think Claire saying "Hello, good evening and welcome" on the Peel session made it a whole lot better!
hartmusc 2 years ago
I must have missed that show, for I would surely remember it !
roddy76to86 2 years ago
I don't know if those words ever came out on any "officially released" recordings, but it was certainly on a John Peel programmme (other than the "Festive Fifty").
My brother used to tape-record Peel at that time, (neither of us listened to any other radio).
We used to rewind the tape (several times) so as to be able to listen to her intro.
I was disappointed not to find "Dead Pop Stars" on the first album I bought.
I would have gladly bought a record with only her voice on it.
hartmusc 2 years ago
Back in the UK in those punk and early post-punk years, it was considered by many as sacrilege to put singles on albums. No "Hong Kong Garden" on Siouxsie and The Banshees' "The Scream", no Love Will Tear Us Apart on Joy Division's "Closer" for example.
But this gave way to commercial pressures, particularly by the big record companies. "Happy Birthday" unfortunately got onto "Happy Birthday" of course, or the LP wouldn't have been called that, but "filthy lucre" was in full swing by then !
roddy76to86 2 years ago
thanks dirthvader i needed to know that
puff123jack 3 years ago
Their best - sounds creepy now.
mutikonka 3 years ago
what the hell does this mean? please can someone out there translate
leesmith96 3 years ago
Simple.... it's about teen idols and one-hit wonders... who are controled by managers/record companies and they have their hit only to be disposed of... very insightful
dirthvader 3 years ago
This song was written by Caesar, the guitarist in the band at the time. He went on to form The Wake but their recordings were pretty different from this.
nicck 3 years ago