The Danse Society

by Andy Kellman
The Sheffield, England-based Danse Society originated in Y?, a band that included bassist Bubble, drummer Paul Gilmartin, keyboardist Paul "Bee" Hampshire, guitarist Dave Patrick, and vocalist Steve Rawlings. After an appearance on the local scene's Bouquet of Steel compilation in 1980, Y? annexed with two members of Lips-X (guitarist Paul Nash and keyboardist Lyndon Scarfe) and changed their name to Danse Crazy. Following a recording session and a few gigs -- including one at Leeds' Futurama festival with the likes of Public Image Limited, Joy Division, and Cabaret Voltaire -- Hampshire and Patrick left. By early 1981, the remaining members became the Danse Society. The group made their recorded debut on IKF in July 1981 with the Clock single. Just prior to recording a Peel Session, they added bassist Tim Wright to the lineup. Their manager started the Pax label, which released the band's next single. A Pax EP and another Peel Session predated a defection to their own Society imprint for 1982's Seduction EP. Another single closed the year out, and by this point the Danse Society was earning the interest of several major labels. Arista won out, signing the band in early 1983. A couple singles were released before the full-length Heaven Is Waiting. Public interest never really caught on, which is evident through another pair of singles that failed to chart successfully. An LP of re-recordings and new songs entitled Heaven Again was ready for release but never issued by Arista due to disappointing album and single sales. Dropped by the label, the band threw together a collection of demos and released Looking Through on Society in order to woo another deal. A self-titled compilation of the band's first three singles was issued as well. Rawlings soon left the group; the remaining members attempted to carry on with a new singer, but they opted to quit within a short amount of time. Rawlings fronted a short-lived band named Society almost immediately after his departure and reappeared a decade later in Meridian Dream. In 2001, Anagram reissued the Seduction EP, adding numerous single tracks.