September 2002

Sheffield's Human League are arguably the most innovative and influential New Romantic band to achieve mainstream success. It was also one of the few that had women band members. Often the only way to tell the girls from the boys was the height difference as they all shared make-up tips with one another. Also interesting was the fact that boys' hair was longer than the girls, further pushing their androgenous appearence.

A Flock of Seagulls were true one-hit wonders. Even though they nearly disappeared from sight after their tune "I Ran (So Far Away)" fell off the charts, they are still fondly remembered. The sculpted hairdos which made them famous have been immortalized in the film "The Wedding Singer" as well as on an episode of "Friends". But then again styling locks came natural to the Flock- two of the three founding members were hairdressers.

	Art school students Marc Almond and David Ball formed Soft Cell to compose music for theatrical productions. Their live shows proved they had a background in the visual and performing arts. Even today, their hit "Tainted Love" is one of the most favored of all 80's songs ever sung. "Electronic sleaze" is the best way to describe their sound and they were the most erotic of all the New Romantics.

Kajagoogoo's debut single "Too Shy" became their only hit. With their two-tone teased hair and brightly colored clothes, they were synth pop's version of The Bay City Rollers. Produced by Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran, that song, along with Kaja's pretty pouty faces, made the group a popular, yet short-lived, teeny bop act.

One of the pioneers of New Romanticism, Visage was born from Billy's, a Soho, London club which saw designers, artists, and students mingling together. Steve Strange, Visage's head pretty-boy, was, like Adam Ant, a punk rock refugee. Though instead a pirate gear, he preferred something a little more Ziggy-like. Much of his look was very Bowie-glam inspired, with extreme baby doll-like face paint and graphic clothing inspired by Kabuki theatre.

~S.Appel