Biography Part 3

Living in a small apartment together meant that things became even tougher for a while, but the two played with ideas and used a friend's studio in which to practice. At the time, Dave had contacted Logo Records run by Geoff Hannington and Olav Wyper (formally of RCA Records), but Wyper wouldn't sign a deal based on the fact that Dave and Peet Coombes (a friend), couldn't sing!

(Above) The Tourists

When they came back with Annie however, the result was different and thus a six album contract was drawn up. What followed was Annie and Dave's incarnation in the shortlived band The Catch which only released one single in Borderline and far from the success that was expected. When Annie and Dave added more members to their original line-up of three (including Peet Coombes) with Jim Tooney and Eddie Chin, this was met with disapproval from their record label.

The new look called for a new name and they would thus become The Tourists. They started off life as a punk infused band with elements of pop. Although their recordings were often met with critical bashing, including their first album The Tourists produced by Conny Plank, their live performances were more successful. They even toured with Roxy Music in 1979. In the same year their second album Reality Effect was released - spawning the UK #4 single and cover of Dusty Springfield's hit I Only Want To Be With You. By the early-eighties, the album had gone platinum. In 1980, another album followed in Luminous Basement.

(Above) An early pic of Annie & Dave.

Despite this, The Tourists could never really capitalise on their short-lived success, and after just five singles, they disbanded in early 1981, partly due to musical differences and a battle with Logo Records which eventually had to let them go to RCA. Despite this, Annie and Dave remained a strong team and eager for a change in direction, they once again turned their attentions to Conny Plank (based in Germany) and he helped them produce some demos.

The result would lead to the new band, newly titled the Eurythmics, and their first album In The Garden. As mentioned previously in this bio, the new name 'Eurythmics' was inspired by the Greek dance Annie learnt as a child. Dave stated to RCA that it summed up the 'European and rhythmical' elements within the band but because of previous failures, RCA still weren't convinced.

Nevertheless, in mid-1981, Eurythmics released what would be their first single in Never Gonna Cry Again which led to a promotional slot on the popular UK music show The Old Grey Whistle Test. Clem Burke (of Blondie fame) played drums on set. Even though these appearances did little to improve Eurythmics' profile or indeed sales, critics approved of In The Garden with its more polished, avant garde feel. They stepped up their promotion which included a live gig at Heaven - a famous night-club in London.

However, subsequent singles This Is The House and The Walk still didn't capture the public's imagination but this was partly due to RCA's poor marketing of the band. As a result, Annie started suffering from bouts of depression and agorophobia, while Dave suffered a major setback when he underwent a lung operation...

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