Play Dead (band)

(Redirected from Pete Waddleton) English rock band

Play Dead were an English rock band from Oxford that grew out of the English punk scene of the late 1970s/early 1980s. The band made three studio albums and one-off singles for four different small labels — Fresh Records, Jungle Records, Situation 2 and Clay Records — before forming their own label, Tanz, for their final album, Company of Justice, produced by Conny Plank, which they released in 1985.

The original line-up of Play Dead consisted of Rob Hickson (vocals), Pete Waddleton (bass guitar), Mark "Wiff" Smith (drums) and Re-Vox (guitar). In July 1981, Re-Vox was replaced by Steve Green.

During their active years, Play Dead supported a number of acts, including the likes of Killing Joke, The Cult and The Sisters Of Mercy in the UK. They also appeared on Channel 4's music TV show, The Tube in late 1984.

A string of singles were released (many through Stoke-based Clay Records) from late 1983, throughout 1984 and early 1985. Play Dead toured frequently around the UK and Europe and by 1985, felt they had enough material to be able to put out their first ever live album, Into The Fire, which was released in May of that year. However, against the backdrop of similar artists such as Spear Of Destiny, The Cult, The Sisters Of Mercy and Fields Of The Nephilim, whose success was evident through having higher profiles in the music press, Play Dead struggled to compete.

In 1984, Rob and Pete created the project Mankind's Audio Development (nicknamed M.A.D.). Only one single was recorded, with the two songs "Craving" and "Sunfeast." Waddleton left the group in 1986 and, after a brief period as The Beastmaster Generals, the band dissolved.

Discography

Albums

1983 - The First Flower - #10 UK Indie
1984 - From the Promised Land - #5 UK Indie
1985 - Into the Fire - #19 UK Indie
1985 - Company of Justice - #3 UK Indie
1992 - Resurrection

12" singles

September 1983 - "Shine/Promise/Gaze"
March 1984 - "Break/Blood Stains/Blood Stains Pleasure"
July 1984 - "Isabel/Solace (Extended Version)"
1984 - "Propaganda (1984 Mix)/Sin of Sins (1984 Mix)"
1984 - "Conspiracy/Silent Conspiracy/Conspiracy (Saigon Mix)"
1985 - "Sacrosanct/Pale Fire/Holy Holy (Catholic Mix)/Sacrosanct (Heretic Mix)"
1985 - "This Kind of Heaven/This Kind of Heaven (Serious Mix)/Last Degree"
1985 - "Burning Down (MezCal Mix)/Still in Chains/Burning Down"

7" singles

1981 - "Poison Takes a Hold/Introduction"
1981 - "T.V. Eye/Final Epitaph"
1982 - "Propaganda/Propaganda (Mix)"
1983 - "Shine/Promise" - #14 UK Indie
1984 - "Break/Blood Stains" - #9 UK Indie
1984 - "Isabel/Solace" - #9 UK Indie
1984 - "Conspiracy/Silent Conspiracy" - #18 UK Indie
1984 - "Propaganda (1984 mix)" - #17 UK Indie
1985 - "Sacrosanct/Pale Fire" - #4 UK Indie
1985 - "This Side of Heaven" - #5 UK Indie

BBC Radio 1 - John Peel Sessions

1982 - Metallic Smile/Pray to Mecca/Propaganda/Effigy
1983 - Total Decline/The Tenant/Gaze
1984 - Break/Return to the East/No Motive

Bootlegs

1983 - May 12, 1983 Leeds Warehouse
1983 - Live in Norwich, Ska Ballroom - May 13, 1983
1983 - Live - July 28, 1983 Hull, Dingwalls / Live October 13, 1983 Hammersmith, Klub Foot
1984 - Live in France at Forum Des Halles - July 1, 1984
1984 - Oct 7th, Kolingsborg, Stockholm, Sweden
1984 - Live in Norrkoping Sweden - October 10, 1984
1985 - Dec 18th 1985, Tufnel Park, Penthouse, London(previously listed as 1984 )
2003 - The Final Pieces (Bootleg)

Album appearances

1985 - The Final Epitaph Live
1985 - The Singles 1982 ~ 85
1986 - In the Beginning - The 1981 Singles
1986 - Caught from Behind: Live in England, France, Germany, and Switzerland
1992 - Gothic Rock Volume 1
1995 - Gothic Rock Volume 2: 80's Into 90's
1998 - Gothic Rock Volume 3: Black on Black

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