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The Danse Society
The Danse Society, October 2011
Background information
Origin	Barnsley, England
Genres	Gothic rock, post-punk, synthpop, new wave
Years active	1980 (1980)–present (present)
Labels	Society, Arista
Members	The Danse Society Maethelyiah Paul Nash Sam Bollands Jack Cooper Iain Hunter
Past members	Steve Rawlings Paul Gilmartin Martin Roberts Lyndon Scarfe Tim Wright

The Danse Society are an English gothic rock band, formed in Barnsley in 1980. They were originally active until 1987, reforming in 2011. They achieved moderate success during their career. Their lineup included Steve Rawlings (vocals), Paul Nash (guitar), Lyndon Scarfe (keyboards), Tim Wright (bass guitar) and Paul Gilmartin (drums). Scarfe was replaced by David Whitaker (formerly of Music for Pleasure) after the Heaven Is Waiting album.

Background

Evolution

Prior to 1980 Paul Hampshire (Bee/Bee Goo) Dave Patrick, Steve Rawlings and Paul Gilmartin were in a band called Y? which was established. It had management and was recording and performing. Dave Patrick left and the remaining members renamed as Danse Crazy. Looking locally for more musicians to beef up the band’s sound they invited Paul Nash and Lyndon Scarfe to join them followed rapidly by Tim Wright on bass. It was at this point that Paul Gilmartin remembered a notice on a door at Sheffield University where Y? had played a gig. It read “A meeting of the dance society will be held in Room 6”

And so Danse Society was born.

The final line up of the band at this time was Steve on vocals, Paul Gilmartin on drums, Lyndon Scarfe on keyboards, Paul Nash on guitar, Tim Wright on bass guitar. Paul Hampshire having left to pursue another musical direction and to enjoy success around the world.

First Incarnation

In 1980, the band recorded and released their first single, "Clock", on their own newly formed record label Society. They released their debut studio album, Seduction, in 1982. It reached No. 3 in the UK Indie Chart.

Their second studio album, Heaven Is Waiting, was released in December 1983 on record label Arista. It reached No. 39 in the UK albums chart. The album contained a cover of The Rolling Stones' song "2000 Light Years from Home", also edited in 1984 as a 12" single and as a limited-edition double single.

At this point Lyndon Scarfe left the band which left a gap in the line up. Paul Gilmartin again came up with someone from his days in Y? when he contacted former Music For Pleasure keyboardist David Whittaker. Dave joined the line up that year and continued until they “mothballed” in 1986.

The band was in transition and there was some confusion. Steve left for the States and was keen to keep the Danse Society name. 1986 saw them release their last album Looking Through and they did so as Danse Society International. Internally the band took a decision to continue without Steve and he eventually took the moniker of Danse Society International while the boys found another vocalist and performed as Johnny In The Clouds.

Steve continued and the following year in 1987 released a single entitled "Saturn Girl". After this he put aside the Danse Society International name and began to pursue his music with Meridian Dream.

The Danse Society was in hibernation.

Reformation

In 2009 Drummer and original member Paul Gilmartin contacted keyboard player David Whittaker with a view to reforming the band and producing new material. They made approaches to Steve Rawlings, still living in the US and pursuing amongst other things, his musical path with Meridian Dream. Whilst waiting for a response they wrote songs and lyrics and laid down tracks in Whittaker's studio. These tracks would later become Change of Skin and Scarey Tales. Parallel to this, a campaign titled The Danse Society Reformation Plot was started on Facebook at the end of 2009 by Alison Howells and this had a galvanising effect on the process - It allowed contact and showed the band it still had support out there. Paul Nash was contacted by the duo and despite initial reservations where said he would "have to think very carefully" about any return - he eventually did and came in to the studio to lay down guitar tracks. Steve Rawlings deligted everyone by returning the contact and agreed to come over with a view to rejoining the line up.

Steve's return was shortlived and after recording some vocals he returned to the US and has not as of yet, made clear any future intentions towards The Danse Society. Via the FaceBook page, the Italian vocalist Louisa Pile (aka Louisa Allsopp) who uses the stage name "Maethelyiah" entered the scene. The band began rehearsing with her on vocals and whilst this radical departure from a male vocalist caused much controversy amongst the faithful, the band persevered with it. Eventually a studio album took shape, Change of Skin, in July 2011. This was followed in November 2011 with the first single to be taken from another new album, "God Cry". In April 2012 they released the second single from Change of Skin, "Vatican", backed with a reworking of their classic early song "Seduction". Their first live gig in 25 years was performed at Germany's Wave-Gotik-Treffen festival in May 2012, followed by selected festival dates and the addition of bassist Martin Roberts.

The fifth studio album, Scarey Tales, was released in February 2013.

Reincarnation

At the time of writing this (December 2014) The Danse Society now consists of Paul Nash, Maethelyiah, Sam Bollands, Jack Cooper and Iain Hunter. Paul Gilmartin, David Whittaker, Mal Macafferty, Elliott Wheeler, Craig Eddington and Brian Jay continue to make music and at this time also use the band name. Martin Roberts having left to pursue other band interests as well as recording and producing artists and bands.

Gilmartin's Danse Society has regained the original ethos of the band with a strong male vocal which is proving popular with fans old and new as well as live audiences. David Whittaker is instrumental (pun intended) in the band's development and direction and supports it in the studio whilst Craig Eddington's keyboards make the live performances as ethereal and dramatic as ever. Mal's bass and technical expertise complements Gilmartin's distinctive and powerful drums to provide a solid TDS foundation to Elliott Wheeler's innovative and evocative lead guitar. The vocal is powerful and distinctive with echoes of Rawlings in fusion with a new yet polished talent that comes from a veteran rock vocalist with the experience, charisma and presence required of a successful front person.

The Danse Society Reincarnated itself and indeed - a sixth studio album penned by Gilmartin's skilled lyrical hand and scored by the band is imminent - as is another single and in 2015 more live performances to supplement the dozen or so that they have already undertaken. These included two sell out shows in London at the iconic venue The Garage with Modern English in June and Balaam And The Angel in November. A new album and a surprise for old fans will be released in 2015. Behind the scenes, there is much happening including a resolution to who will actually use The Danse Society name and title. Paul Gilmartin registered and holds Intellectual Property Rights to "The Danse Society" and the Crown of Thorns logo. Further consolidation is being finalised and 2015 will see the band refreshed and secure and delivering quality Dark Wave to the loyal and patient fanbase as well as new audiences. The Danse Continues.

Discography

Studio albums

• Seduction (1982)
• Heaven Is Waiting (1983)
• Looking Through (1986) (as The Danse Society International)
• Change of Skin (2011)
• Scarey Tales (2013)

Compilation albums

• The Danse Society (1983)
• The Danse Society (1984)
• Demos Vol. 1 (2011)

Singles

References

1. ^ Lazell, Barry (1997). Indie Hits 1980–1989. Cherry Red Books. ISBN 0-9517206-9-4.
2. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guiness World Records Limited. p. 140. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
3. Strong, Martin C. (1999). The Great Alternative & Indie Discography. Canongate. ISBN 0-86241-913-1.

External links

• Official website

• English post-punk music groups
• Musical groups established in 1981
• Musical groups disestablished in 1987
• Musical groups reestablished in 2011
• British gothic rock groups
• English New Wave musical groups
• British dark wave musical groups
• Synthpop groups