Punk Pioneer, Stiv Bators
Stiv Bators, live at the Whisky A Go Go, 1980.
At this time in Stiv's career, The Dead Boys had stopped touring and recording as a band (they would reunite to do a New Year's Eve show in NYC in 1988 at the old Ritz, however). Stiv was doing a pop-oriented thing, as you can see by his clothes. He performed with the band that backed him on his solo album, Disconnected, which was released by Greg Shaw's Bomp Records.
I am pleased to take this moment to boast that all the photos on the back album cover and inner sleeve are mine, except for the front cover, which is a great shot by David Arnoff.
Back to the story -- Stiv was living in Los Angeles, recording with a pop band that at the time, temporarily included Dead Boy Jimmy Zero, and dating super groupies Sabel Starr and Bebe Buell. Disconnected was recorded in a basketball court in Sun Valley, CA and produced by Thom Wilson, who would go on to some notoriety for producing The Offspring and Madonna.
After doing this solo thing for about a year, Stiv decamped to London where he hooked up with former Sham 69 members Dave Parsons, Dave "Kermit" Tregunna and Rick "Rock" Goldstein, with the addition of Joan Armatrading keyboardist, Dean Klevatt to form The Wanderers. They made one album and did a short tour of the United States in 1981. On the heels of The Wanderers, Stiv and Tregunna teamed up with ex-Damned guitarist Brian James and drummer Nicky Turner to form Lords of the New Church.
Stay tuned for more stories of Stiv...
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