Re-Flex

Re-Flex were an English new wave and synth-pop band formed in Birmingham in 1981. They are most often recognized for their hit, "The Politics of Dancing", the title track from their debut album, as well as the singles "Hurt", "Hitline", "Couldn't Stand a Day", "Praying to the Beat", "Sensitive", and "Flex It". The band broke up in 1985.

Re-Flex
OriginBirmingham, England
GenresNew wave, synth-pop, dance-rock
Years active1981–1985
LabelsEMI, Capitol, One Day
Associated actsGloria Mundi, Level 42, the Police
Websitere-flex.com
Past members
  • John Baxter
  • Paul Fishman
  • Francois Craig
  • John Hodges
  • Phil Gould
  • Mark King
  • Roland Vaughn Kerridge
  • Nigel Ross-Scott

History

Formation and early years (1981–1982)

Re-Flex were formed in 1981 by musicians John Baxter on vocals and lead guitar and Paul Fishman on keyboards and backing vocals. The band's earliest line-ups also included Francois Craig on bass and vocals, John Hodges on guitar, and two successive drummers: Phil Gould and Mark King, who would both go on to form jazz-funk band Level 42. Following King's exit, Roland Vaughn Kerridge took over on drums and later, after Craig's departure, musician Thomas Dolby introduced the band to ex-Gloria Mundi bass player Nigel Ross-Scott. Hodges departed at some point before their first album was recorded. Re-Flex's final and best-known line-up consisted of Baxter, Fishman, Kerridge and Ross-Scott.

International success (1981–1983)

In late 1982, the band recorded their debut studio album, The Politics of Dancing, which was released in November 1983 by EMI Records. The album, produced by John Punter of Roxy Music fame,[1] was a moderate success, peaking at No. 53 in the United States, No. 58 in Germany and No. 34 in New Zealand. The album was later re-released in 1993, in CD format for the first time, by One Way Records.

The album's title track, released as a single in late 1983, was met with much greater success, and became a big international hit in 1984, reaching the Top 40 (and in some cases the Top 20) in numerous countries : No. 24 in the United States and No. 8 in the U.S. dance chart, No. 28 in the UK (with a chart run of 9 weeks),[2] No. 9 in Canada (with a chart run of 9 weeks in the Canadian Top 30), No. 25 in West Germany, No. 11 in Australia, No. 12 in New Zealand, and was also a success in Switzerland, South Africa, Israel, the Netherlands, Spain, and Italy. Five other singles were released from the album and achieved various international success. The band toured Europe and the United States, where, on their first visit, they supported the Police.

"The Politics of Dancing" was featured in the 1998 film Edge of Seventeen and can also be found on numerous compilation albums of 1980s hit singles. It also appeared in the trailer and film Atomic Blonde, starring Charlize Theron (2017). [3] Re-Flex also recorded the song "Cut It" for the soundtrack to the 1984 film Breakin' which was released by Polydor Records.

Humanication and hiatus (1984–1987)

Recorded in late 1984 and planned for a release in February 1985, Humanication was to be Re-Flex's follow-up album. The only single released from the album, "How Much Longer" (a minor hit in Germany), on the topic of environmentalism, featured Sting on backing vocals. Despite positive response, the record was pulled by EMI and deemed too political by the US company. Soon after, the band left EMI. Demo versions of the Humanication album were leaked out, although it would not be officially released for another 25 years.

In spite of the turmoil, Re-Flex continued to record together, working on a new project entitled Jamming The Broadcast. During this period, the band also recorded two tracks, "Life's Too Dangerous" and "Revolution Now," for the soundtrack to the 1987 film Superman IV. After recording was completed, the group ceased actively working together, but never officially disbanded.

Recent events (2010–present)

In mid-September 2010, Re-Flex released a six CD box set put together by Paul Fishman, in conjunction with Roland Vaughn Kerridge, entitled Re-Fuse. The set included a remastered version of The Politics of Dancing and five CDs of other previously unreleased material (including the Humanication and Jamming the Broadcast albums in their entirety) which pre- and post-dates Politics.[4]

Fishman and Kerridge's remastering of the band's back catalogue culminated in 18 September 2010 launch of a website entitled Connect to promote these new releases.[5] The website was developed by Paul Fishman's company, PFL-UK, and has been designed around an infinite 3D environment.

According to a September 2012 interview with Paul Fishman, drummer Roland Vaughn Kerridge died in February of that year after undergoing three rounds of surgery for a brain tumor. Fortunately, "Roly" (Kerridge) was able to record one final song in a brief reformation of the classic Re-Flex lineup (minus bassist Nigel Ross-Scott) prior to his death. Fishman states that the band intends to release this final track, "Vibrate Generate" as a single and the title track of a new compilation album.[6]

Discography

Studio albums
Year Album details Peak chart positions
UK US[7] AUS CAN GER[8] NL NZ SWE
1983 The Politics of Dancing
  • Released: November 1983 (reissued 18 September 2010)
  • Label: EMI, Capitol Records
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD
 — 53 — — 58 — 34 —
1985 Humanication
  • Released: (originally planned for February 1985) 18 September 2010
  • Label: EMI, Capitol Records, One Way Records
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD
 — — — — — — — —
2010 Movement of the Action-Fraction
  • Released: 18 September 2010
  • Label: One Way Records
  • Formats: CD
 — — — — — — — —
2010 Music Re-Action
  • Released: 18 September 2010
  • Label: One Way Records
  • Formats: CD
 — — — — — — — —
2010 Jamming the Broadcast
  • Released: (recorded in 1986–1987) 18 September 2010
  • Label: One Way Records
  • Formats: CD
 — — — — — — — —
2010 Re-Fuse (Box Set)
  • Released: 18 September 2010 (includes Movement of the Action-Fraction, The Politics of Dancing, Humanication, Music Re-Action, Jamming the Broadcast and the exclusive Re-Fuse CD)
  • Label: One Way Records
  • Formats: CD
 — — — — — — — —

Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions Album
UK

[9]

 US
[7][10]		 US
Dance

[7]

 AUS GER SWI

[11]

 SA NL
[12]		 NZ
[13]		 CAN
1983 "The Politics of Dancing" 28 24 8 11 25[14] 28 19 43 12 9 The Politics of Dancing
"Hitline" — — — — — — — — — —
"Hurt" — 82 — — — — — — — —
1984 "Praying to the Beat" 95 — — — — — — — 50 —
"Couldn't Stand a Day" 97 — — — — — — — — —
"Sensitive" — — — — — — — — — —
1985 "How Much Longer" — — — — 59[15] — — — — — Humanication
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See also

References
  1. Allmusic.com
  2. "Official Charts Company - Re-Flex - The Politics of Dancing". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  3. "the politics of dancing". Amazon.com. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  4. "Featured Content on Myspace". Myspace.com.
  5. "Re-Flex Connect - Html/Flash Portal". Re-flex.com. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  6. Back to the 80s: Interview with Paul Fishman from Re-Flex - Kickin' it Old School |tBlog.com 08 September 2012. Retrieved 12-7-2013.
  7. "Re-Flex". Billboard. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  8. "The Politics of Dancing". Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  9. "Re-Flex". Official Charts. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  10. Allmusic staff. "( Re-flex - Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )". Allmusic. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  11. "Re-Flex". Schweizer Hitparade. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  12. "dutchcharts.nl - Discografie Re-flex". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  13. "charts.nz - Discography Re-flex". charts.nz. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  14. "The Politics of Dancing single". Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  15. "How Much Longer?". Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
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