Teardrop Explodes

The Teardrop Explodes were an English post-punk/neo-psychedelic band formed in Liverpool in 1978. Best known for their Top Ten UK single "Reward" in 1981, the group originated as a key band in the emerging Liverpool post-punk scene of the late 1970s, who launched the career of group frontman Julian Cope as well as that of keyboard player and co-manager David Balfe (later a record producer, A&R man and the founder of Food Records). Other members included early Smiths producer Troy Tate. The group disbanded in 1982.

Links To Peel
In 1979, Peel invited the band to do a session for his show prompting front man Julian Cope to write the song, Reward, with the lyrics "Bless my cotton socks, I'm in the news". The song went to number 6 in the UK singles chart in 1981. After the band split, Peel kept an interest in Julian Cope's music solo career through the 80's and 90's. Former keyboard player Paul Simpson formed Peel session band the Wild Swans (who reached #10 in the 1982 Festive Fifty with 'Revolutionary Spirit').

In 2016, Cope attended at a Classic Album Sundays event at John Peel Centre in Stowmarket to discuss the Teardrop Explodes debut LP 'Kilimanjaro'.

Festive Fifty Entries

 * 1980 Festive Fifty: Treason #43

Sessions
The first two sessions are available on Peel Sessions Plus (2007, CD, Mercury)

1. Recorded: 1979-10-02. Broadcast: 15 October 1979. Repeated: 16 March 1981 2. Recorded: 1980-04-24. Broadcast: 24 April 1980. Repeated: 13 May 1980, 30 December 1980 3. Recorded: 1981-11-16. Broadcast: 22 December 1981. Repeated: 13 January 1982, Mr maudlin's Peel Sessions Vol3
 * Brave Boys Keep Their Promises / Ha Ha I'm Drowning / Went Crazy / Chance
 * Thief Of Baghdad / When I Dream / The Poppies In The Field
 * Sex / The Challenger

Other Shows Played
1979
 * 22 February 1979: Sleeping Gas (7") Zoo


 * 26 March 1979: Unknown


 * 13 June 1979: Sleeping Gas (Single) Zoo


 * 16 July 1979: Bouncing Babies (7") Zoo
 * 26 July 1979: Unknown

1980 1981
 * 07 August 1979: Bouncing Babies (single) Zoo
 * 13 March 1980: Treason (single) Zoo
 * 19 March 1980: Treason (single) Zoo
 * 27 March 1980: Treason (It’s Just A Story) (7”) Zoo
 * 30 April 1980: Treason (It’s Just A Story) (7”) Zoo
 * 04 September 1980: When I Dream (7”) Mercury
 * 22 September 1980: When I Dream (7") Mercury
 * 14 October 1980: Brave Boys Keep Their Promises (album - Kilimanjaro) Mercury
 * 23 October 1980: Sleeping Gas (album - Kilimanjaro) Mercury
 * 09 December 1980: Brave Boys Keep Their Promises (album - Kilimanjaro) Mercury
 * 22 December 1980: Treason (LP - Kilimanjaro, 1980) Fontana FF #43
 * 22 January 1981: Reward (7") Mercury
 * 03 February 1981: 'Reward' (7" ) Mercury
 * 04 February 1981: Reward (7") Mercury
 * Karl's Tape Early February 1981: 'Reward' (7" ) Mercury
 * Karl's Tape April May 1981: For Years (live for Richard Skinner or repeat of Mike Read session)

1982 1983 1984 1985 1990
 * Karl's Tape May 1981: Pure Joy / Leila Khaled Said / I'm Not The Loving Kind / Culture Banker
 * 04 May 1981: Traison (C'Est Juste Une Histoire) (12" b-side: Treason (It's Just A Story)) Mercury
 * 26 October 1981: Colours Fly Away (7") Mercury
 * 02 November 1981: Colours Fly Away (7") Mercury
 * Karl's Tape Early July 1982: Buchanan / Serious Danger / You Disappear From View / Log Cabin
 * 13 October 1982: Second Head (LP - Kilimanjaro) Fontana
 * 25 October 1982: Sleeping Gas (7") Zoo
 * 09 March 1983: You Disappear From View (7") Mercury
 * 17 March 1983: Unknown
 * Peel Early June 1984 (Karl's Tape June 1984) (11 June 1984): Sleeping Gas
 * 30 December 1985: Bouncing Babies (7") Zoo
 * 06 August 1990: Ha Ha I'm Drowning (LP - Kilimanjaro) Mercury
 * Best Of Peel Vol 17 (01 December 1990): 'Camera Camera (LP-The Zoo Uncaged 1978-1982)' (Document)

1993 TOTP Others
 * Best Of Peel Vol 18 (16 December 1990): 'Treason (It's Just A Story)' (Compilation CD-'The Zoo' Uncaged 1978-1982)' (Griffin Music Inc.)
 * 08 April 1993 (John Peel Is Jakki Brambles): Reward (single) Mercury
 * 25 December 1981 (TOTP): Reward
 * John Peel: In Session Tonight: Reward