Dalek I

Dalek I (also known as Dalek I Love You) were an experimental post-punk band from the Wirral Peninsula, UK formed in late 1977. Evolving out of an earlier punk / R&B formation called Radio Blank, its founder members were David Balfe, Alan Gill and Keith Hartley. The band's unusual name (customary for Liverpool groups at the time) was a mixture of two original choices, The Daleks (taken straight from the 'Doctor Who' TV series) and Darling I Love You. In 1978 Balfe left the line-up going on to be part of Big In Japan and Teardrop Explodes. In an ever-changing Dalek I Love You formation, he was replaced by various other musicians from the Liverpool scene at the time, briefly including Andy McCluskey and Martin Cooper (later of The Id and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark). By October 1978 Dalek I Love You was reduced to the duo of Alan Gill and Dave Hughes and after two initial single releases on the Vertigo label in 1979, under the shortened name of Dalek I, a further single and debut album Compass Kumpas were released in May 1980, by which time however, Hughes had joined OMD. Gill also abandoned Dalek I in July, and joined Teardrop Explodes, co-writing their hit "Reward" with Julian Cope. He later re-formed the group as Dalek I Love You, releasing an eponymous album in 1983. (read more on wikipedia)

Links to Peel
Peel would have become aware of the group via the late seventies Merseyside music scene, centred around Eric's Club where Dalek I had played several times. He picked up immediately on their debut single "Freedom Fighters" in Spring 1979, and "Dalek I Love You (Destiny)" a year later. Their debut album is included in the Record Collection, as is the follow up Dalek I Love You.

Sessions

 * Dalek I did not record any sessions for Peel, although former members Dave Balfe played on the Teardrop Explodes session #2 (recorded 1980-04-16) and #3 (recorded 1981-11-16), and Dave Hughes on the OMD #2 (recorded 1980-04-14).

Other shows played

 * 1979
 * 29 May 1979: Freedom Fighters (7") Vertigo DALEK 1
 * 30 May 1979: Freedom Fighters (7") Vertigo DALEK 1
 * 21 June 1979: Freedom Fighters (7") Vertigo DALEK 1
 * 1980
 * 05 June 1980: Dalek I Love You (Destiny) (7”) Back Door DOOR 005