- (This page is about the British band. For the American band of the same name, see Lotus Eaters(2)).
The Lotus Eaters were a new wave group from Liverpool, UK, formed in 1982. Core members were Peter Coyle, formerly of Jass Babies and Jeremy Kelly, formerly of Dance Party and The Wild Swans, together with Ged Quinn also of The Wild Swans. The group had a hit with their debut single 'The First Picture of You' in the summer of 1983, although the ensuing album No Sense of Sin and follow-up singles 'You Don't Need Someone New' and 'Set Me Apart' (1984) failed to match the success, making the group effectively 'one hit wonders'. Quinn left shortly afterwards and Coyle and Kelly dissolved the band after a second tour with new members. Both continued to work in the music business, mostly based in and around Liverpool, with Kelly going on to re-form The Wild Swans.
The group take their name from a Greek mythological race living on an island dominated by lotus plants whose fruits and flowers were narcotic, causing the people to sleep in peaceful apathy.
Links to Peel[]
The Lotus Eaters were basically a Peel discovery and they recorded their first session in October 1982 without having issued a record. Both Coyle and Kelly had already recorded sessions with other bands, Jass Babies and Wild Swans respectively. The Arista label allegedly picked up on 'The First Picture of You' for release as a single on the strength of the Peel session recording of the song. Their second session came a year later and featured tracks which would appear on their debut album, released in June 1984.
Sessions[]
Two sessions, both released on First Picture of You (compilation CD, 1998 Vinyl Japan / BBC Worldwide Music, ASKCD77).
The Lotus Eaters - The First Picture Of You (Peel Session)
1. Recorded 1982-10-02. First broadcast 18 October 1982. Repeated 08 November 1982, 29 August 1983
- Can You Keep A Secret? / Stranger So Far / When You Look At Boys / The First Picture Of You
2. Recorded 1983-10-05. First broadcast 10 October 1983. Repeated: 26 October 1983
- Alone Of All Her Sex / German Girl / You Fill Me With Need / Love Still Flows / Signature Tune (Instrumental)
Other Shows Played[]
- 1983
- 08 June 1983: The First Picture Of You (7") Sylvan SYL 1
- 1984
- 18 June 1984: German Girl (LP - No Sense Of Sin) Arista
- 1985
- 15 February 1985 (Round Table): It Hurts (7") Sylvan SYL 5
- 19 February 1985: It Hurts (7") Sylvan
- 12 March 1985: It Hurts (7") Sylvan SYL 5
- 2001
- 05 July 2001 (Radio Eins): German Girl (LP - No Sense Of Sin) Arista