Formed in Edinburgh, Scotland, in March 1976, the Rezillos were initially an informal aggregation consisting of Eugene Reynolds (b. Alan Forbes; vocals/guitar), Fay Fife (b. Sheilagh Hynde; vocals), Luke Warm (b. Jo Callis; lead guitar), Hi Fi Harris (b. Mark Harris; guitar), Dr. D.K. Smythe (bass), Angel Paterson (b. Alan Paterson; drums) and Gale Warning (backing vocals). Their irreverent repertoire consisted of pre-beat favourites by Screaming Lord Sutch and the Piltdown Men, judicious material from the Dave Clark Five and glam-rock staples by the Sweet. Their image, part Marlon Brando, part Shangri-Las, allied them with the punk movement, although their love of pop heritage denied wholesale involvement.
The Rezillos' 1977 debut single, "I Can't Stand My Baby", encapsulated their crazed obsessions, but its success introduced a discipline at odds with their initial irreverence. Harris, Smythe and Warning left the line-up, while auxiliary member William Mysterious (b. William Donaldson; bass/saxophone) joined the band on a permanent basis. Now signed to a major label, Sire Records, the quintet undertook several tours and enjoyed a UK Top 20 hit with the satirical "Top Of The Pops" in August 1978. The band's debut album, Can't Stand The Rezillos, also charted, before internal pressures began pulling them apart. Mysterious was replaced by Simon Templar, but in December 1978 the Rezillos folded following a brief farewell tour.
Fife and Reynolds went on to form the Revillos, while the rest of the band became known as Shake. Callis later found fame in the Human League. In the 90s the Revillos/Rezillos re-formed for tours in Japan, from which a live album was culled to celebrate their 15-year career. Another reunion took place in December 2001 to celebrate Edinburgh's Hogmanay, which was followed in the next two years by US and European tours.
The Revillos formed in March 1979 by Eugene Reynolds (b. Alan Forbes) and Fay Fife (b. Sheilagh Hynde, Scotland), previously vocalists with Scottish band the Rezillos. HiFi Harris (guitar), Rocky Rhythm (drums) and three backing singers - Jane White, Jane Brown and Tricia Bryce - completed the band's original line-up, but within months the latter trio had been replaced by Babs and Cherie Revette. The Revillos made their debut with "Where's The Boy For Me' in 1979, but although this exciting performance recalled the best of the previous band, it failed to emulate their success. Internal friction undermined the unit's undoubted potential - guitarists, bass players, and singers were replaced with regularity as Reynolds, Fife and Rhythm pursued their uncompromising vision.
An album, Rev-Up, captured the Revillos" enchanting mixture of girl-group, beat and science fiction, but they were subsequently dropped by their record company. Undeterred, the band inaugurated Superville for ensuing releases and embarked on two gruelling tours of the USA and Canada, which they financed themselves. However, an anticipated contract failed to materialize and this ebullient act later disintegrated. They briefly re-formed in the mid-90s to tour Japan, captured on a 15-song live set.