ALTERED IMAGES

The early 1980's was the period of New Wave, when the punk explosion had imploded. Light-hearted synths and poppier rhythms prevailed on both sides of the Atlantic. In the UK, famed disk jockey Jim Peel and Siouxsie and the Banshees bassist Steve Severin helped a Glaswegian group Altered Images, fronted by actress Claire Grogan.



Their best known song, "Happy Birthday", was the title track of their debut album, and characterizes the infectious cheer of their song, with Grogan's cute-girl voice, a cross between Jane Wiedlin and a less squeaky Dale Bozzio, the bouncy guitar and drums. This peaked at 2 in the UK and was also featured in John Hughes' 1984 hit, Sixteen Candles.



"I Could Be Happy" signalled a more happier power pop that characterized their Pinky Blue album, which received quite a drubbing among UK critics. "See Those Eyes" was another one of their big hits, with Clare and company sounding more like Missing Persons than a pop-like Banshees. "Funny Funny Me"



Fans of Red Dwarf will be familiar with lead singer Clare Grogan, who as C.P. Grogan starred in the British sci-fi sitcom as Kristine Kochanski. And guitarist Johnny McElhone later joined the groups Hipsway and Texas.



Maybe because Altered Images didn't make that big a splash in the US they aren't that well remembered here. Nevertheless, it has to be said that they did create a brief blip in the punk/New Wave era.