THE EXITS
Formed: Battersea, London, UK
Power-pop band like The Jags i.e. like Elvis Costello but not nearly as good. As usual, they had pre-punk history, having formed in November 1975 as Gambler. As a gauge of their influences, here are some of the songs they played live: 'Slow Down', 'I Think We’re Alone Now’ ‘Halfway To Paradise’. Meh.
Their sole single, The Fashion Plague was a minor hit (reaching Number 7 in the punk/new wave charts), but various issues - including their label declining a follow-up - forced the band's premature split in Autumn 1979.
The CD contains both sides of the single, both sides of a second unreleased single, and various demos and studio tracks, and sounds too much like Elvis Costello to be classed as anything other than utterly boring and derivative.
The Direct Hits sprang from the collapse of The Exits, were an even less punky affair, and lasted from 1980 to 1987.
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Lineup:
Colin Swan - vocals, bass guitar
Geno Buckmaster - vocals, guitars
John Clarkson - keyboards
Gary Hurley - drums
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DISCOGRAPHY
Singles & Albums
The Fashion Plague (7", 1978)
Extraneous Releases
The Legendary Lost Exits Album (CD, 2007)
Various Artists
This Is Mod Vol. 2 Italy LP 2001 (Get Back): The Fashion Plague / Cheam
100% British Mod UK 2xCD 1998 (Captain Mod): The Fashion Plague
Millions Like Us (The Story Of The Mod Revival 1977-1989) UK 4xCD 2014 (Cherry Red): The Fashion Plague
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