Daniel Takes a Train
What's their story?
The band formed when Dan and Paul met at a
Secret Affair gig, Dan knew Rupert who learned bass to be in the band and the found their drummer in the NME/Melody Maker ads. In their heyday, the band played the likes of the
Astoria,
Ronnie Scotts,
Hammersmith Palais and
Empire Leicester Square.
Masters of self-PR, they managed to blag their way into the
1983 BRIT Awards and gave their demos to all the industry big wigs and had photos with Alison Moyet and the Pet Shop Boys. Peter Powell said on
Radio 1 the next day that their gatecrash was the highlight of the evening.
(Continues below...)
Watch and Listen
They got themselves into
Just17 magazine by sending a guy in leathers into their HQ with a box of milk tray with a note to Jane Goldman (Jonathan Ross’ now wife). She was so impressed she did an article on them the next week.
They also managed to get themselves into the
Mail on Sunday by attempting to get into the Guinness Book Of Records by playing 25 gigs in a day, playing at each of the circle line stations then ending with a gig at a London nightclub.
They split when Dan, the main songwriter, moved to Barcelona to teach - even though the band were on the verge of being signed, and Chrysalis were interested.
What do they sound like?
Straight form the 80s, The Smiths/Human League-esque with catchy melodies.
Band photos
Who are they?
Paul Baker - vocals
Dan Synge - guitar, now a freelance writer
Rupert Blomfield - bass, now in charity finance
James Hannington - drums, now an IT engineer
Also...
Paul Davey - sax, now works in IT
Bert Routledge - keyboards, now a taxi driver
Emma Smith - backing vocals, now a teacher