Blue Plate Special: Danse Society
The Danse Society is (was) an English gothic rock band that originated in 1980. Initially known as Y? and then Danse Crazy, they switched to The Danse Society and launched their career with the single “Clock” under their own label, Society. Their debut album, “Seduction,” was a success, reaching No. 3 on the UK Indie Chart. The band saw further acclaim with their second album, “Heaven Is Waiting,” which charted at No. 39 in the UK Albums Chart and featured a notable cover of The Rolling Stones’ “2000 Light Years from Home.” That was the first album I heard (the song Angel) when I was a teenager back when Live 105 in San Francisco played a lot of UK imports during a late-night weekend show.
After releasing their final album of their initial run, “Looking Through,” in 1986, the band underwent a significant lineup change, leading to a temporary disbandment in 1987. Lead singer Steve Rawlings continued under the name Society, exploring electronic dance music with Meridian Dream. The Danse Society reformed in 2011, driven by a Facebook campaign, with new vocalist Maethelyiah. Personally, I am not a fan of the new stuff, so my selections below only include the original lineup with Rawlings singing. Enjoy!
