Altered Images

Altered Images formed in Glasgow in 1979, with Clare Grogan's distinctive vocal style — girlish, playful, and utterly unlike anything else in post-punk — immediately setting them apart. The band were signed to Epic Records after being championed by Siouxsie and the Banshees, with whom they toured. Their debut single 'Dead Pop Stars' (1981) announced them as something genuinely new.

Their debut album 'Happy Birthday' (1981), produced by Martin Rushent, was a post-punk classic that balanced angular guitars with Grogan's irresistible pop sensibility. The title track became a top five hit. 'Pinky Blue' (1982) pushed further into pure pop territory and was equally successful. Grogan was simultaneously pursuing an acting career — she appeared in Gregory's Girl (1981) — which added to her cultural profile.

The band's third album 'Bite' (1983) marked a significant change in direction towards a more sophisticated pop sound, but the group dissolved shortly after. Grogan continued acting and has had a successful career in television. Altered Images' early work has been consistently reassessed as some of the most charming and inventive music of the post-punk era.