Joy, success, tragedy, heartbreak, breakups, these are all things that ebb and flow in a lot of bands, shaping them, refining them, destroying them. Thompson Twins have their share of this roller coaster ride. The started in 1981 as five, grew to seven by 1982, then abruptly cut down to a trio for their most successful era from 1983 to 1985. By 1986, they were down to a duo and remained as such through 1991 before evolving into something new.
While raising their first child between 1988 and 1989, Tom Bailey and Allanah Currie satisfied their creative itch by writing tracks for other artists, such as Debbie Harry's hit, I Want That Man. It was around this time that they were approached by Warner Bros. Records, who as Currie tells it were told, "Here's a pile of money, go make the sort of record you really want to make." As she would also note, this is every musician's greatest dream, so they acquiesced, and made Big Trash.
Upon its release, Billboard praised it, saying, "the duo hadn't "produced anything quite so lively since its hit-making heyday." Personally, I disagree and think the chart hit curators may have missed 1987's Close To The Bone.
The album would produce only one minor hit, Sugar Daddy, which peaked at number twenty-eight in the USA. It would be Thompson Twins last brush with mainstream success.
However, hot on the heels of 1987's Close To The Bone, I'm personally excited to hear this one, so let's go!
If you were to hand me this album, and tell me, "This is the people who sang Doctor Doctor, Hold Me Now, The Gap, and In The Name Of Love," I wouldn't believe you. The comparisons are night and day.
Big Trash brings with it that end of the 80's rock sound. Think, Roxette, and Mr. Big. Pop rock but leaning a bit heavier. Some of the tunes even feel like Tom Bailey is channeling his inner Danny Elfman.
Once again, critics weren't nice to the duo, and again I respectfully disagree. There's a lot of hidden gems to be found here, such as Queen Of The USA, This Girl's On Fire, Bombers In The Sky, Big Trash, Dirty Summer's Day, and Love Jungle.
Thompson Twins would release one final album in 1991. However, their story wouldn't end there. Currie and Bailey would marry, have a second child, and form the group Babble with Keith Fernley. It's interesting to me, in retrospect, how I really liked the full band iteration of the Twin's first two albums, kind of lost interest during their trio synth pop era and then came full circle back to really enjoying them as a duo who went pop rock. I may honestly check out their last release, just to see what it's all about.
As Babble, they'd release two albums, 1994's The Stone, and 1996's Ether. While they recorded demos for a third album, their label, Warner, would drop them.
Currie would give up the music business altogether and instead focus her efforts on her own glass-casting studio in Auckland, raising her two children, and founded and ran the anti-genetic engineering group called MAdGE (Mothers Against Genetic Engineering in food and the environment).
Bailey would continue creating music, working with other artists for a time being. He'd eventually form the solo act, International Observer, and release seven albums between 2001 and 2018. To this day, he continues to tour periodically.
As for the trio, they would get together for a one-off appearance on Top Ten Electro Bands in 2001. It's also been noted that Currie and Leeway have reconciled, and to this day remain good friends.
Unfortunately for the couple, Currie and Bailey would divorce in 2003, and though they have since reconciled their friendship, Allanah has stated she has no interest in performing as Thompson Twins anymore. Additionally, Leeway works happily in the field of hypnotherapy in Los Angelos. As such, no reunions are planned.
As for me, this is my last stop on the Thompson Twin's train. I'm off to find another artist and continue my never-ending search for music to add to my shuffle list. Check back tomorrow, where I'll do just that.
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