WONDERS STORIES
Wonder Stories, were a New Romantic group formed in 1980 by Keanan
Duffty (Vocals/Guitar) and Ashley Woodhams (Synthesizer/Bass) in the
Northern town of Doncaster, UK.
Beginning
Wonder Stories took their name from a pulp sci-fi comic book and their
futuristic sounds were influenced by Joy Division, Cabaret Voltaire,
'Low' era David Bowie and Roxy Music. Their first live performance in
the winter of 1980 was reviewed in 'Sounds' music paper by journalist
Peter Scott. Scott described their sound as a cross between 'Bauhaus
and an Electrolux Vacuum cleaner'. Indeed vocalist Keanan Duffty
acknowledged that his voice sounded similar to Pete Murphy, the Bauhaus
front man. In the audience at that first gig was Nick Woodhead, who
would approach Duffty and Woodhams and become the third member of
Wonder Stories-initially acting as the drum machine operator and then
moving on to synthesizer. Woodhead introduced the band to Yvonne
Taylor, who was to become the group's manager and a major influence on
Keanan Duffty's subsequent fashion career.
Later history
In February 1981, as the 'New Romantic' scene led by Spandau Ballet and
Visage was dominating the media Wonder Stories began a residency at the
'New Outlook' club in their home town of Doncaster. After their first
show they were approached by Dennis Sheldrick (Vocals/Synthesizer), who
would soon replace Ashley Woodhams place in the group. Wonder Stories
line up was now complete.
With a set list that included:' Changeling Cabaret', 'A Jamais', ' The
Spartan' and 'Brigadoon' the trio began a series of live shows in and
around the North of England. Wonder Stories also began to put in
appearances at fashionable parties in London including the St
Valentines event at the Rainbow Theatre in London where they were
photographed extensively by the media.
Wonder Stories played a number of gigs during 1980 and 1981 that gained
good reviews and support from BBC Radio 1 DJ Peter Powell. Wonder
Stories had befriended Soft Cell's singer Marc Almond at Primo's
nightclub in Leeds and were subsequently proposed as a support act to
Soft Cell- who's 'Tainted Love' single was fast becoming a hit in the
UK. However by 1982 Wonder Stories meteoric rise came to a halt and the
group split. Rather than the usual 'musical differences' it was simply
a case of the three members moving on to other things.
In 2003 Dave Rimmer's book' New Romantics-The Look' was published by
Omnibus press. Wonder Stories were finally immortalized on the cover of
this publication as part of the documentation of one of the most
interesting youth culture movements of the 20th Century.