Dexys

Dexys Midnight Runners was formed in Birmingham, England, in 1978 by singer/guitarist/songwriter Kevin Rowland and singer/guitarist Kevin Archer. The band’s name, derived from Dexedrine, a stimulant popular among Northern soul fans, reflected their energetic approach to music. The original lineup included Jim Paterson (trombone), Geoff Blythe (saxophone), Steve Spooner (alto saxophone), Pete Saunders (keyboards), Peter Williams (bass), and Bobby Ward (drums). Distinguished by their scruffy working-class image and a blend of Irish folk and Northern soul, they quickly gained attention. Their debut single “Dance Stance” (1979) reached the UK Top 40, followed by the rousing “Geno” (1980) which hit number one on the UK pop charts. Their debut album “Searching for the Young Soul Rebels” was also a commercial success, cementing their early reputation.

The band underwent significant personnel changes, with Rowland remaining the core member. In the early 1980s, the addition of fiddle players Helen O’Hara, Steve Brennan, and Roger MacDuff marked a shift towards a Celtic folk sound. This new direction led to their second album “Too-Rye-Ay” (1982), which featured their biggest and most enduring hit, “Come On Eileen.” This infectiously upbeat track reached number one on pop charts in both England and America, becoming the best-selling single in Britain in 1982 and winning Best British Single at the BRIT Awards in 1983. Further UK Top 5 success came with “Jackie Wilson Said (I’m in Heaven When You Smile)” and a Top 20 hit with “Let’s Get This Straight (From the Start).”

After their third album, “Don’t Stand Me Down” (1985), received mixed reviews and commercial disappointment, the band broke up in 1986 following one last UK Top 20 chart success with “Because of You.” Kevin Rowland reformed the group in 2003 for a successful concert tour, and later, under the shortened name Dexys, released a fourth album “One Day I’m Going Soar” in 2012 to favorable reviews. Subsequent albums, “Let the Record Show: Dexys Do Irish and Country Soul” (2016) and “The Feminine Divine” (2023), continued their musical evolution. Dexys has consistently toured, including West End shows and festival appearances, solidifying their legacy as an innovative musical entity.