Associates (band)
The Associates, and The Associates were a Scottish post-punk band in the 1980s and was founded in Edinburgh by vocalist Billy Mackenzie and Alan Rankine (guitar, keyboards). Their greatest success they had in 1982 when they could be placed with the Singles Party Fears Two, 18 Carat Love Affair and Country Club as well as the album Sulk in the British Top 40. Billy Mackenzie died in 1997 at the age of 39 from an overdose of drugs.
History
1976 Billy MacKenzie met Alan Rankine. In 1979 they released their first single under the name Associates, a cover version of David Bowie's Boys Keep Swinging hit. 1980 met the drummer and bassist John Murphy Michael Dempsey joined the band. Dempsey previously played with The Cure, who were also at the label Fiction and the Associates on tour.
"I think they are great. - I think they are better than us "
The high point was the band in 1982 when they reached the Single Party Fears Two and the album Sulk into the British Top 10. But even before the Sulk tour Rankine left the band due to differences with MacKenzie. Also, Dempsey and Murphy returned in the same year the Associates the back. Rankine published from 1986 to 1989 three solo albums. MacKenzie was still working with different musicians until 1990 under the name Associates continue the great successes were made , however. The band was dissolved in 1990, MacKenzie was dedicated to other projects and his solo career. 1993 Rankine and MacKenzie once again produced some demo recordings, but to a reunion of the band it did not.