The Rezillos

The Rezillos are a punk and new wave group from Edinburgh, Scotland, formed in 1976 and active from then to the present day. They are best known for the UK Top 20 single “Top of the Pops”, released in 1978.

Early line-up and first releases

The original line-up includes Eugene Reynolds, Fay Fife, Jo Callis, William Mysterious, Angel Patterson, Hi-Fi Harris and Dr D.K. Smythe. Reynolds is also known as Alan Forbes, Fife as Sheila Hynde, William Mysterious as Alastair Donaldson, and Angel Patterson as Alan Patterson. The band’s early live set mixes songs by acts such as the Sweet, Screaming Lord Sutch, Fleetwood Mac under the name Earl Vince and the Valiants, and the Dave Clark Five, and bootleg recordings circulate from this period.

The first single, “Can’t Stand My Baby”, appears on Sensible Records, an independent label, before the group signs to Sire Records. Around this time the line-up changes, with Hi-Fi Harris and Dr D.K. Smythe leaving, along with two backing singers. William Mysterious moves to bass for the debut album Can’t Stand The Rezillos, which is widely regarded as a classic of punk rock and new wave.

Chart success and changes

A second single, “Flying Saucer Attack” / “My Baby Does Good Sculptures”, reaches the lower part of the UK Singles Chart. The group then scores its biggest hit with “Top of the Pops” in 1978. By that point William Mysterious has left and Simon Templar takes over on bass. The single version of “Top of the Pops” features Templar, while the album version is recorded by Mysterious.

After the debut album, Reynolds and Fife leave the original Rezillos line-up. The live album Mission Accomplished But The Beat Goes On documents the original group, and the final single “Destination Venus” also charts in the lower reaches of the UK listings.

Related projects and later activity

Reynolds and Fife continue as The Revillos for contractual reasons, bringing in new members including Hi-Fi Harris and releasing Rev Up in 1980. The Revillos continue through the 1980s with a changing line-up centred on Reynolds and Fife, and later issue a compilation of their work.

The other remaining Rezillos, together with Troy Tate of the Teardrop Explodes, form Shake, which releases a 10-inch EP and the single “Invasion Of The Gamma Men” before splitting. A short-lived side project called S.W.A.L.K. also appears. Jo Callis later performs with the Human League.

The Revillos reform in 1994 for concerts in Japan and record Live and On Fire in Japan. In 1996 they release the rarities compilation From the Freezer and play live dates in Britain. In 2001 the group reforms again with the classic line-up minus Simon Templar, with Johnny Terminator taking over on bass, and continues to play live and record.