The Mobiles return

An East Sussex band, Mobiles, whose first single reached number nine in the UK charts in early 1982, are set to play a one-off gig at The Piper in St Leonards, on 24 April, performing both the best of their 80s set as well as new material.

The synth-pop band had written and performed their own songs for a year before releasing their first recorded song as a single, Drowning in Berlin, in December 1981. It was played on Radio 1 for a few weeks and entered the charts from nowhere. Band member Chris Downton, who worked at the Weslake factory in Rye at the time, recalls getting a call at work, out of the blue, saying that he had to leave immediately as the band were to perform for Top of the Pops the next day. “My boss was not amused when I just said, ‘Bye, I’m off.’”

The band were extremely lucky: as well as charting in the UK, the record did well in other European countries, selling approximately 250,000 copies. They were signed to Rialto – a small independent label run by Nick and Tim Heath, the two sons of Ted Heath, the famous big band leader, who also had The Korgis and The Regents on their books.

With Drowning in Berlin being the Mobiles’ only professionally recorded song and very different from the band’s high energy live style, they desperately needed a follow up single. Amour Amour was quickly adapted from their song about incest then rushed into recording and released to keep the momentum going. However, this did not provide enough time for the record pressing company, with their other commitments, to produce enough copies for full nationwide distribution which led to it only reaching No 45 in the charts, although the band hadn’t really expected it to reach the heights of Drowning in Berlin.

After a long, drawn-out period recording and eventually releasing an album, Mobiles, and a short tour of Spain and Britain (including playing to 9,000 at Wembley and at Radio 1 in Concert) the band called it a day. As Chris put it, “We made a couple of duff decisions: turning down what would go on to be Wham’s management and refusing a recording contract from Virgin records”, and went back to having “proper” jobs.

Forward to late 2024

Band member Russ Madge visited his old friend and fellow original Mobile, Chris, and told him that after nearly 40 years he wanted to start writing again with him, and that he also wanted the original Mobiles bass player Dave Blundell involved. Problem was Russ now lives on the Orkney Isles and Dave in Madrid.

Dave was very keen too, so they arranged to meet up midway in St Leonards at Chris’s home where, within a few hours, they had written three new songs. “The magic was back, from years of pent-up ideas, so we decided to continue writing independently and send the ideas to each other where we would each use our own Digital Audio Workstations (simple home recording studios) to put the song arrangements together,” Chris explained.

Having lost touch with their original singer, Anna Maria, the band are joined by Sarah G (of Sarah G and the Other 3, who perform regularly in pubs around Rye and Hastings). “I have worked with Sarah on another music project, and I knew she had the ideal powerful characteristic voice, so asked if she would like to join, and she is only too happy to,” Chris said.

The band has recorded a selection of songs in a local studio for their first new album in 44 years, Mosaic, including an orchestral version of Drowning in Berlin that is earmarked for an upcoming Sky documentary.

According to Chris, Russ suggested the gig. “In a moment of madness Russ said, ‘I want us to play live’ – tricky given the distance between the members, but the others agreed to do one gig only, to incorporate the best of our 1980s set plus a selection of our new songs.”

The band will get together for two weeks to rehearse before the gig. “This will probably be the last time the songs are ever performed live, so we are doing our utmost to make this a memorable show,” Chris says. “If there is anyone who remembers the band from the 80s, we would love to meet them!”

Tickets for The Mobiles at The Piper in St Leonards can be booked here.

Image Credits: Chris Downton , Russ Madge .