Biography

Department S are most famous for their 1981 hit single "Is Vic There?" but also achieved success with follow up singles "Going Left Right” and "I Want”. Although the original band recorded an album, they split before it was released and "Sub-Stance" was shelved. This was turned out to be a missed opportunity. The album was produced by Dave Tickle who had previously worked on Blondie's “Parallel Lines" and went on to great success with The Police, Prince and U2. The release of "Sub-Stance” in 1994 revealed that Tickle had coaxed something of a new-wave classic from the band. Department S reformed in 2007, a surprising decision to many as original vocalist Vaughn Toulouse died in the early 90s. Vocals were supplied initially by original keyboardist Eddie Roxy. Band members came and went, Department S releases in the noughties seeing guest appearances from such legends as Marco Pirroni (Adam and the Ants), Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols), John Keeble (Spandau Ballet), Mark Bedford (Madness) and Pete Jones (PiL.) A new studio album was released in 2016- the critically acclaimed “When All Is Said and All Is Done”, described by Vive Le Rock magazine as being “an album that… Franz Ferdinand would kill to have made.” Recording of the forthcoming studio album “Burn Down Tomorrow” started in 2019 before the pandemic hit. The band are now fronted by longstanding member, guitarist and songwriter Phil Thompson, featuring Mike Lea on bass and Simon Bowley (Eddie and the Hot Rods) on drums.