Names

The Names are a Belgian post-punk band from Brussels, Belgium, formed in 1978 around bassist, vocalist and songwriter Michel Sordinia.
The early lineup of the band featured Sordinia, guitarist Marc Deprez and drummer/keyboard player Christophe Den Tandt; Robert Frankson and singer Isabelle Hanrez were briefly also members. After local gigs as The Passengers, they changed their name in time for their debut single, "Spectators of Life", released by WEA in 1979 to test the market for homegrown new wave music.
The band were keen to sign to a British label, and connected with Factory Records at a Joy Division gig at the Plan K venue in Brussels. The Names, augmented by new drummer Luc Capelle, recorded "Nightshift" in Manchester in August 1980 with producer Martin Hannett. The single was representative of their overall sound: dark, controlled modern rock in the mould of Magazine, Comsat Angels and Joy Division/early New Order. It peaked at No. 35 on the UK Indie Chart. 
The Names enjoyed a long and rewarding relationship with mercurial producer Hannett, who also oversaw their next single, "Calcutta" (Factory Benelux, 1981) and debut album Swimming (Les Disques du Crepuscule, 1982).
==Links to Peel==
Peel played their single, 'Night Shift' on his show in March 1981 and would play further material from the group on his shows, including a session they recorded for his programme in February 1982. After Peel's death in 2004, it was later found out that he had a couple of their albums in his Record Collection: N.
==Sessions==
The band's only session is available on:
*On Swimming CD, 2013 reissue (Factory Benelux, FBN 9 CD
*On Postcard Views cassette, 1985 LTM LTMV:XII
*On Radio Session 1982 mp3, 2009 LTM LTMCD 2547
1. Recorded: 1982-02-17. First Broadcast: 03 March 1982. Repeated: 30 March 1982
*Discovery / Life By The Sea / This Is Harmony / Shanghai Gesture
==Other Shows Played==
;thumb|220x220px1981
*18 March 1981: Night Shift (7") Factory
*22 March 1981 (BFBS): Night Shift (7") Factory
;1982
*10 January 1982 (BFBS): White Life (12" - Spectators Of Life) Celluloid 
*07 February 1982 (BFBS): Calcutta (12") Factory Benelux
*01 August 1982 (BFBS): Light (album - Swimming) Les Disques Du Crépuscule
==External Links==
*Wikipedia
*Discogs
Category:Artists