This US band’s career falls into two distinct halves; the Knack -like pop of the 70s dressed in tight red leather pants, and the near stadium rock-like success of the early 80s. The Romantics started out as four factory workers from Detroit, Michigan; Wally Palmar (vocals/guitar), Mike Skill (guitar/vocals), Rich Cole (bass/vocals) and Jimmy Marinos (drums/vocals). They originally formed in February 1977, releasing their debut single, ‘Little White Lies’/‘I Can’t Tell You Anything’, on their own Spider Records. It was followed by ‘Tell It To Carrie’/‘First In Line’ on Greg Shaw’s Bomp Records label in 1978. The music was uptempo and pop-like, much in the vein of the Flamin’ Groovies or the Raspberries, epitomised by the euphoric ‘What I Like About You’. In the 80s the Romantics developed a much more sophisticated, and familiar, US rock sound. Coz Canler (guitar/vocals) was brought in to the line-up on 1981’s Strictly Personal, but real success followed in 1983 when the band achieved a US Top 5 hit with ‘Talking In Your Sleep’. However, despite their sudden success Jimmy Marinos left and the band, who recorded one more album with replacement David Petratos, effectively disappeared with him.
Legal tussles with their management sidelined the Romantics during the remainder of the decade. Former Blondie drummer Clem Burke joined the line-up in 1990 and made his debut on the Made In Detroit EP. By the mid-90s the Romantics had regained control of the publishing rights and back catalogue, and briefly toured with original drummer Marinos. Several live albums and compilations kept the Romantics name in the record shops until the belated release of a new studio album, 2003’s 61/49. They remain a popular touring unit.
