Naked Eyes
Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Distinguish Template:Refimprove Template:Infobox musical artist Naked Eyes are an English new wave duo<ref name=Gamboa>"All Eyes on Pete Byrne", Newsday, 15 October 2013</ref> that rose to prominence in the early 1980s. The band had four US Top 40 singles.
The group's first hit, "Always Something There to Remind Me", was a synth-pop cover of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David standard. The band had subsequent hits with more of their own compositions: "Promises, Promises", "When the Lights Go Out", and "(What) In the Name of Love".
HistoryEdit
Naked Eyes was formed by Pete Byrne (vocals) and Rob Fisher (keyboards). The two musicians had previously been members of Neon, a new wave band that also included future Tears for Fears members Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The debut album Burning Bridges was produced by Tony Mansfield, along with the follow-up album Fuel for the Fire, which also featured two titles produced by Arthur Baker. Their second and third singles, "Promises, Promises" (the 12" mix of which features vocals from Madonna) and "When the Lights Go Out", were also hit singles in the United States.
Following the release of the band's second album, Byrne relocated to California. He performed on Stevie Wonder's "Part-Time Lover", sang backgrounds with Rita Coolidge and Princess Stephanie, and wrote and produced for the Olsen twins.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Fisher also explored other projects, doing sessions in London and forming Climie Fisher with Simon Climie.
Despite their commercial success, Naked Eyes never toured during their initial run due to the technical difficulties of recreating their studio sound in concert.<ref name=Gamboa/>
Rob Fisher passed away on 25 August 1999 at the age of 42 following surgery for bowel cancer.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
ReformationEdit
Byrne released a solo album The Real Illusion in 2001, which featured some of the last tracks he wrote with Fisher for a proposed third Naked Eyes album.
In 2005, Byrne revived Naked Eyes as a live act. Byrne put a band together to play Naked Eyes shows, and has been touring regularly since. In 2007, Naked Eyes released Fumbling with the Covers, an acoustic album which consisted of covers of Bob Dylan, The Beatles and Elvis Costello, among others, along with the Naked Eyes hits.
In the summer of 2008, Naked Eyes completed a US tour along with Belinda Carlisle, ABC and the Human League. Naked Eyes did a US tour with the Go-Go's, Scandal and the Motels in 2014 and has been touring each summer since; Naked Eyes' 2020 tour was postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19 related restrictions.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
On 8 June 2021, Naked Eyes released its latest album, Disguise the Limit.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2024, Naked Eyes toured as part of the Abducted by the 80's tour across the US and Canada with fellow 80's acts Wang Chung, Men Without Hats, and The Motels.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
DiscographyEdit
Studio albumsEdit
- Burning Bridges (1983) US #32,<ref name="billboard">Template:Cite magazine</ref> AUS #88<ref name="AUS">Template:Cite book</ref> (self-titled in the US & Canada, with modified track listing and different cover artwork)
- Fuel for the Fire (1984) US #83<ref name="billboard" />
- Fumbling with the Covers (2007)
- Disguise the Limit (2021)<ref>Disguise the Limit</ref>
Compilation albumsEdit
- The Best of Naked Eyes (1991)
- Promises, Promises (The Very Best of Naked Eyes) (1994)
- Naked Eyes / Spandau Ballet – Back 2 Back Hits (1998)
- Everything and More (2002)
SinglesEdit
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK <ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">Template:Cite book</ref> |
AUS <ref name="AUS"/> |
CAN | NZ <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
US | US AC |
US Dance | ||
| "Always Something There to Remind Me" | 1983 | 59 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 8 | 31 | 37 | Burning Bridges/Naked Eyes |
| "Voices in My Head" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Promises, Promises" | 95 | — | 13 | 15 | 11 | 19 | 32 | ||
| "When the Lights Go Out" | — | — | — | — | 37 | — | — | ||
| "(What) In the Name of Love" | 1984 | — | — | 77 | — | 39 | — | 35 | Fuel for the Fire |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||
Music videosEdit
- "Always Something There to Remind Me" (1982)
- "Promises, Promises" (1983)
- "Voices in My Head" (1983)
- "When the Lights Go Out" (1983)
- "(What) In the Name of Love" (1984)
- "Cry Baby Cry" (2007)
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Template:Official website
- Naked Eyes discography
- Q&A with the Naked Eyes' Pete Byrne John Hood for the Miami New Times 6 July 2009
- A Chat with Pete Byrne, 2008