Editing The Teardrop Explodes (section)

===''Reward'' and chart success===
In November 1980, Alan Gill left The Teardrop Explodes, claiming not to enjoy the touring lifestyle. Cope later praised him for his strong creative impact on both the band and its perspective, but also suggested that with the band's growing success Gill had found himself "afraid to compete."<ref name="storyofthedrude" /> Gill was replaced by former Shake guitarist [[Troy Tate]] but by now Cope and Balfe's abrasive relationship had worsened to the point that Balfe was ousted as group keyboard player, although he continued to be involved with management.<ref name="headon" />

As well as broadening the band's sound and outlook, Alan Gill had brought in an all-but-complete new song before his departure, which he and Cope had reworked. This was released as the band's next single, "[[Reward (song)|Reward]]". In January 1981, the song hit No. 6 on the [[UK Singles Chart]] (with the semi-estranged Balfe joining the band to mime trumpet playing during their ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' appearance).<ref name="storyofthedrude" />

{{Listen|filename=Teardrop Explodes - Reward excerpt.ogg|title=The Teardrop Explodes – "Reward" excerpt|description=An excerpt from "Reward"}}
The band relocated to London to take advantage of their growing success, although by now Cope was retreating into a drugged lifestyle and beginning "a period of unrestrained megalomania."<ref name="storyofthedrude" /> In order to keep the band on the road as a touring concern, two London musicians were hired – keyboard player Jeff Hammer and bass player Alfie Agius (the latter freeing Cope to concentrate on vocals and rhythm guitar). Despite the internal turmoil, by 1981 The Teardrop Explodes were at the height of their popularity. In March, the band played their first American dates (a time also notable for Cope's meeting with Dorian Beslity, who would later become his second wife).<ref name="storyofthedrude" />

In April, the band had another Top 20 hit with the re-released "Treason" (featuring the earlier ''Kilimanjaro'' line-up of the band) which reached No. 18 in the UK Singles Chart. Another single, "When I Dream", received airplay on progressive radio in the U.S., introducing the band to new fans. In June 1981, the band embarked on another American tour. The tour proved to be a chaotic affair: neither Agius nor Hammer fitted into the group socially and Cope was retreating further into an LSD-fuelled isolation, retaining only Dwyer as trusted companion. The tour finally came adrift on the East Coast in a mess of bad business arrangements and infighting.

On their return to the UK, the five-piece Teardrop Explodes recorded the song "Passionate Friend" (which was allegedly about Cope's brief recent relationship with [[Ian McCulloch (singer)|Ian McCulloch]]'s sister, further increasing the friction between Cope and his former bandmate). Released as a single, it reached No. 25 in the UK chart and gained the group another ''Top of the Pops'' appearance (in which Cope performed wearing a ripped pillowcase he had made into a T-shirt, later claiming to have been tripping on LSD throughout the performance). Subsequently, both Agius and Hammer were sacked. Having sufficiently mended his relationship with Cope and Dwyer, David Balfe returned to the group as keyboard player.<ref name="headon" />