The band formed in 1986 and comprised Dons Savage (vocals), Elizabeth (Biddy) Leyland (keyboards and vocals), Wendy Kjestrup (guitar and vocals), Jenny Renals (bass guitar) and Robyn Tearle (drums). After a couple of releases in New Zealand, including an
EP on
Flying Nun Records, giving them some success in their homeland, they relocated to London, where they signed for
Billy Bragg's
Utility Records label, with Gill Moon replacing Tearle. Utility issued the band's
Arriving Late in Torn and Filthy Jeans mini-LP in 1989, and it became the label's biggest-selling release. Jenny Renals and Wendy Kjestrup left the band in 1990. Savage joined
Saint Etienne on their
cover version of
The Field Mice's "Let's Kiss and Make Up", and subsequently recorded as a solo artist, as did Leyland. The band contributed a version of "True Love Leaves No Traces" to the 1991
Leonard Cohen tribute album ''
I'm Your Fan''. Savage continues with the Dead Famous People name, with various collaborators, and another album,
Secret Girls Business, was issued in 2002, featuring six previously unreleased tracks. Dead Famous People released a 10-song album in 2020, titled
Harry, which was recorded in Auckland and released on
Fire Records. ==Discography==