Born in Liverpool, England, Tate's first band was the
Cheltenham-based
punk rock band Index, who released one single, "Jet Lag" c/w "Total Bland" in 1978. He moved on to join former members of
the Rezillos in the band Shake, recording two singles with this band. In 1981, he first recorded as a solo artist, releasing the "Thomas" single on the
RCA label Why-Fi. A second album,
Liberty, followed in 1985, which proved to be Tate's swansong. == The Smiths –
The Troy Tate Sessions ==