After the Fire
After The Fire were formed in the UK in 1972 by keyboard player Peter Banks, Andy Piercy (guitar, bass), Ivor Twidell (drums) and John Russell (guitar). The market was responsive to UK adult-orientated rock during the early 70s but the band's mixture of "pomp Christian pop" was slow to break through. They eventually secured a contract following the release of their debut album on their own label. CBS Records invested in them and they were rewarded with a UK Top 40 hit, "One Rule For You", in 1979. The accompanying album, although polished, sold only to the converted. The band's subsequent recordings were minor hits until the unexpected major success of "Der Kommissar". Originally recorded by Falco in his native Germany, After The Fire's version went on to sell over a million copies worldwide, and made the US Top 5. However, by the time it charted, the group had already broken up, frustrated by record company indecision and the Christian ethos that "made things worse, as we couldn't have a good old swearing and slanging match." Banks built his own studio before becoming managing director of Maldon Computer Company, a software and networking enterprise. Twidell released three Christian rock solo albums, Waiting For The Sun (1981), Secret Service (1981) and Duel (1983), after leaving the group following the debut album. He then became a member of the Bedfordshire police force. Russell was last sighted working in a hi-fi shop. Piercy retained the rights to the name, although it was now abbreviated to ATF. Still a practising Christian, after submitting an unreleased solo album for CBS he went on to do production work for the Truth, T'Pau (when they were known as Talking America) and Gary Numan. (Source : VH1)
Back To The Light (Released 1978)
I've been sitting here thinking
That too much thinking's not good for my brain
Am I floating or sinking?
All this thinking's going to drive this poor boy insane
Then why don't you stop?
I really don't know
Do you want to or not?
But it won't let me go
Do you want to know peace?
I'm not really sure
Want your worries to cease?
No, let me worry some more
'Cause I've been sitting here thinking
That all this thinking's not good for my brain - Derr
I've been thinking and thinking and thinking
And I don't know if I can stand all this pain
You're a fool to yourself
Hey what do you mean?
You can stop if you want
Now your talking in dreams
You've just got to let go
Don't give me no jive
I've got enough worries just staying alive
So I step up and onwards, and what do I see?
There's a mist of darkness and it's creeping up on me
Many times before this road I've been
But never alone, depression walks at my side again
It's creeping up on me
I can feel it in my soul
There in the distance - a tiny point of light
It's growing, and glowing, and swallowing up the night
But I've still got darkness in my eye's
I must turn around, and face to where the brightness shines
It's creeping up on me
I can feel it in my soul
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