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)
Dance Of The Marionette (Released 1978)
Who's that talking? I heard someone speak to me
It came from within, a voice that's crying to be free
But I'm a puppet and that is all
My life's the strings and that's all..
Free me!
I want to live my life as it was planned
I want to take my Father's hand
And I want to know forgiveness
I want to start again
Oh take away these strings
And set me free
How can this be, tell me what is happening
'Cause I'm just a puppet, I tied myself into these strings
That weave their silk around my life
And lead me on, and that is all..
Free me!
I want to live my life as it was planned
I want to take my Father's hand
And I want to know forgiveness
I want to start again
Oh take away these strings
And set me free
But if I cut my strings surely I'll only fall down
What manner of joke's this, a puppet changed into a clown?
Don't jest with me I know my place and here I'll stay
To strings I'm tied therefore a puppet I must be
I'll only move when my strings pull that part of me
And that is all...
Free me!
I want to live my life as it was planned
I want to take my Father's hand
Step into the promised land
I want to learn to dance, yes I do
Happy ever after is the way I'm going to be
When I let your love come into me
The masks of grief and laughter you'll take away from me
And from these strings you'll forever
Free me!
I want to live my life as it was planned
I want to take my Father's hand
And I want to know forgiveness
I want to start again
Oh take away these strings
Free me, I want to live my as it was planned
And so that I can stand
I want to
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