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)

Suspended Animation (Released 1979)

Well look at me
All safe and sound
And both feet firmly off the ground
What am I
D-doing here
The situations just unclear

And what do you all think of that
Don't it make you want to eat your hat
Or will you all just
S-stop and stare
And watch me floating in the air

Look at me, the strangest thing
Like a balloon without a sting
Or like a leaf without a tree
Suspended there for all to see
I'd rather be down a hole
It's like a flag without a pole
Perhaps I'll just float away
And not come back another day

Floating around is so strange
Feet off the ground, it's so strange
Here in the air, it's so absurd
What can I say - I'm lost for words

(Floating Away) - Floating Away
(Floating Away) - Floating Away
(Floating Away) - Floating Away

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