"Dance to the beat that we like best...heading for the nineties...living in the wild, wild west!" Admit it, you're singing as you're reading!Escape Club is an alternative/pop rock band that formed in London, England in 1982. It rose from the ashes of two bands: The "Expressos" and "Mad Shadows."

The new band was composed of lead singer and rhythm guitarist Trevor Steele, guitarist and harmonica player John Holliday, bassist Johnnie Christo, and drummer Milan Zekavica.  Holliday and Christo also provided backing vocals.

They would play the London clubs, honing their craft, and grabbing some media attention for the next few years.

The Escape Club signed with EMI Records in 1985, and released the "White Fields" album the following year. There were no hit singles.

In 1987, the band went into the studio, and started recording their next album, "Wild Wild West." The guys state that there were many bands that sounded like U2 at the time...and they didn't want to be "U3." So, they decided to try a rock/dance approach.

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EMI didn't hear a hit on the album...but Atlantic Records did...and they bought the completed album from EMI, and released it in the summer of 1988.

The title track, "Wild Wild West" went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, for a week, in the fall of 1988.

The video got extensive MTV airplay...even though it was banned in England! In the band's homeland, this video was considered sexist and offensive!

"Shake For The Sheik" went to #28 in 1989...

"Walking Through Walls" stopped at #81 in 1989.

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The band went into a Los Angeles studio, recording the "Dollars & Sex" album in 1990.

The first single, "Call It Poison" (which made fun of "Big Hair" bands, failed to attract an audience.

Atlantic Records released "I'll Be There," which struck a cord with the radio audience, and album and singles buying crowd...

The band says their poignant song was heavily influenced by the death of a friends' wife. It has since become an anthem for those with losses of their own.

"I'll Be There" put the Escape Club back in the Top 10 (#8/1991), and earned an RIAA Gold Record (500,000 sales).

The Escape Club started slowly drifting apart, mostly over money and contractual problems, by 1992.

The individual members would go on to work on their own projects, and write for other artists.

It is interesting to note that the band is the only British group to have a #1 single in the United States...while never having a chart hit in their native England!

But, wait...

Trevor Steele and John Holliday reunited in 2005, for a handful of live shows...and they self-released the album "Cloud 10."

Trevor and John's long time friend Red Broad is the (new) Escape Club's drummer.

2012 brought the "Celebrity" album.

What else is the (trio) Escape Club doing? Click here for their official site!

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