The Romantics are an American rock band from Detroit, Michigan. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. Power pop (or powerpop) is a popular Musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and Rock music. In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. The band adopted the name "The Romantics" because it formed on Valentine's Day, 1977. Valentine's Day or Saint Valentine's Day is a Holiday celebrated on February 14 Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays The Romantics achieved moderate popularity in the United States, Canada, and parts of Asia, Australia, Europe, and Latin America during the first half of the 1980s on the strength of the band's catchy, energetic songs and stylish, memorable music videos. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. A music video is a Short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music most commonly a Song with lyrics Influenced by 1960s British Invasion rock (most notably the music of the Kinks, the Who, the Beatles, the Hollies, and the Rolling Stones), 1970s Detroit garage rock and hard rock (as represented by such performers as Iggy Pop, the Stooges, the MC5, and the Rationals), and the punk rock of the Ramones, the Romantics play a more pop-oriented variation of punk rock known as power pop. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 The British Invasion was the term applied by the news media — and subsequently by consumers — to the influx of Rock and roll, beat and pop performers The Kinks were an English pop and rock group formed in 1963 and categorised in the US as a British Invasion band The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964. The primary lineup consisted of guitarist Pete Townshend The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960 The Hollies are an English Rock and roll band formed in the early 1960s. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. Hard rock (also referred to as heavy rock) is a variation of Rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage and Psychedelic rock James Newell Osterberg Jr (born April 21, 1947) better known by his Stage name Iggy Pop, is an American rock singer Songwriter The Stooges are an American rock band that was active from 1967 to 1974 then reformed in 2003 The MC5 ( Motor City Five) was an American Hard rock band formed in Lincoln Park Michigan in 1964 and active until The Ramones were an American rock band often regarded as the first Punk rock group Power pop (or powerpop) is a popular Musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and Rock music. The band is also commonly classified into the category of "New Wave" (probably due more to the band's image and era than the sound of its music) by pop music historians. New Wave is a Rock music genre that existed during the late 1970s and the 1980s

Career

The Romantics' original lineup consisted of rhythm guitarist/harmonica player/singer Wally Palmar, lead guitarist Mike Skill, bassist Rich Cole, and drummer/singer Jimmy Marinos. All four band members made songwriting contributions to the group, but Palmar and Skill were considered the band's primary tunesmiths. After a few years of playing local and regional gigs in Detroit and the Midwest, this lineup of the Romantics recorded the band's self-titled debut album for Nemperor Records in 1980. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) The album yielded the hit "What I Like About You," which reached #48 in the US, and #12 in the Netherlands, where the band was especially popular. " What I Like About You " is the title of a well-known Power pop song by the American Rock and roll band The Romantics. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands "What I Like About You" would become much better known later in the 1980s, when its placement in television commercials and other high profile media made it an evergreen power pop anthem. A television advertisement or television commercial (often just commercial or advert (US or ad (UK is a span of television programming produced The band became as well known (if not better known) for its flashy and audacious fashion sense as it did for its exciting music. The Romantics' signature look featured bouffant hairdos and skin-tight red leather suits, as worn by the band members on the cover photo of their debut album.

Mike Skill left the band after the release of its second album, National Breakout, in 1981. He was replaced by lead guitarist Coz Canler. This lineup of the band recorded the album Strictly Personal in 1982 before Rich Cole left the band that year and was replaced by a returning Mike Skill, who then became the band's bassist. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar)

The Romantics achieved their greatest commercial success in 1983/84 with the release of the album In Heat. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) The first single taken from In Heat, "Talking In Your Sleep", rose to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and spent two weeks at #1 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. See Billboard (Turkish magazine Billboard is a weekly American Magazine devoted to the Music industry Billboard 's Hot Dance Club Play chart (also known as Club Play Singles, and formerly known as Hot Dance Music/Club Play and Hot Dance/Disco It was also a big international hit (#2 Canada, #18 Germany, #20 Netherlands, #15 South Africa, #5 Sweden, #20 Switzerland, etc. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation ). A second single, "One In A Million", peaked at #37 during the following year. The Romantics' music videos were frequently shown on the cable television network MTV during this period, solidifying the band's popularity. MTV ( Music Television) is an American Cable television network based in New York City. Also during 1983, the Romantics played well received U. S. and international concert tours in support of In Heat, and appeared on such pop music-themed television shows as Solid Gold, American Bandstand, and Soul Train. Solid Gold is an American syndicated Television series which aired from 1980 to 1988 usually on Saturday in the early evening time slot American Bandstand was a Television show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 hosted from 1957 until its final season by Dick Clark Soul Train is a music-related syndicated television program In its 35-year history the show has primarily featured performances by Rhythm and blues, soul

In 1984, drummer Jimmy Marinos, dissatisfied with the artistic direction of the band (which was quickly abandoning its power pop roots in favor of more generic mainstream pop rock) and convinced that he could find success as a solo act, left the Romantics. Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) He was replaced by David Petratos, who would serve as the band's drummer until 1990. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) This lineup recorded one album, Rhythm Romance, in 1985. Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) On Rhythm Romance, the Romantics eschewed much of the energetic electric guitar- and drums-based modern rock 'n roll sound that had come to define the band's music in favor of the synthesizer pop that had won commercial success for such contemporary bands as Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Culture Club, and other similar New Wave bands during the early 1980s. An electric guitar is a type of Guitar that uses pickups to convert the vibration of its steel-cored strings into an electrical current which is made louder A drum kit (also drum set or trap set) is a collection of Drums Cymbals and sometimes other Percussion instruments such as cowbells Synthpop is a subgenre of New Wave and Pop music in which the Synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument Duran Duran are an English Pop rock band famous for a long series of popular singles, albums and vivid Music videos for which they've won two Depeche Mode (dəˌpɛʃˈmoʊd are an English Electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. Culture Club were a Grammy Award -winning British pop group that formed in the early 1980s By 1985, however, synthesizer pop was beginning to fall out of popular favor. Moreover, the style was not the Romantics' strength. As a result, Rhythm Romance was not a commercial success and was also regarded as an artistic nadir by the band's fans.

In the late 1980s, the Romantics discovered that their managers had been misappropriating the profits earned by the band from its hit records and live performances. Additionally, the Romantics' best known song (the aforementioned "What I Like About You") had been licensed for use in television commercials without the band's knowledge or approval. Consequently, the Romantics filed a lawsuit against their management in 1987, and the legalities involved prevented the band from recording new music until the mid-1990s. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) The 1990s collectively refers to the years between and including 1990 and 1999

Former Blondie drummer Clement (Clem) Burke replaced David Petratos as the Romantics' drummer in 1990. Blondie is an American rock band that first gained fame in the late 1970s and has so far sold over 60 million records For much of the 1990s, the Romantics played obscure performances in small venues, largely forgotten and out of the public spotlight.

The Romantics' fortunes began to rise again in the middle of the 1990s, as the band's success in its lawsuit against its former management freed the band to record again (and ensured that future earnings from the licensing of Romantics songs would go to the band). The first fruit of the band's new recording activity was the 1993 EP Made In Detroit. Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Several Romantics greatest hits packages were issued during the 1990s, as was the live album The King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents: The Romantics Live In Concert, a 1996 release of an October, 1983 recording of a Romantics concert in San Antonio, Texas at the height of the band's popularity.

Jimmy Marinos, the Romantics' original drummer, temporarily returned to the band for a series of performances in 1996-1997 (with Clem Burke returning to the Romantics' drumstool after Marinos departed again), and late 1990s nostalgia for 1980s pop culture caused a minor resurgence of interest in the band. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar In 2003, twenty years after the release of their most commercially successful album, In Heat, the Romantics released 61/49 - a more roots rock and blues-oriented record than the band's previous efforts. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression The album was not a great commercial success, but won the Romantics a newfound critical respect that they had not enjoyed during their popular and commercial heyday in the early 1980s. 61/49 also offered proof that despite the band's years out of the public spotlight, the Romantics remain a potent musical unit.

A fourth drummer, Brad Elvis, replaced Clem Burke as the Romantics' regular drummer in 2004 after Burke returned full time to a reactivated Blondie. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The Romantics continue to play live concerts today (with occasional guest performances by previous members Jimmy Marinos, Rich Cole, and David Petratos). The band is said to currently be working on a follow up to 61/49.

Sony was rumored to have had plans for the release of a special twelve-song CD/DVD during February, 2006 that would feature the Romantics' best songs, with the flip side of the CD/DVD featuring videos, recent interviews, and other clips. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. To date, this CD/DVD has not been issued and additional information about its release has not been publicized.

Lawsuit

Main article: Guitar_Hero_Encore:_Rocks_the_80s#Controversy

On November 21, 2007, The Romantics filed a lawsuit against Activision, RedOctane, Harmonix, and Wavegroup Sound over the cover of the song What I Like About You used in Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s. Guitar Hero Encore Rocks the 80s (titled Guitar Hero Rocks the 80s in Europe is a Music video game and the third installment in the popular Guitar Hero Encore Rocks the 80s (titled Guitar Hero Rocks the 80s in Europe is a Music video game and the third installment in the popular While the game developers did secure appropriate rights to cover the song in the game, The Romantics claim that the cover is "virtually indistinguishable from the authentic version" and thus would "[confuse] consumers into believing that the band actually recorded the music and endorsed the product". The lawsuit is requesting the cessation of sales of the game and monetary damage.

Band members

Current members

• Wally Palmar - vocals, guitar, harmonica (1977-present)
• Mike Skill - bass guitar, vocals (1982-present); guitar, vocals (1977-1981)
• Coz Canler - guitar, vocals (1981-present)
• Brad Elvis - drums, percussion (2004-present)

Former members

• Clem Burke - drums, percussion (1990-1996, 1997-2004)
• Jimmy Marinos - drums, percussion, vocals (1977-1984, 1996-1997)
• David Petratos - drums, percussion, vocals (1984-1990)
• Rich Cole - bass guitar (1977-1982)

Note: Former members Jimmy Marinos, David Petratos, and Rich Cole occasionally make guest performances. The lead vocalist (or lead singer) is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song Rhythm guitar is the use of a Guitar to provide Rhythmic chordal Accompaniment for a singer or other instruments in a Musical ensemble A harmonica is a free reed Wind instrument which is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes (reed chambers or The electric bass guitar (also called electric bass, or simply bass; ˈbeɪs as in "base" is a Stringed instrument played primarily with the A backing vocalist or backing singer (or especially in the US Lead guitar refers to the use of a Guitar to perform Melody lines instrumental fill passages, and Guitar solos within a song structure A backing vocalist or backing singer (or especially in the US Lead guitar refers to the use of a Guitar to perform Melody lines instrumental fill passages, and Guitar solos within a song structure A backing vocalist or backing singer (or especially in the US A drum kit (also drum set or trap set) is a collection of Drums Cymbals and sometimes other Percussion instruments such as cowbells Clem Burke (born Clement Anthony Bozewski, November 24 1955 was the Drummer for the band Blondie.

Discography

Albums

• The Romantics (1980) #61 US
• National Breakout (1981) #176 US
• Strictly Personal (1982) #182 US
• In Heat (1983) #14 US; #33 Sweden
• Rhythm Romance (1985) #77 US
• Made In Detroit (EP) (1993)
• The King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents: The Romantics Live In Concert (1996)
• 61/49 (2003)

Singles

Audio samples

External links

• RomanticsDetroit.com, The Official Website of the Romantics