Pool Of Sound - Big In Japan

Bill Drummond formed Liverpool band 'Big In Japan' in May 1977 following a suggestion from his friend from 'Deaf School', Clive Langer. They were named after a phrase used to describe Wirral group 'Buster', who topped the charts in Japan but failed to make any real impact on the UK market. The initial line up consisted of Bill Drummond on guitar and vocals, Kevin Ward on bass guitar and vocals and Phil Allen on drums. They were equal parts punk and performance art and would last barely a year, but the seeds were sown. Like 'Crucial Three' they are better known for the later successes of their band members than for their own music. According to the Liverpool Echo, they were a 'super group' with a difference in that its members only became super after they left the group.

Starting off playing local gigs such as Ruffwood School in Kirkby, and more notably Saturday morning sessions at Eric's, they played only three gigs before the line-up grew in August of that year when Jayne Casey joined on vocals, Ian Broudie on guitar and Clive Langer, who only lasted until September. This was after they had recorded their first song 'Big In Japan' which was released on the compilation 7" single, 'Brutality Religion And A Dance Beat'. Jayne had set up a clothes stall, Aunt Twacky's at O’Halligan’s Warehouse, which was a good way to meet other alternative and arty people in Liverpool at that time. She then introduced her friend Holly Johnson to the band who eventually replaced Kevin Ward/Ambrose Reynolds. In January 1978 ex 'Spitfire Boys' drummer Budgie replaced Phil Allen on drums.
Quite a few of the band members had been associated with the strangely named 'Liverpool School of Language, Music, Dream and Pun' and they certainly cultivated an intriguing stage presence at their gigs around Merseyside, including Eric's. Drummond played in a kilt and Casey sang with a lampshade over her shaved head! It was later described as more performance art than music with Holly Johnson honing the stage persona that would later become a hallmark of 'Frankie Goes to Hollywood'. 

The chaotic changes in line-up continued, when in June 1978 Holly Johnson was sacked and replaced by ex 'Deaf School' member Steve Lindsey but the following month he himself was then replaced by Dave Balfe from 'Dalek I Love You', who would be the final person to join the band. 

'Big In Japan' dedicated their only proper release to 'the Eric's matinee crowd' and Jayne Casey still tells the tale of when 'Iggy Pop' played Eric's on his birthday. He recalls, "The matinee crowd, myself included, burst into a spontaneous version of  'Happy Birthday to You' in a way that a grown-up crowd would most definitely not have done. Not expecting this reaction, Iggy grinned from ear to ear, his rock star persona punctured by this young gesture. After this Iggy shook my hand and I swore I'd never wash it again."

Some at the time though were jealous of the band and the semi serious rivalry got so bad that Julian Cope started a petition calling on them to split up, displayed in the local record shop Probe Records. The petition gathered numerous signatures, humorously including those of the band themselves. According to Cope's autobiography, "Of course, Bill Drummond was into the whole thing and told us we needed 14,000 signatures, then they'd split up. We got about nine" In the 1980s, Drummond became the manager of Cope's band 'The Teardrop Explodes'.
The band broke up after a last gig at Eric's on the 26th of August 1978. During their time, 'Big In Japan' recorded four songs which were included in the 'From Y To Z And Never Again' EP, released afterwards to pay off debts. Their swansong was a session recorded on the 12th of February 1979 for Liverpool DJ John Peel. In the line-up were Broudie, Casey, Budgie and Johnson.
Ironically, the band never performed or released any disc in Japan.

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2019/07/pool-of-sound-dalek-i-love-you.html