Fingerprintz – Nostalgia Central

This British New Wave band formed in London in 1978 when songwriter Jimme O’Neill met guitarist Cha Burns.

After backing Rachel Sweet on her tour for Stiff, they signed with Virgin Records. Their first single (Dancing With Myself) was released in January 1979, and their debut album, The Very Dab (a Scottish expression meaning ‘the perfect choice’), followed in September of the same year.

Original vocalist Step Lang left the band at that stage, and O’Neill slid into the lead vocalist role.

Their music fluctuated between menacing and melodic – angular, quirky, dark, and remarkably melodic at the same time. Subsequent albums Distinguishing Marks (produced by Nick Garvey of The Motors) and Beat Noir (1981) gained them some critical recognition with notable appearances on John Peel‘s BBC Radio 1 show and the BBC’s In Concert radio series.

O’Neill’s songs exhibited a flair for the off-beat. Fingerprintz related a prowler’s early morning rampage through a woman’s apartment. Wet Job (a Mafia term for assassination) was based on the mysterious murder of Bulgarian defector Georgi Markov in London by a poisoned umbrella tip.

His extracurricular writing also benefitted Lene Lovich (her British hit 45, Say When), Rachel Sweet (Spellbound) and Wreckless Eric (with whom O’Neill wrote Out of the Blue).

The group split in 1985, with Bogdan Wiczling and Cha heading off to tour with Adam Ant.

When O’Neill (pictured) reunited with Fingerprintz guitarist Cha Burns to form The Silencers in 1987, he was able to achieve greater commercial success than his old group ever did.

The single Painted Moon did much to boost their debut album.

Jimme O’Neill
Vocals, guitar
Cha Burns
Guitar
Kenny Alton
Bass
Bob Schilling (Bogdan Wiczling)
Drums
Step Lang
Vocals