Altered Images to play The Apex next month

Altered Images were one of the brightest new wave/pop acts of the 1980s, and the band have recently reformed and hit the road for a greatest hits tour, which will call in at The Apex, in Bury St Edmunds, next month.

Their bubbly lead singer Clare Grogan (pictured above) was still at school when the band got together – by day she was studying for her A-Levels and at night she was touring with Siouxsie And The Banshees, playing festivals alongside Echo And The Bunnymen, The Human League, U2 and recording sessions for John Peel.

The band was signed to Epic Records in 1981 and in the same year, Clare appeared in the BAFTA winning comedy Gregory’s Girl.

“Happy Birthday”, the band’s third single, reached number 2 in the UK charts for three weeks in 1981 and catapulted the band to fame. They quickly became one of the biggest acts around and were voted “Best New Group” at the NME Awards and “Most Promising New Act” in the 1981 Smash Hits readers poll.

Altered Images went on to have worldwide success, selling millions of records, with hits like “I Could Be Happy” and “Don’t Talk to Me About Love”.

There are an array of artistes who happily describe themselves as fans, from Florence And The Machine to The Foo Fighters. “Happy Birthday” has been covered by Courtney Love, The Ting Tings and The Wedding Party to name but a few.

Clare’s acting career also includes “Red Dwarf” (she originated the role of Lister’s love interest, Kristine Kochanski), “EastEnders”, “Father Ted” and “Skins”. In recent years she has also become a television and radio presenter and a children’s novelist.

After an 18-year gap in performing with Altered Images, Clare was persuaded to sing their hits again and she and her band continue to wow crowds at various 80’s festivals around the country.

Altered Images are at the Apex on Saturday, March 7, at 8pm. Contact The Apex Box Office on 01284 758000 or visit www.theapex.co.uk for more information or to book.