After The Fire - Signs Of Change (Reissue) (1977/2004)

Taking their name from a biblical quote (Kings 19:12), AFTER THE FIRE began in 1971 as a Christian Rock band playing keyboard-driven Progressive Rock to predominantly Christian audiences in the UK. Comprising of the song-writing partnership of Peter BANKS (keyboards) and Andy PIERCY (lead vocals & guitar) with Ian ADAMSON (bass guitar) and Robin CHILDS (drums), over the next 6 years the band built-up a sizable following playing the pub and college circuit and headlining the Greenbelt Christian Rock festival on several occasions, as well as acting as the backing band to PIERCY's former singer/songwriter partner ISHMAEL (aka Rev. Ian SMALE). In 1977 they played a sell-out show at The Marquee, where 300 fans were turned away because the venue was full. However, secular success and a recording contract still eluded them so they decided to record and release a self-funded album, called 'Signs Of Change'. Containing songs that had been written throughout the six year period of the band's existence, the album show-cased their Classical Progressive Rock style, which prompted one reviewer in Sounds magazine to write: 'The demon comparison forces me to refer you to ELP moog-boogie, marching GENESIS, and bands like BADGER and FLASH for points of similarity. The main difference being that AFTER THE FIRE are strong enough to include these likeness's and still emerge as AFTER THE FIRE.' Limited to a pressing of only 4,000 copies and available only by mail-order and at live shows, vinyl copies of the album are rare, but it has been since released on CD.
As if recording the album had been a form of documenting the band's history to date, they decided that a change of direction and style was in order and in 1978 they abandoned Progressive Rock, replaced the bass guitarist and drummer and adopted a New Wave style under the abbreviated moniker of ATF. The rejuvenation of the band resulted in a recording contract with CBS that saw the release of three albums and several singles over the following three years, achieving a modicum of chart success on both sides of the Atlantic. In 1982 embarked on three consecutive tours, two in Europe (first supporting ELO and then QUEEN) and one in the USA (supporting VAN HALEN). By December '82 AFTER THE FIRE was dissolved due to the strain of touring and musical differences within the band. In 2003, after a 21 year 'sabbatical', several members of the original band reformed as ATF2.