Wonderland Burlesque: Wonderland Burlesque's Down The Rabbit Hole: The Danse Society

Sunday, August 10, 2025

Wonderland Burlesque's Down The Rabbit Hole: The Danse Society

Wonderland Burlesque's

Down The Rabbit Hole:

The Danse Society

Down The Rabbit Hole merely places a spotlight on something slightly unusual that's caught my interest. With the help of Wikipedia, YouTube, and other sites, I gather information and learn something new.

Today, we take a look at the early work and history of The Danse Society.

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From Wikipedia and other sources:

The Danse Society (formerly known as Y? or Danse Crazy) are an English electronic gothic rock band, formed in Barnsley in 1980. They were originally active until 1986, reforming in 2011. Achieving moderate success during their career, their lineup included Steve Rawlings (vocals), Paul Nash (guitar), Lyndon Scarfe (keyboards), Tim Wright (bass guitar) and Paul Gilmartin (drums). Scarfe was replaced by David Whitaker (formerly of Music for Pleasure) after the Heaven Is Waiting album.

Danse Society recorded and released their first single, Clock, on their own newly formed record label Society in 1980. They released their debut studio album, Seduction, in 1982. It reached #3 on the UK Indie Chart.

Their second studio album, Heaven Is Waiting, was released in December of 1983 on record label Arista. It reached #39 in the UK albums chart. The album contained a cover of The Rolling Stones' song 2000 Light Years from Home, which was edited in 1984 as a 12" single and as a limited-edition double single. The band also recorded a single with producers Stock, Aitken and Waterman, Say It Again, on the insistence of Arista.

In an attempt to break the band in a big way, Arista release a one-off single Hold On (To What You've Got). It failed and the band was released from their contract.

In 1986, after releasing their final album, Looking Through, as The Danse Society International, all of the band members except lead singer Rawlings left to form Johnny in the Clouds.

Rawlings continued as Society, and in 1987, released a single, Saturn Girl, after which, The Danse Society name was retired.

A campaign titled The Danse Society Reformation Plot was started on Facebook at the end of 2009 and succeeded in bringing most of the band back together. A new album was begun, with Rawlings on vocals, but his stay was short-lived. With new vocalist Maethelyiah from the group Blooding Mask, The Danse Society released their fourth studio album, Change of Skin, in July of 2011. They released two singles from the album, God Cry and Vatican, with a live appearance - their first in 25 years - at a German music festival in 2012.

Their fifth studio album, Scarey Tales, was released in February of 2013. In February of 2014, the band announced the sudden departure of two key members, resulting in the cancellation of a series of tour dates. The remaining members regrouped and soldiered on with an ever-changing line-up, releasing three more albums. Their latest, The Loop, was released in 2024.

It was announced on August 6, 2024 that original drummer Paul Gilmartin had died.