BIO-old | TheRomanticsDetroit

BIOGRAPHY

The original members of The Romantics—Wally Palmar, Jimmy Marinos, Mike Skill and Rich Cole—formally became a band on Valentine’s Day, 1977.

Bred on the mean streets of Detroit’s east side, they were inspired by the British music invasion and their hometown rock scene. More than 40 years later they are still known for having created some of the most influential and beloved rock and roll of all time.

The Romantics cut their teeth on the Detroit sound characterized by the MC5, the Stooges, Bob Seger and the Last Heard, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, the Rationals, SRC, the Underdogs, and infused it with sincerity, irony, spontaneity and, of course, volume. They favored short hair, short songs and popularized red leather suits.

Their musical credo, then and now, was a simple, joyful affirmation, epitomized by the "Hey!...uh-huh!" intro to "What I Like About You," the unforgettable, high-energy track that still bridges generations, times and musical genres. Their storied history goes something like this: Wally Palmar, Jimmy Marinos, Mike Skill and Rich Cole -- the original Romantics -- were tough kids escaping hard work, probably in machine shops or factories, but they weren't punks. They were a response to the nihilism of the U.K. punks.

While it is true that they took much of their simple thunder from the British Invasion, the band's primary influence was the high energy excitement of the late 60s Detroit scene. The MC5, the Stooges, Bob Seger and The Last Heard, The Detroit Wheels, The Rationals, SRC, The Underdogs, The Up. . . The Romantics took the essence of this scene -- sincerity, irony, spontaneity, volume -- and translated it to suit their own modern experience. Their image was innate; they naturally favored short hair and shorter songs and happened on the infamous red leather suits by chance.

After releasing a single, consisting of the first two songs they had written - ''Little White Lies" and "I Can't Tell You Anything" -- The Romantics traveled east to build a club audience. Bomp Records' Greg Shaw sees them in Toronto and funds an EP. The EP includes "Tell It To Carrie," something of a stylistic matrix for The Romantics' music to come.

The late 70s U.K. punk movement is diluted and misunderstood in America, and The Romantics are, like it or not, labeled "New Wave, " a term for the more palatable selling of punk. The Romantics consider themselves well removed from the Sex Pistols' negativity. They don't want rock to go away; they wanted: "to still have fun with three chords".

After signing with Nemperor Records in 1979, The Romantics released their debut LP, recorded in three weeks. Anchored by "What I Like About You," "When I Look In Your Eyes" and a cover of Ray Davies' "She's Got Everything," The album is an exemplary pop-rock period piece. The Romantics evoke a youthful portrait, haunting in its innocence, a direct contrast to the tough world they know in Detroit.

A follow-up, National Breakout, was released in 1980, followed by tours of Europe and Australia. More influences -- surf music, Motown -- were evidenced, yet the sound was increasingly unique. "Tomboy," "21 and Over" and "Stone Pony" lived up to the post-punk battle cry of "Two minutes or bust."

The Bomp material was included on a compilation titled Midwest Pop Explosion (Quark 1980). By the time of 1981's Strictly Personal, lead guitarist Skill departs and is replaced by guitarist Coz Canler, only to return one album later, replacing Rich Cole.

The band reaches its commercial peak in 1983-1984 with In Heat, a platinum album bearing two top ten singles: "Talking In Your Sleep" and "One In A Million."

"Talking In Your Sleep" was the Romantics' biggest chart hit, garnering substantial radio airplay and sales.

The song reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1984. It also went to #1 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart in the U.S., where it remained on top for two weeks. In Australia, Talking in Your Sleep climbed to #14 on the Australian Singles Chart (Kent Music Report). The song's music video, widely aired at the time on MTV and elsewhere, featured the band Wearing black python suits while performing surrounded by standing, but seemingly sleeping women who were dressed in sleepwear.

The Romantics were the first white band to appear on Soul Train, because they were "extremely funky", according to Don Cornelius.

This should have been the big payoff, but drummer Marinos departs instead as "success" creates division and confrontation between management and the band.

The Romantics, with Dave Petratos on drums, released Rhythm Romance in 1985. Other than the 1990 greatest hits compilation, "What I Like About You" (and Other Romantic Hits), Rhythm Romance is the last record The Romantics cut for Epic/Nemperor.

In 1987, The Romantics endure an inordinate amount of adversity. The acrimonious fall-out and lawsuit with their former managers slowed royalty payments and prevented the band from focusing on recording and touring. In late 1990, the Romantics added current Blondie drummer Clem Burke to the lineup, and in 1994 they released a 5 song EP titled Made In Detroit for Westbound Records, containing fellow Detroiter George Clintons' Funkadelic songs along with three originals. Later that year, The Romantics received an award for Outstanding Pop/Rock Recording Artists from the Motor City Music Awards.

In 1992, when Clem had other obligations, The Romantics enlisted legendary Detroit Wheels drummer Johnny "Bee" Badanjek to perform with them at Rob Tyner's (MC5) Memorial Service.

1995 saw The Romantics settle their 7 year old lawsuit against their former management and regained control of their publishing rights and music catalog. In 1996 Jimmy Marinos, the original drummer, rejoined the Romantics to tour and work on recording projects until leaving the group in 1997.

The Romantics were presented with the Distinguished Achievement Award at the Detroit Music Awards in 1999.

The next several years were spent recording and finishing songs for their next album, "61/49". Released in the fall of 2003 and named for the storied crossroads near Clarksdale, Mississippi where bluesman Robert Johnson made his pact with the devil, "61/49" is intended as a tip of the hat to the roots of rock 'n' roll and the nucleus of The Romantics' fervent pop. The album features members Wally Palmar, Mike Skill, Coz Canler and drummer Clem Burke (a founding member of Blondie). They were joined by their original drummer, Jimmy Marinos, as well as drummer Johnny "Bee" Badanjek with a supporting cast that included keyboardists Eddie Hawrysch (Black Crowes) and Luis Resto, among others.

In 2004, due to touring commitments with Blondie, Clem Burke recommended the addition of Brad Elvis, best known as a member of the Elvis Brothers and Big Hello.

Screen Shot 2023-02-24 at 4.34.00 PM.png

Screen Shot 2023-02-24 at 4.38.50 PM.png

Group members continue to work on various side projects and studio sessions, and Wally Palmar was fortunate enough to have toured in Ringo Starr and His All-Starr band in 2010 and 2011.

The Romantics are continuously being re-introduced to new generations today via the extensive airplay on contemporary rock radio, satellite radio, digital music services, various artist compilations, commercials and movie soundtracks. Some of which include: Grown Ups 1&2, Ritchie Rich, Stuart Little 2, Freaky Friday, 13 Going on 30, Shrek 2 and Surf’s Up, as well as some of the more notable commercials with sponsors such as Budweiser, Burger King, Papa John’s Pizza, Esurance, Hampton Inn, TGI Fridays, Old Navy and Toyota.

In addition to being a staple on classic and contemporary rock radio, television commercials and movies; Sirius/XM Satellite radio has also embraced The Romantics. Their songs can be heard on a number of stations including Little Steven’s Underground Garage.