Figures On A Beach

Formed in 1981 in Detroit, Figures on a Beach originally consisted of Anthony Kaczynski (vocals, keyboards, occasional bass), John Richard Rolski (guitar) [a=Christopher Ewen] (keyboards), and Michael Smith (drums). Releases from this lineup include the [i]Swimming[/i] EP on Metro-America and the [a=Don Was]-produced single "Breathless" in 1984. In 1985 the band moved to Boston as a quintet, with new member Perry Tell having joined in 1984 on bass, guitar and keyboards. The quintet eventually signed with [l=Sire Records Company] and hooked up with producer [a=Ivan Ivan], who steered them toward an upbeat synth-pop sound. Notable releases from this collaboration include the anthemic "No Stars" on the album [i]Standing On Ceremony[/i] in 1987, and the soaring, slickly produced single "Accidentally 4th Street (Gloria)" from the group's eponymous 1989 album. Figures on a Beach broke up in 1993. Kaczynski and Smith went on to become founding members of Fireking, and Ewen eventually joined [a=Future Bible Heroes]. Ewen and Kaczynski now tour extensively with The Magnetic Fields.