View source for The Power Station (band)

{{distinguish|Power Station (Taiwanese band)}}
{{short description|British-American rock supergroup}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| background      = group_or_band
| name            = The Power Station
| image           = The Power Station (1985 Capitol publicity photo) 02.jpg
| landscape       = yes
| caption         = The Power Station in 1985. L–R: Robert Palmer, Andy Taylor, John Taylor, Tony Thompson
| alias           =
| years_active    = {{hlist|1984–1985|1995–1997}}
| genre           = {{hlist|[[Pop rock]]|[[hard rock]]|[[dance-rock]]|[[funk rock]]}}
| origin          = London, England<br />New York City, U.S.
| label           = {{hlist|[[Capitol Records|Capitol]]|[[Chrysalis Records|Chrysalis]]}}
| spinoffs        = [[Distance (band)|Distance]]
| spinoff_of      = {{hlist|[[Duran Duran]]|[[Chic (band)|Chic]]}}
| past_members    =
* [[Michael Des Barres]]
* [[Andy Taylor (guitarist)|Andy Taylor]]
* [[Robert Palmer]]
* [[John Taylor (bass guitarist)|John Taylor]]
* [[Tony Thompson (drummer)|Tony Thompson]]
* [[Bernard Edwards]]
}}

'''The Power Station''' were a British-American 1980s/1990s rock and pop music [[supergroup (music)|supergroup]] originally formed in New York City and London in 1984. It was made up of singer [[Robert Palmer]], former [[Chic (band)|Chic]] drummer [[Tony Thompson (drummer)|Tony Thompson]], and [[Duran Duran]] members [[John Taylor (bass guitarist)|John Taylor]] (bass) and [[Andy Taylor (guitarist)|Andy Taylor]] (guitar).<ref>{{cite news|date=7 August 1987|title=Forth Worth Stare-Telegram, 07 Aug 1987|pages=112|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67030198/forth-worth-stare-telegram-07-aug-1987/|access-date=7 January 2021}}</ref> [[Bernard Edwards]], also of Chic, was involved on the studio side as recording producer and for a short time also functioned as the Power Station's manager. Edwards also replaced John Taylor on bass for the recording of the band's second album. The band was formed in New York City late in 1984 during a break in Duran Duran's schedule that became a lengthy hiatus. The Power Station was named after [[Power Station (recording studio)|the Power Station recording studio]] in New York, where their first album was conceived and recorded.

==Origins==
On 23 July 1983, Duran Duran's [[Duran Duran's charity concert at Villa Park 1983|charity concert at Villa Park]] in aid of [[Mencap]], a UK charity, took place in Birmingham. Duran Duran had been known to be huge fans of Robert Palmer, so he was invited to participate.

After Duran Duran's third album, ''[[Seven and the Ragged Tiger]]'', the members of the band took a planned short hiatus, going into two projects. One of these was the band [[Arcadia (band)|Arcadia]], featuring frontman [[Simon Le Bon]] and keyboardist [[Nick Rhodes]], which maintained the melodic and atmospheric aspects of Duran Duran's previous recordings. The other was the Power Station, in which bassist [[John Taylor (bass guitarist)|John Taylor]] and guitarist [[Andy Taylor (guitarist)|Andy Taylor]] worked with Palmer, Thompson, and Edwards to explore more rhythmic and aggressive music rooted in [[funk music|funk]] and [[rock and roll]]. [[Roger Taylor (Duran Duran drummer)|Roger Taylor]] was mainly the drummer for Arcadia but also contributed percussion to the Power Station.

The group began as something of a whim—it was a one-time gathering of friends to provide backing to model and would-be singer [[Bebe Buell]], who wanted to record a cover of the 1971 [[T. Rex (band)|T. Rex]] song "[[Get It On (T. Rex song)|Get It On]]".<ref name="AllMusic Bio">{{cite web|last1=Prato|first1=Greg|title=Biography|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-power-station-mn0000491565/biography|website=AllMusic|access-date=25 March 2022}}</ref> Both John Taylor and Andy Taylor were eager to branch out from the synthesizer-heavy pop of Duran Duran and play some [[Led Zeppelin]]-flavoured [[rock and roll]]. The participation of their idols from Chic lent the project a horn-inflected funk vibe that meshed surprisingly well with the crunching guitars and booming drums.<ref>{{cite book|last=Malins|first= Steve|year=2006|title=Notorious: The Unauthorised Biography|publisher=André Deutsch/Carlton Publishing|place=UK|isbn=0-233-00137-9}}</ref>

Soon, the project evolved into the idea of a revolving [[supergroup (music)|supergroup]]; a tentative name for the band was Big Brother. The original plan for the one-album project was for the three musicians (the two Taylors and Thompson) to provide musical continuity to an album full of material, with a different singer performing on each track. Those who were approached included [[Mick Jagger]], [[Billy Idol]], [[Mars Williams]], [[Richard Butler (singer)|Richard Butler]] (of [[the Psychedelic Furs]]), and [[Mick Ronson]].<ref name= Green>{{cite journal|last=Green|first=Jo-Anne|url= http://www.lizardkingduran.com/gold.html|title=Your Mission, Barbarella: Find Duran Duran|publisher=published online at LizardKingDuranDuran.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070304091132/http://www.lizardkingduran.com/gold.html|archive-date=4 March 2007|journal=Goldmine|volume=24|number=456|date=16 January 1998}}</ref>

The group then invited Palmer to record vocals for the track "[[Communication (The Power Station song)|Communication]]". When he heard that they had recorded [[demo (music)|demos]] for "Get It On", he asked to try out vocals on that song as well. They decided to record the entire album with him.<ref name="AllMusic Bio"/> The group was signed with [[Capitol Records]].

==History==

On 16 February 1985, the band performed "[[Some Like It Hot (song)|Some Like It Hot]]" and "[[Get It On (T. Rex song)#Power Station version|Get It On]]" on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''. It was the only time that Robert Palmer performed live with the original line-up. The horn section for the Power Station's ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' appearance included saxophonist [[Lenny Pickett]], who would join the show's house band that fall and eventually become the show's musical director.

In March 1985, the Power Station issued a [[The Power Station (album)|self-titled album]] produced by [[Bernard Edwards]], with some informal assistance from [[Nile Rodgers]].{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} It reached number 12 in the United Kingdom<ref name="UK"/> and number 6 on the United States album chart.<ref name="Allmusic"/>

The record is sometimes referred to as ''Power Station 33 ⅓'' as the sleeve for the original [[gramophone record|vinyl record]] release bore that subtitle, indicating the speed of a [[Phonograph|record turntable]]. Compact disc issues used ''CD'' as a subtitle instead, while initial cassette copies highlighted [[Capitol Records|Capitol's]] [[XDR (audio)|XDR]] process. The album's cover graphics and color scheme, which were also used in the videos, were based on sketches by John Taylor.<ref>Interview with John Taylor, ''Pop/Rocky'' German music magazine, March 1985.</ref>

Three singles were released from the album, two of them major hits. The first, "Some Like It Hot", reached #14 on the [[UK Singles Chart]]<ref name="UK"/> and #6 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].<ref name="Allmusic"/> (The music video featured model [[Caroline Cossey]], credited by her nickname "Tula".) The second single, "[[Get It On (T. Rex song)#Power Station version|Get It On]]", went to #22 in the United Kingdom<ref name="UK"/> and #9 in the United States,<ref name="Allmusic"/> while competing against the Duran Duran single "[[A View to a Kill (song)|A View to a Kill]]", which was an American number one. "[[Communication (The Power Station song)|Communication]]" was not as successful, reaching #34 in the United States,<ref name="Allmusic"/> but disappeared after hitting #75 in the United Kingdom.<ref name="UK"/>

The band also released a collection of their three music videos called ''The Power Station Video EP''.

The group's unexpected success led to two incompatible results: first, they decided to headline a summer tour in America with [[Paul Young]], [[Nik Kershaw]], [[the Bongos]], and [[Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark]]; second, Robert Palmer decided to record a solo album to take advantage of his sudden name recognition. This led to Palmer's departure from the band. (Tony Thompson, Andy Taylor, and future Power Station bass player Bernard Edwards all contributed to Palmer's highly successful 1985 solo album ''[[Riptide (album)|Riptide]]'').

When Palmer bailed on the tour, some critics referred to it as "unprofessional behaviour". Speaking to ''[[Number One (magazine)|Number One]]'' magazine in 1986, he hit back at the claims he joined the band for money: "Firstly, I didn't need the money and, secondly the cash was a long time coming. It wasn't exactly an experience that set me up for retirement."<ref name=one>[[Number One (magazine)|Number One]] magazine, circa 1986: "Bob's Your Uncle" by Pat Thomas, pp 28–29.</ref>

Palmer was also accused of ripping off the Power Station sound for his own records. He snapped: "Listen, I gave ''The Power Station'' that sound. They took it from me, not the other way around."<ref name=one />

With Palmer bowing out, the band recruited singer/actor [[Michael Des Barres]] (formerly of [[Silverhead]], [[Chequered Past]], and [[Detective (band)|Detective]]) for the tour. Des Barres also performed with them at the [[Live Aid]] charity concert in [[Philadelphia]] that summer.<ref name="AllMusic Bio"/>

Des Barres' friendship with actor [[Don Johnson]] led to the band's guest appearance on an episode of the television drama ''[[Miami Vice]]''. Similarly, his friendship with producer [[Joel Silver]] led to the Power Station writing a song called "We Fight for Love" for the [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] action film ''[[Commando (1985 film)|Commando]]'' (1985). The track was originally titled "Someday, Somehow, Someone's Gotta Pay". An EP containing the song plus some live songs from their tour was planned for release that same year, but was scrapped by their record company.

The band folded in late 1985 as its members turned to other projects. John Taylor returned to Duran Duran, while Andy Taylor chose to leave Duran Duran in favour of a solo career. A reformed [[Led Zeppelin]] played at the Live Aid concert in 1985, with Thompson sharing drumming duties with [[Phil Collins]]. Thompson was to take the place of [[John Bonham]] in a reformed Led Zeppelin, but after a few days of rehearsals in 1986, he was seriously injured in a car accident and the reunion never got off the ground. Palmer continued his revitalized solo career, while Des Barres released his second solo album in 1986.

==Reunions and reissues==
The Power Station reunited in 1996 with its original members: Robert Palmer, Andy Taylor, John Taylor, and Tony Thompson. The group worked together on writing and arranging a new album; however, personal problems forced bassist John Taylor to withdraw from the project and leave the band before any recording took place. Producer [[Bernard Edwards]] ([[Chic (band)|Chic]] bassist) stepped in to become the Power Station's bassist and new fourth member, playing all bass parts on ''[[Living in Fear]]'' (1996).

Edwards was prepared to tour with the group, but then died suddenly of pneumonia during a trip to Japan. The Power Station decided to press on as a trio augmented by session musicians, and toured first with bassist [[Guy Pratt]] and then Manny Yanes and second guitarist [[Luke Morley]], to moderate success. They disbanded shortly after.

In 2002, EMI Music issued ''The Best of The Power Station'' as part of their Ten Best Series. All tracks are from the first album (some in remixed form), except for "Taxman" from ''Living in Fear'' and the final track, a previously unreleased live version of "[[Dancing in the Street]]", recorded at the [[Hartford Civic Center]] in 1985 and sung by Michael Des Barres.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Power-Station-The-Best-Of/master/374352|title=The Power Station – The Best Of|website=Discogs.com|year=2002 }}</ref>

Both Robert Palmer and Tony Thompson died in late 2003.

EMI released a new version of the album ''The Power Station'' on 21 February 2005, to commemorate the album's 20th anniversary. The package includes the original eight-song album, seven bonus tracks (mostly remixes), and a 40-minute eight-chapter DVD. Among the bonus tracks on the album is the track "Someday, Somehow, Someone's Gotta Pay" (from the ''Commando OST''), sung by Michael Des Barres.

==Band members==
* [[Andy Taylor (guitarist)|Andy Taylor]] – guitar <small>(1984–1985, 1995–1997)</small>
* [[Tony Thompson (drummer)|Tony Thompson]] – drums <small>(1984–1985, 1995–1997; died 2003)</small>
* [[John Taylor (bass guitarist)|John Taylor]] – bass <small>(1984–1985, 1995)</small>
* [[Robert Palmer]] – lead vocals <small>(1984–1985, 1995–1997; died 2003)</small>
* [[Michael Des Barres]] – lead vocals <small>(1985)</small>
* [[Bernard Edwards]] – bass <small>(1995–1996; his death)</small>

'''Touring musicians'''
* [[Guy Pratt]] – bass <small>(1996)</small>
* Manny Yanes – bass <small>(1996–1997)</small>
* [[Luke Morley]] – guitars <small>(1996–1997)</small>

==Discography==
===Studio albums===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ {{Sronly|List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions}}
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Details
! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions
|-
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| [[UK Albums Chart|UK]]<br /><ref name="UK"/>
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| [[Billboard 200|US]]<br /><ref name="Allmusic"/>
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| [[Kent Music Report|AUS]]<br /><ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|publisher=Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=236}} N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by [[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]] between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[The Power Station (album)|The Power Station]]''
|
* Released: 25 March 1985
* Label: [[Capitol Records|Capitol]]/[[EMI Records|EMI]]
* Formats: [[Compact disc|CD]], [[Cassette tape|CS]], [[LP record|LP]]
| 12 || 6 || 15
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Living in Fear]]''
|
* Released: 30 September 1996
* Label: [[Chrysalis Group|Chrysalis]]/Capitol, Guardian (US)
* Formats: CD, CS
| — || — || —
|-
| colspan="5" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
|}

===Compilations===
* ''Best of'' (2003)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-best-of-the-power-station-mw0000039360|title=The Best of the Power Station – The Power Station|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref>

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ {{Sronly|List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name}}
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" colspan="11"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album
|-
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br /><ref name="UK">{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/22392/power-station/|title=The Official Charts Company – Power Station|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| [[Billboard Hot 100|US]]<br /><ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-power-station-mn0000491565/awards|title=The Power Station > Charts & Awards|website=Allmusic|access-date=28 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124003952/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-power-station-mn0000491565/awards|archive-date=24 January 2013}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| [[Mainstream Rock (chart)|US Main.]]<br /><ref name="Allmusic" />
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| [[Dance Club Songs|US Dance]]<br /><ref name="Allmusic" />
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| [[Ö3 Austria Top 40|AUT]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.austriancharts.at/search.asp?search=Power+Station&cat=s|title=Austrian Charts|access-date=23 January 2013}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| [[Ultratop|BEL]]<br /><ref name="The World's Music Charts (Songs from the Year 1985)">{{cite web|url=http://tsort.info/music/yr1985.htm|title=The World's Music Charts (Songs from the Year 1985)|access-date=23 January 2013}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| [[RPM (magazine)|CAN]]<br /><ref name="The World's Music Charts (Songs from the Year 1985)" />
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| [[GfK Entertainment charts|GER]]<br /><ref name="The World's Music Charts (Songs from the Year 1985)" />
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| [[Dutch Top 40|NED]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.top40.nl/the-power-station/the-power-station-some-like-it-hot_7645|title=Top 40: The Power Station – Some Like It Hot|access-date=23 January 2013}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| [[Swiss Hitparade|SWI]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hitparade.ch/search.asp?search=Power%20Station&cat=s|title=Schweizer Hitparade|access-date=23 January 2013}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| [[Kent Music Report|AUS]]<br /><ref name=aus />
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Some Like It Hot (song)|Some Like It Hot]]"
| rowspan="3"| 1985
| 14
| 6
| 34
| 17
| 10
| 6
| 4
| 16
| 9
| 13
| 4
| rowspan="3"| ''The Power Station''
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Get It On (T. Rex song)#Power Station version|Get It On]]"
| 22
| 9
| 19
| —
| —
| —
| 15
| 37
| —
| —
| 8
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Communication (The Power Station song)|Communication]]"
| 75
| 34
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| 95
|-
! scope="row"| "[[She Can Rock It]]"
| 1996
| 63
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| ''Living in Fear''
|-
| colspan="14" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{commonscat}}

{{The Power Station}}
{{Robert Palmer}}
{{Authority control}}

<!--founded in America, one American member-->
<!--three British members-->
{{DEFAULTSORT:Power Station}}
[[Category:English pop rock music groups]]
[[Category:English musical quartets]]
[[Category:American pop rock music groups]]
[[Category:American musical quartets]]
[[Category:Capitol Records artists]]
[[Category:Chrysalis Records artists]]
[[Category:American dance-rock musical groups]]
[[Category:Duran Duran]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1984]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1985]]
[[Category:Musical groups reestablished in 1995]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1997]]
[[Category:Musical groups from New York City]]
[[Category:Rock music groups from London]]
[[Category:Robert Palmer (singer)]]
[[Category:Rock music groups from New York (state)]]
[[Category:British rock music supergroups]]
[[Category:American rock music supergroups]]
[[Category:British dance-rock musical groups]]