Images In Vogue

The Vancouver-based electronic/synthpop group IMAGES IN VOGUE was founded in 1981 by core members Joe Vizvary, Don Gordon, Gary Smith, and Kevin Crompton. Upon adding Dale Martindale on vocals (and shortly thereafter Glen Nelson on keyboards), the group began playing out, and they managed to record and self-release both a 7» and 12» EP. After securing opening gigs for DEPECHE MODE and ROXY MUSIC, label interest ensued, and the band found themselves signed to Warner Bros. Records, which would remain their home for a number of successful singles and LP releases which charted in Canada and received a great deal of airplay on both radio and Canada’s version of MTV, Much Music. They even won several Canadian music awards in 1984.

Keyboardist Don Gordon was the first to exit the group, eventually forming the critically-acclaimed heavy-duty industrial-rock act NUMB. Drummer Crompton exited in 1984 to concentrate on his industrial project SKINNY PUPPY, as he took on the name cEvin Key. The group continued with replacement members Ed Shaw and Derrick Gyles, but label interference and personal conflicts saw the group call it quits after 1988’s album, ‘The Spell’.

IIV producer/engineer Dave Ogilvie went along with SKINNY PUPPY as their 4th member and producer, while other members of IIV have had further connections to the SP camp. Keyboardist Glen Nelson is the brother of FLU/HILT vocalist Alan Nelson, and keyboardist Joe Vizvary has appeared as a guest on the «III» album by Key’s post-SP group DOWNLOAD. Bassist Gary Blair Smith later worked on some videos for Puppy, among others. IIV reunited for a reunion show on October 25, 2002 at the Opera House in Toronto. The band consisted of Dale Martindale on vocals, Joe Vizvary on keyboards, Derrick Gyles (drums), Glen Nelson (keyboards), Ed Shaw (guitarist), and Gary Blair Smith (bass and bass synth). There may be plans for some new recordings, as Joe Vizvary has been working on material with various other IIV members for several years off and on, but plans for the release of these recordings are unknown.