There is a multi page feature in the Smash Hits 1985 yearbook about the recording sessions for Wild Boys, and all seemed fine with them at the time.
I too have a November 84 copy with pics of Nile in the studio with them and there’s no mention
Yet realistically
Smash Hits were never gonna go into anything that wasn’t an official statement from the band coz there was no need to and besides it wouldn’t be a positive thing for either band or mag.
besides AT and RT are not gonna announce they’re wanting to leave DD while working on TWBs in the studio or when launching the Arena LP
coz that makes no business sense whatsoever
Once the split was announced in 86 that changed things coz it had to be an official band statement and it was
in fact when rumours were circulating in late 85 of a split DD were defending them saying “the rumours are not true we simply did some side projects exploring the army dd side and rock dd side and will be getting back together next year to work on our new lp” and things to that effect
Here’s how I lived thru it and saw it
And by that I mean what dd have said themselves over the years and what was written in the media including JT/AT memoirs, which isn’t always totally 100% true
The plan for the PS was put together in 83, when DD members met Tony Thompson in Australia who was playing drums for Bowie’s Serious moonlight tour,
JT wanted DD to be taken more seriously (including himself as a bass player too) simply coz the teen thing was still evident 3 years in and AT also felt the same however in ATs case he hated the 7 LP coz his guitar was way too low in the mix.
Anyone notice how turned up ATs 🎸 was for WBs and AVTAK ?
Like, who woulda thought the same band that made the tapestry textural type 7 LP would be capable of the punk hard edged cocaine infused TWBs with their very next release.
Even the hard rock Arena LP sound wasn’t enough for AT to think of staying.
Thing is JT had no desire to leave DD, but rather wanted to gain credibility from the PS project and hence he came back to DD asap. However AT had other ideas, once he got his confidence and he was never coming back.
Disappointing coz being on top of the 🌍 commercially ever since ITSISK, 7 LP, TR, WBs, Arena and AVTAK wasn’t enough for the AT solo star ego and so DD were sabotaged without a bonafide guitarist at the height of their domination.
Sometimes I think of the stress JT endured on the PS tour when having the feeling that AT wouldn’t return (this is all in JTs book) and this tension wouldn’t have helped RT either I imagine, who actually played on both PS and Arcadia. In fact 100% it wouldn’t have helped RT with his on going stress.
Shoulda canned the PS tour it once Robert P threw in the towel, I mean what a sign that was.
Yet concert tickets were sold etc etc I get that
TBH I don’t know how it was ok for RP to do so, wouldn’t and shouldn’t he have been contracted?
Arcadia came to fruition only because the PS tour went ahead and Nick thought with no DD stuff to work on why not do something with Si and Rog for the next 6 months.
And to cut a long story short, just when dd had converted fans more than ever before,
the new fans were like “convinced dd were never the serious outfit to carry on” and the masses of initial DD fans only into dd coz of thier looks thought “this isn’t dd anymore get RT and AT back or we’re out”
& so they did in droves.
I imagine the remaining fans into DDs music first and foremost, hung in there and I can only speak for myself in my case which is about the music and that’s why Im here on this board and I’d like to add, the quality IMO has remained with all DD LPs released since 1986 and to this day”.
& sure I don’t love every single song on every single dd LP that’s certainly a fact, yet for ‘the most part’ I see the DD essence and credentials and indeed this includes a certain quality, be it in the musicality or lyrics.
