The band formed in mid-1979 – disbanded mid-1982.

 The original members were Paul Markz (aka Paul Guro) – vocals and guitar, Stitch – bass and b/vs, Lee Faust – drums (later drummers being: Roy Marqx and then Stephen Humphries).

 Stitch and Lee had previously been together in a band called The Outsider (with Steve Willis on guitar and Kevin Masters on keyboards). They played five gigs in all, splitting after an eventful night at the Chancellor Hall Chelmsford on 20^th May 1979 supporting Modern English.

 The Orange Cardigan (originally Essex based) started as a 3-piece when Paul Marks answered an advert in a local paper placed by Stitch and Lee. The boys gelled together immediately and after a month of rehearsals played their first gig on the 16^th July 1979 at the Zero Six in Southend-On-Sea.

 They later drafted in Win Smith to play guitar, allowing Paul to focus more fully on his vocal duties and stage performance. Stitch changed his name to Niki Berlin and the majority of the band moved to London, to better assault the world!

 They played numerous gigs around the London and Essex scenes and gathered quite a substantial following in their first year. Playing at venues such as: The Marquee, The Rock Garden, The Bridge House, Acklam Hall, The Music Machine, The Pied Bull, The London Musicians Collective, Clarendon Ballroom and The Greyhound. And supporting such bands as: The Birthday Party, Classics Nouveaux, The Spectres (Glenn Matlock’s band), The Pet Shop Boys, The Lemon Kittens, DAF, Tenpole Tudor, Martian Dance, Naked Lunch, Everything But The Girl, Zounds and UK Decay.

 After supporting The Birthday Party at The Africa Centre in 1980 the band were approached by Pete Kent and signed to Situation 2 Records (an off-shoot of 4AD Records). They recorded two tracks for a projected single which was  never released sadly.

 The band continued to play many more noteworthy gigs and had other record label interest from: Do It, Cherry Red, Fresh and Rough Trade, but to no avail.

 After disbanding in ’82 the musicians went on to play in various other bands including: Seventh Séance, The Tender Trap, Marc Almond’s band, Angels in Aspic, Sticky Like Candy, The Lightning Call, T.Rextasy and The Hyenas.

 Notable Band Songs

 Don’t Turn Off My Life Machine

Thieves In The Night

Absolutely No Co-Ordination

You’re A Spy

A Case Of Poisoning

Elevator Raper

The Electricutioners Assistant

I Love You But I Think I Could Kill You For A Bribe

Living In A Haunted House

Bullets

No Romance in China

She Fell In Love With An Astronaut

Newscaster

Shut Your Mouth I Want To Kiss You

I Only Come Alive After Dark