Combo Audio - Romanticide (1982)

Combo Audio was formed as a vehicle for songs written by John Kellogg and collaborator Rick Neuhaus that evolved into a band. Several of their songs began to be played on local radio stations before their first gig. The group signed with local indy start up label Secret Records formed as a vehicle for Combo Audio music. Produced by Dana Walden and the group, the first single of “Romanticide“ was produced and released as a single b/w “It’s a Crime“. “Romanticide“ received “Top Single Pick“ in Billboard as a result and received further airplay on college radio and major stations in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. Following creative differences original bassist Tom Broske was replaced by Angus Thomas. Ken Adamany who managed Cheap Trick showed interest and engaged to manage the group. The group signed with EMI America and produced an EP Combo Audio that was released in late 1983. Dana Walden began production if the EP with The Psychedelic Furs engineer Ian Taylor engineering and mixing with Paul Klingberg as second engineer. Eventually Walden was dropped from the project and the band and Ian Taylor finished the record at The Cars Synchro Sound studios in Boston with Taylor producing and engineering. Several years of nearly non-stop touring in mostly the Midwest United States followed. The group played in concert clubs and university shows and other large venues. They co-billed with or shared stages with the Talking Heads, U2, Billy Idol, Duran Duran, The Tubes, JoBoxers, Berlin, Missing Persons, Stray Cats and INXS.