After the Fire (or ATF) were a British rock band that evolved from playing progressive rock to new wave over ten years, while having one hit in the United States ("Der Kommissar") and another hit in the United Kingdom ("One Rule for You").
History
Keyboard player Peter Banks<!--not Peter Banks the guitarist--> originally formed the band in 1972 in London, England. After the Fire then went through several personnel changes before settling on Banks, guitarist and vocalist Andy Piercy, bassist Nick Battle, and drummer Ivor Twidell.
The band were explicit about their Christian faith. They started the new wave synth pop movement at the time most bands in their caliber were mostly punk and pub rock. When they became more successful, their sound was more AOR radio friendly.
After Battle left, Piercy switched to bass, and, after a short period as a three-piece (former member, Bob Price, rejoined as a touring guitarist), John Russell joined on guitar. The group signed to CBS, and released their second album, Laser Love, in 1979,
In January 2007, Smith's departure from the group was announced. The vocals at their first gig in Harrow after Smith's departure were handled by Pete Banks and Russell and gave the band an "authentic" vocal style. Before Smith's departure, there had been plans to re-enter the recording studio. A band biography, in union with a Christian publishing house, with the working title of Short Change, by a band associate was shelved in 2007. In May 2008, the band announced the arrival of Tim Turner as drummer, fresh from Titian Red. For their autumn 2008 tour, the band teamed up with singer–songwriter Rob Halligan, who not only fronted the band (lead vocals and guitar), but also played some of his own material during the sets. Halligan also recorded a cover of the band's song "Carry Me Home" on his 2008 album, Best Thing That Happened. The band continued to perform, with an annual mini tour until 2013. As of 2021 their last performance was at the Jesus Centre in Coventry as the opening act for Rob Halligan's Love Come Down album launch on 21 November 2014.
Members
{| class="toccolours" border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 style="float:width:375px; margin:0 0 1em 1em; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid #E2E2E2 width:99%;"
|+ <big>After the Fire personnel</big>
|-
! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| (1972–1973)
! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| (1973–1975)
! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| (1975–1977)
! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| (1977–1978)
|-
| valign=top |
- Peter Banks — keyboards, vocals
- Bob Price — guitar, harp, vocals
- John Leach — bass guitar, vocals
- Ian Adamson — drums
| valign=top |
- Peter Banks — keyboards, vocals
- Andy Piercy — guitar, vocals
- Steve Irving — bass guitar, vocals
- Ian Adamson — drums
| valign=top |
- Peter Banks — keyboards, vocals
- Andy Piercy — guitar, vocals
- Robin Childs — bass guitar, vocals
- Ian Adamson — drums
| valign=top |
- Peter Banks — keyboards, vocals
- Andy Piercy — guitar, vocals
- Nick Battle — bass guitar, violin, vocals
- Ivor Twidell — drums
|-
! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| (1978–1979)
! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| (1979)
! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| (1979)
! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| (1979–1983)
|-
| valign=top |
- Peter Banks — keyboards, vocals
- Bob Price — guitar, vocals
- Andy Piercy — bass guitar, vocals
- Ivor Twidell — drums
| valign=top |
- Peter Banks — keyboards, vocals
- Andy Piercy — bass guitar, vocals
- John Russell — guitar, vocals
- Ivor Twidell — drums
| valign=top |
- Peter Banks — keyboards, vocals
- Andy Piercy — bass guitar, vocals
- John Russell — guitar, vocals
- Nick Brotherwood — drums
| valign=top |
- Peter Banks — keyboards, vocals
- Andy Piercy — bass guitar, vocals
- John Russell — guitar, vocals
- Pete King — drums
|-
! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| (2004–2006)
! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| (2007–2008)
! style="vertical-align:top; background:#e7ebee; width:25%;"| (2008–2013)
|-
| valign=top |
- Peter Banks — keyboards, vocals
- John Russell — guitar, vocals
- Keith Smith — vocals
- Ian Niblo — bass guitar
- Matthew Russell — drums
| valign=top |
- Peter Banks — keyboards, vocals
- John Russell — guitar, vocals
- Ian Niblo — bass guitar
- Matthew Russell — drums, vocals
| valign=top |
- Peter Banks — keyboards, vocals
- John Russell — guitar, vocals
- Ian Niblo — bass guitar
- Tim Turner — drums
- Rob Halligan — vocals, guitar
|}
Timeline
Discography
- Signs of Change (1978)
- Laser Love (1979)
- 80-f (1980)
- Batteries Not Included (1982)
- Der Kommissar (1982)
- AT2F (2006)
- Radio Sessions 1979–1981 (2009)