Pale Divine were known as The
Eyes for most of the time that the band existed, from 1984 to 1991. They
finally changed names, in 1991, when legal issues came up regarding a
second band then active, also named The Eyes. Consequently, they adopted
the name Pale Divine just before the release of their first and only
major-label album on Atlantic in 1991.
A self-released Eyes title had also been recorded and sold at local stores and shows in 1989, but the release of Straight to Goodbye marked the band's intended transition toward national attention and touring, as they briefly joined The Psychedelic Furs, opening for them on several dates. By this time, the band had become the top-ranking local act in St. Louis, having accumulated a significant following in the St. Louis music scene, the same scene that had given rise to alt-country pioneers Uncle Tupelo. Unfortunately, Pale Divine did not fare as well as their one-time neighbors. Although they showed promise on Straight to Goodbye, they dissolved only a year after that album's release, in the midst of recording material for a follow-up.
In the wake of the band's split, guitarist Richard Fortus was the only member who went on to play with bigger-name acts, starting with Love Spit Love, an alternative rock outfit fronted by The Psychedelic Furs singer and songwriter Richard Butler. More recently, Fortus has toured and recorded with Guns N' Roses and Rihanna. As for Pale Divine, the band played a reunion show, with Fortus, on December 29, 2008, at which they released a double CD/DVD retrospective package, including 1992 material that would have appeared on their second major-label album.
A self-released Eyes title had also been recorded and sold at local stores and shows in 1989, but the release of Straight to Goodbye marked the band's intended transition toward national attention and touring, as they briefly joined The Psychedelic Furs, opening for them on several dates. By this time, the band had become the top-ranking local act in St. Louis, having accumulated a significant following in the St. Louis music scene, the same scene that had given rise to alt-country pioneers Uncle Tupelo. Unfortunately, Pale Divine did not fare as well as their one-time neighbors. Although they showed promise on Straight to Goodbye, they dissolved only a year after that album's release, in the midst of recording material for a follow-up.
In the wake of the band's split, guitarist Richard Fortus was the only member who went on to play with bigger-name acts, starting with Love Spit Love, an alternative rock outfit fronted by The Psychedelic Furs singer and songwriter Richard Butler. More recently, Fortus has toured and recorded with Guns N' Roses and Rihanna. As for Pale Divine, the band played a reunion show, with Fortus, on December 29, 2008, at which they released a double CD/DVD retrospective package, including 1992 material that would have appeared on their second major-label album.
Tracklist
| 1 | Anything | |
| 2 | Cigarette | |
| 3 | Couldn't Happen To You | |
| 4 | Flow My Tears | |
| 5 | Freedom In A Cage | |
| 6 | My Addiction | |
| 7 | Something About Me | |
| 8 | Sorrow | |
| 9 | Straight To Goodbye | |
| 10 | The Fog | |
| 11 | Universe |
