Pearl Harbor & The Explosions
Formed in San Francisco, California in 1979, this much-touted attraction was centred on vocalist Pearl Harbor (b. 1958, Germany, of a Filipino mother), who, as Pearl E. Gates, had previously been a dancer in the Tubes live show. She subsequently joined Jane Dornacker in Leila And The Snakes, before taking the group's rhythm section—Hilary Stench (bass) and John Stench (drums)—in this new act. Their act continued the theatricality of the Tubes, but Gates was more interested in conventional rock ‘n’ roll. To this end she recruited Peter Bilt (guitar) and formed Pearl Harbor And The Explosions in October 1978. They specialized in old fashioned rock ‘n’ roll/rockabilly spiced with 'new wave' energy. Their debut single Drivin' (which was later covered by Jane Aire And The Belvederes) came out on the independent 415 Records label and became an cult hit. Its success encouraged Warner Brothers to sign the group. Their self-titled debut was a strong, promising work, but the group failed to complete a follow-up. They split in June 1980 leaving Pearl to continue with a solo album DON'T FOLLOW ME I'M LOST under her new name Pearl Harbor. The album was produced by Nicky Gallagher (former member of Ian Durys Blockheads). The Stench brothers joined ex-Jefferson Airplane guitarist Jorma Kaukonen in Vital Parts, before embarking on an association with cult avant garde act Chrome.