ANGELS OF MERCY
The bandleader and songwriter for Code Blue, Dean Chamberlain is best known as one of the founders of the 1980’s new wave band the Motels, which was formed all the way back in 1971. After relocating to Los Angeles, Lisa Brenneis, who had originally been the impetus for the formation of the band, dropped out shortly after the move. Richard D’Andrea replaced her on bass; the band also added drummer Robert Newman. After calling themselves Angels of Mercy for a time, they settled on the name the Motels.
The opening cut on the Motels’ breakthrough album, All Four One is called “Mission of Mercy”, and that might not be a nod to their earlier name, Angels of Mercy. However, the lyric “skin to skin” from Code Blue’s excellent song “Face to Face” could very well reference their original name Skin.
(September 2012)
