MARTHA DAVIS
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 had two #9 hits with “Only the Lonely” and “Suddenly Last Summer” in 1982 and 1983, respectively. The band was formed, however, all the way back in 1971. Originally called the Warfield Foxes, the bandmembers were Lisa Brenneis (bass), Dean Chamberlain (lead guitar), Chuck Wada (rhythm guitar), and Martha Davis (vocals, guitar).
After struggling for a couple of years, Capitol Records offered the Motels a recording contract in 1977; instead, the band broke up, citing creative differences. From Dean Chamberlain’s standpoint, he thought that there was too much emphasis on lead singer Martha Davis. One song, “Counting” survived from this very early period in the Motels; the song was first included on a 1978 Rhino Records compilation album, Saturday Night Pogo.
“Counting” later appeared as the final track on the first album, simply called Motels, which came out in 1979. In any case, the only bandmember still around from the original Motels was Martha Davis.
(September 2012)
