RICHARD D’ANDREA
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 they relocated 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.
Richard D’Andrea later joined a band called the Pits that was founded by controversial rock critic John Mendelsohn, whose previous projects included underground glam rockers Christopher Milk. For about three years, D’Andrea was in The Know with one of the founding members of Blondie, Gary Valentine; they released several singles but never landed a record deal.
(September 2012)
