Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 ( with the current line up solidifying in 1985 ), the band's four members — Trey Anastasio ( guitars, lead vocals ), Mike Gordon ( bass, vocals ), Jon Fishman ( drums, percussion, vocals ), and Page McConnell ( keyboards, vocals )— performed together for over 20 years before breaking up in August 2004.

Sakamoto was the songwriter and composer for a number of the band's hit songs, including " Yellow Magic ( Tong Poo )" ( 1978 ), " Technopolis " ( 1979 ), " Nice Age " ( 1980 ), " Ongaku " ( 1983 ), and " You've Got to Help Yourself " ( 1983 ), while playing the keyboards for many of their other songs, including international hits such as " Computer Game / Firecracker " ( 1978 ) and " Rydeen " ( 1979 ), and singing in several songs such as " Kimi ni Mune Kyun " ( 1983 ).

1983 saw the release of Speaking in Tongues, a commercial breakthrough that produced the band's only American Top 10 hit, " Burning Down the House ".

Hootenanny, the band's second studio album, was released in April 1983.

In January 1983 Jan P. was finally installed for the band's best-remembered line-up ( although he spent a few more months walking on crutches ).

The band played their farewell show on 5 July 1983 at the Hammersmith Palais ; dedicated fans had been warned by the band's crew not to miss the show without telling them it was the last.

Two other players auditioned and considered during the band's formation were former The Move and ELO founder Roy Wood and the aforementioned guitarist / singer Trevor Rabin, who would go on to be part of a reformed Yes in 1983.

It was followed in 1983 by two more successful songs: the synthesiser-based " The Walk " ( number 12 ), and " The Love Cats ", which became the band's first British Top 10 hit, reaching number seven.

By the early 80s, the Kinks revived their commercial fortunes considerably by adopting a much more mainstream arena rock style ; and the band's four remaining studio albums for Arista — Low Budget ( 1979 ), Give the People What They Want ( 1981 ), State of Confusion ( 1983 ) and Word of Mouth ( 1984 )— showcased a decidedly canny and opportunistic approach.

The band's debut 1983 full-length album " Dehumanization " on Corpus Christi Records, an offshoot of Crass Records, is often considered to be their definitive work and a cornerstone of political punk.

In 1996 the Misfits Box Set was released, containing nearly all of the band's Danzig-era material recorded from 1977 to 1983 ( with the exception of Walk Among Us ).

During this interim period, the band released the single This Is Not A Love Song in 1983, the song's lyric lampooning the ire from some fans and the music press over the band's movement towards a more commercial style.

Frontiers was the band's highest-charting album in the United Kingdom, reaching # 6 on the UK Albums Chart in 1983.

However, in 1983, the band's fortunes changed.

The band's second album, Colour by Numbers ( UK No. 1, US No. 2 ) was released in 1983.

The band's final Hammersmith concerts were recorded to produce Oil On Canvas, a live album and video released in June 1983.

By this time, the band's back catalogue had begun to sell steadily and both Hansa-Ariola and Virgin Records continued to release Japan singles into 1983, ultimately earning the band a total of nine Top 40 hits in the UK.

War's records from 1979 to 1983 were not as successful as those from the preceding decade, and after the two RCA albums, the band's activities became sporadic.

Will Heggie left the group after the tour that followed the 1983 release of the band's second EP, Peppermint Pig.

The collection is a complete record of the band's appearances on UK radio programs from 1983 to 1996, with rare and unreleased material included.

The band's next studio album Pyromania in 1983, with the lead single " Photograph ", turned Def Leppard into a household name.

Beginning with the band's formation in 1983, it made frequent personnel changes but always maintained the presence of principal songwriter Robert Pollard.

The band's debut single, " Smalltown Boy ", the tale of a boy who was cast away by his family for being homosexual, was a hit, peaking at No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart.

The album was played as two continuous pieces of music on the two sides of the vinyl and produced the band's two biggest hit singles, " Kayleigh " and " Lavender ".

In September 2005, Kid Rock filled in for Johnny Van Zant, the lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd on the band's hit " Sweet Home Alabama " at the Hurricane Katrina benefit concert.

The single, " True Faith ", with its surreal video, became a hit on MTV and the band's first American top 40 hit.

The album contained Rush's only U. S. top-40 pop hit, " New World Man ", while other more experimental songs such as " Digital Man ", " The Weapon ", and " Chemistry " expanded the band's use of ska, reggae, and funk.

The Remain in Light album's lead single, " Once in a Lifetime ", became a Top 20 hit in the UK but initially failed to make an impression upon its release in the band's own country.

The band's second album Different Light ( 1986 ) was more polished than its predecessor and, with the help of the worldwide No. 1 hit " Walk Like an Egyptian ", saw the band firmly in the mainstream.

" Boss of Me " became the band's second top-40 hit in the UK which they performed on long running UK television programme Top of the Pops, and in 2002, won the duo a Grammy Award.

Their third album Drums and Wires contained the band's first major hit single " Making Plans for Nigel " ( another Moulding composition ), which caused a minor controversy because of its lyrical reference to British Steel.

In 1976, Christine began an on-the-road affair with the band's lighting director, which inspired her to write " You Make Loving Fun ", a top-10 hit on the landmark smash Rumours, one of the best-selling albums of all-time.

Another McVie single from the album, " Everywhere ", reached # 4 in the UK, which would be the band's third highest ever chart peak there and their final top 40 UK hit to date ( the single peaked at # 14 in the US ).

Among Nicks's contributions to Rumours was " Dreams ", which became the band's only Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit single to date.

Although the majority of the band's material was written and performed by Gary Barlow, Williams did perform lead vocals on their first Top Ten hit " Could It Be Magic ", " I Found Heaven ", and " Everything Changes ".

Their first album's fourth single Alright was a huge international hit that established the band's reputation.

Laird-Clowes has credited Simon with helping to shape the band's biggest hit, " Life In A Northern Town ".

It was followed by a second compilation, The World Won't Listen – the title was Morrissey's comment on his frustration with the band's lack of mainstream recognition, although the album reached number two in the charts – and the single " Sheila Take a Bow ", the band's second ( and last during the band's lifetime ) UK top-10 hit.

Percussionist Neil Peart of the rock band Rush uses the glockenspiel in several of the band's arrangements, most notably in the commercial hit songs " The Spirit of Radio " and " Closer to the Heart ", and also in album tracks " Xanadu " and " Circumstances ".

In 2002, the group hit the headlines once more when, following an acrimonius split and legal action, the Rubettes became the latest in a long line of bands ( including the Beach Boys and Spandau Ballet ) to end up in the courts in a dispute over ownership of the band's name.

" Flood " peaked at No. 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 12 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart, and was the band's only secular radio hit.