The Outfield

London-born power-poppers The Outfield occupied a unique vantage point; they broke America but failed to generate notable success in the UK. Composed of guitarist John Spinks, vocalist and bassist Tony Lewis, and drummer Alan Jackman, the group signed to Columbia/CBS Records in 1984 on the strength of their live shows and demos, originally performing under the US-friendly name The Baseball Boys. Keeping in the same ballpark with their baseball-referencing new name, The Outfield stepped out with their William Wittman-produced debut album, Play Deep, in 1985 and yielded several hit singles in the US, including "Your Love", which reached Number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1986 and became the band's calling card. The Outfield's second album, Bangin', arrived the following year and spawned a Top 40 hit in "Since You've Been Gone". They issued another six albums during the '90s and '00s, including 2004's Any Time Now (also released in 2006 by Sidewinder Records). Founding drummer Alan Jackman – who had quit the band following the release of 1989's Voices of Babylon – returned to record the group's final album in 2011, Replay. John Spinks died from liver cancer on July 9, 2014 aged 60. On October 19, 2020, singer Tony Lewis died at his home near London.