The Skids formed in 1977 in their home town of Dunfermline, Scotland by Richard Jobson, Stuart Adamson, Bill Simpson & Tom Kellichan. After releasing an independent single the band were played by John Peel, supported The Clash in concert and then were signed to Virgin Records in 1978. Their first singles were "Sweet Surburbia", "The Saints are Coming" and "Into the Valley" - the latter reaching the UK Top Ten in early 1979.

Their seminal debut album "Scared to Dance" came out in 1979 which was quickly followed by two chart singles - "Masquerade" and "Working for the Yankee Dollar". Both singles were taken from the Bill Nelson produced second album "Days in Europa". The album also featured new member Rusty Egan of Rich Kids & Visage fame after the departure of Tom Kellichan. The band released two more albums "The Absolute Game" (1980) and "Joy" (1981) before splitting.
Theatre of Hate were formed in 1980 by Kirk Brandon after his previous group, The Pack, dis-banded. After a slew of classic singles sich as "Original Sin", "Nero" and "Rebel without a Brain", Theatre of Hate went into the studio in 1981 to record their debut studio album "Westworld" with producer Mick Jones of The Clash. The album produced the top 40 single "Do you believe in the West World?".

A live album "He who Dares Wins" and two singles "The Hop" and "Eastworld" were released after this before the band split in 1983.