love will always make you cry
Actually, it wasn't quite the end of the road. They had to fulfil a couple of bookings in Norway, and on Friday, 11th March 1983, ATF were among many others at the Xenon night club contributing to Tyne Tees TV's children's show Razzmatazz. Stars were asked to do 'party tricks' to camera, but ATF only stood in front of the camera more sedately.
CBS, still convinced of the potential of the single, released Der Kommissar in the US, and with it an equivalent compilation album simply titled ATF (later reissued as Der Kommissar as well), which instead of the UK cover, featured the same graphic as used on Batteries Not Included. Both were released through their Epic label.
Somehow, they had timed the moment of release perfectly, and it made an immediate impression in the clubs and, crucially, with the radio stations. In the second week of March, the single had reached No.31 in the Billboard Charts. A week later it was at No.25. A week after that, it was at No.20. The album entered the album charts at No.159, then jumped 98 places to No.61. The single was also doing well in Canada.
The singles sudden success caught everyone completely be surprise, and threw their resolve to split the group into turmoil. Recognising this a last chance opportunity the band agree to make a video to propmote the single. It proved an uncomfortable process, with nobody talking to each other, and the filming - featuring scenes in a casino - done functionaly, but with little joy. The single's rapid accent up the Billboard charts attracted the attention of BBC's Top Of The Pops, who were surprised to find a Brit Band doing so well. They gave the single a mention in Jonathan King's monthly US round-up, and showed a clip from the video of Piercy at a roulette wheel.
At this stage, Der Kommissar would have sold in excess of 300,000 copies on it's way up the charts, and probably sold another 100,000 on it's way down.
In April, the bands US chart success begins to attract wider press and media interest. Smash Hits mentioned them, and an article appeared in the Daily Mirror saying:
"Rock and roll is a funny business. You can sweat blood for years, then suddenly it's limousine time."
But for the band things were far from good. The success of Der Kommissar, instead of re-kindling the bands unity, it was actually deepening the rift between them. Piercy & Russell were enormously encouraged by what had happened in the US and wanted to revoke their previous decision to call it a day, and make another go of it. Banks & King were not convinced, and wanted the band to finish.
Der Kommissar continued to climb the US chart, reaching No.9 by the third week of April. Then, in the last week, it usurped Micheal Jackson's Thriller, and peaked at No.5.
Back in the UK, the band had descended to their lowest depths. They thrashed out the issues, but could not agree on a consensus. Piercy was adamant that he wanted ATF to continue. The debate became personal, and wounding. Things were said, legal actions threatened. It had all gone too far, and After The Fire disintegrated.
Piercy determined to continue the success of Der Kommissar, and the press was told that he would be forming a new ATF. As a present, to celebrate the No.5 spot, his wife signed him up for a course at the Brand's Hatch Racing School.
The increased interest in ATF was indicated by some of the reader's of Sounds. One reader, who had become aware of the band through Der Kommissar wrote in and enquired of their past catalogue. In response, a short, but inaccurate discography was published. The following week, it was clear that dozens of helpful ATF fans had sent in sack loads of mail with additions and corrections to the list.
In the first week of May, Der Kommissar had stalled at No. 5, and stayed there for two weeks. The album similarly peaked at No. 25 in the album charts, and also stayed there for the same two weeks. In fact Der Kommissar was a massive hit worldwide, not just in the US, but in Japan, Denmark, and South Africa. In the UK, however, it had barely made it into the charts at all.
Piercy's new formation of session musicians set about recording tracks with co-producer John Eden, including new versions of One Rule For You, and Dancing In The Shadows, a cover of the Animal's 60's hit We've Gotta Get Out Of This Place, and some new songs: 8 Ball In The Top Pocket, Deep Waters (Still Run) and One Down For The Highway. They also began to re-work some of the songs from the aborted last ATF album, and started to shape a new album.
In July, the new version of Dancing In The Shadows was released by Piercy under ATF's name, and was available in 7" and 3-track 12" formats. As a follow-up to Der Kommissar, it was again recieved positively. The reviewer in Sounds said:
"Having banged their heads against European brick walls for years, After The Fire suddenly jumped all over the American charts with Der Kommissar after they'd split up in despair. They'll be back together again shortly. Meanwhile, this song from their Batteries Not Included album sounds more old fashioned but has a healthy swing and plenty of jangling guitar chords."
In August, another single release by Piercy - We've Gotta Get Out Of This Place - was planned for September, but was aborted. It did, however, get a single airing during Peter Powell's Radio One Roadshow from Greenbelt '83 at it's temparary new home at Knebworth Park.
In October, Piercy released a third single 8 Ball In The Top Pocket in 7" and 3-track 12" formats. This time, the single was issued under Piercy's own name, with ATF in brackets. The sleeve indicated that the track was from the forthcoming album, now titled Free Heat. The NME reviewed it with the one-liner: "Bruce Springsteen hits Guildford" , giving it a 2.
In the end Free Heat - the final stage of any recording to be associated with the name After The Fire was never released. Piercy realised that he was getting nowhere and extracted himself from his contractural obligations with CBS, and they put the finished album in the can, and buried it.
