The Rich Kids

Rich Kids were a short-lived new wave band from London, founded in 1977 by Glen Matlock following his departure from Sex Pistols. The band also included future Ultravox member Midge Ure, and Rusty Egan, who later went to found Visage.



Contents
[hide]  *1 Career  ==Career[ edit] == Rich Kids were formed by Glen Matlock (vocals/bass guitar) after he left Sex Pistols, and fronted by Glaswegians Midge Ure and Bill Smyth (vocals/guitars/keyboards) (formerly of Slik and PVC2). Rusty Egan (drums) and Steve New (vocals/guitars), briefly second guitarist for the Sex Pistols and later PiL, completed the line-up.[1]  An early line-up in 1977 consisted of Matlock, New, and Egan, with The Clash's Mick Jones on guitar. Midge Ure, whose band Slik had split up and reformed as the punk sounding PVC2, moved to London and joined Rich Kids, and Jones dropped out and continued with The Clash.
 * 2 Discography
 * 2.1 Studio Albums
 * 2.2 Singles
 * 3 See also
 * 4 References

Rich Kids were amongst the foremost British exponents of the power pop style, blending influences from 1960s acts such as Small Faces and The Who with more recent punk rock sounds. They released one album, Ghosts Of Princes In Towers (produced by Mick Ronson), and three singles during their existence, from March 1977 to December 1978 (although the official announcement of their disbanding was not made until mid 1979). At their Lyceum show in spring 1978, Ronson played guitar and Ian McLagan (ex-Faces) played keyboards. Several of the band's performances were featured in the 1980 film D.O.A..

Matlock and New went on to tour with Iggy Pop, while Egan and Ure formed a band called The Misfits (not the American horror punk band Misfits) and, after short spells with Skids and Thin Lizzy, respectively, reunited in Visage.[1]  In April 1979, Ure joined Ultravox.[1]

With only one single making the Top 40 in the UK Singles Chart,[2]  Rich Kids join the list of one-hit wonders; a list that includes other UK punk or new wave acts such as John Cooper Clarke, Jilted John, 999, the Radio Stars, and The Vibrators.

On 7 January 2010, the band played a one-off reunion concert at The O2 Academy Islington, London in aid of Steve New.[3] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[4]  New died from cancer on 24 May 2010. ==Discography<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == ===Studio Albums<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === ===Singles<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] ===
 * 1978 – Ghosts of Princes in Towers (EMI, August 1978) No. 51<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Strong_1-3" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[1]
 * 1998 – Burning Sounds compilation. (Rev-Ola) (Features previously unreleased material.)
 * 2003 – Best of the Rich Kids compilation. (EMI)
 * 1978 – "Rich Kids" b/w "Empty Words" (EMI, January 1978) No. 24<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Strong_1-4" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[1]  (also released on red vinyl.)
 * 1978 – "Marching Men" b/w "Here Come the Nice (live)" (EMI, March 1978)
 * 1978 – "Ghosts of Princes in Towers" b/w "Only Arsenic" (EMI, August 1978)