The band, Plan B, was formed in Adelaide around 1983 after half the band split from Del Webb Explosion. Peter Flierl named the band after the first single release by Dexys Midnight Runners Mk II, following the departure of most of that band’s original members to form The Bureau. The name ‘Plan B’ worked well on various levels, retaining the Dexys link that had been the cornerstone of Flierl’s vision when he originally formed Del Webb Explosion, and heralding a revitalised second attempt to bring the brass driven pop, rock and soul sound to a larger fan base.
The band toured and performed extensively through the 80’s before breaking up in 1986 and reformed in 2009 with 4 original and 4 new members after a Facebook conversation between Flierl and original trombonist, Patrick Stapleton. The new band comprsed members from all over Australia (and in Flierl’s case, Dubai) and so didn’t actually manage to practice together until they met up in Ho Chi Minh City, 3 days prior to the first show.
Since then, PlanB (now with no space in the name) have toured Vietnam/Cambodia again, China, and Thailand with plans for a return trip to China in 2014.
This song, recorded during the second Vietnam tour and produced here in Adelaide, is the Dexy’s song that inspired the band’s name. It’s a way of paying tribute to the influence Dexy’s have had and actually features Dexy’s trombonist, Jim Paterson.