The Romantics, a Detroit-based band, got their name by forming on Valentine’s Day and began their journey in the music industry in 1977, just as disco and punk were gaining popularity. The band’s original lineup included rhythm guitarist, harmonica player, and singer Wally Palmar, lead guitarist Mike Skill, bassist Rich Cole, and drummer and singer Jimmy Marinos.
They were influenced by the 60s British Invasion music, such as The Who, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones, and the 70s performers, like Iggy Pop and The Stooges, played a hook-based form of rock known as power pop. It so happened that when the 80s rolled around, the band played to their strengths with catchy and up-tempo, energetic songs accompanied by stylish and memorable music videos, which put them on the map as a power pop and new wave band.
Although they achieved moderate success at the outset, their fame grew quickly, particularly after the release of their self-titled album in 1980. This album included the classic hit ‘What I Like About You’, which became synonymous not only with the band but also with the era.
During the 1980s, ‘What I Like About You’ became even more popular after being featured in television commercials and other high-profile media, cementing its status as an iconic power pop anthem. The band became famous for their flashy, brave fashion choices to complement their exciting music.
With a few lineup changes and redoes along the way, their fourth album ‘In Heat,’ became their greatest commercial success as it went Gold shortly after its release. The first single from ‘In Heat,’ ‘Talking In Your Sleep,’ rose to number three on the Billboard charts and became a substantial international hit, not to mention their music videos that were frequently shown on MTV during this period which further showcased the band’s popularity.
Everything was looking up for the band as they had their breakthrough in the industry until problems between the band and their management became an issue, leading to Marinos’ departure. During the late 80s, the band came to realize that its managers had been misappropriating the profits earned by the band from its records and live performances.
In addition, their single ‘What I Like About You,’ which was licensed for use in television commercials, was actually done without the band’s knowledge or approval. After learning about everything that was happening behind their backs, the band filed a lawsuit against their management in 1987. This caused the band to stop any new recordings until the mid-1990s after winning the case that had set them free and ensured that future earnings from licensing Romantics songs would directly go to the band.
After the lawsuit, they were on the rise again when they released their 1993 UK-only EP ‘Made In Detroit.’ There were several Romantics’ greatest hits packages released during the 1990s, as well as the live album ‘The King Biscuit Flour Hour Presents: The Romantics Live In Concert.’
The Romantics were back in action, to say the least, and they had regained their popularity; there was even a brief moment when Marinos temporarily returned to play the drums. Even though there have been multiple changes in the lineup where original members come and go, and despite having yet to issue a full-length studio album in two decades, The Romantics continue to tour for their fans.
