The Doll

Formed in late 1977, this UK new wave group originally comprised Marion Valentine (b. 1952, Brighton, Sussex, England; vocals, guitar), Christos Yianni (b. 6 September 1954, London, England; bass), Adonis Yianni (b. 10 October 1957, London, England; keyboards) and Mario Watts (b. 1958, London, England; drums). After signing to Beggar’s Banquet, the group issued ‘Don’t Tango My Heart’, but it was their second single, the infectious ‘Desire Me’, that propelled them into the UK charts in 1978. Inter-group politics, exacerbated by the inevitable promotion of their female singer and lyricist, caused several line-up changes. By the time they came to record their sole album, Listen To The Silence, Dennis Hayes (keyboard), Jamie West-Oram (guitar) and Paul Turner (drums) had joined. The group split soon afterwards, and although it was expected that the feline Valentine (complete with leopard-skin guitar and jump suit) would be launched as a solo, she concentrated instead on songwriting, eventually retiring from the music business.