The Del-Byzanteens

A New York-based post-punk band, the Del-Byzanteens comprised Don Braun (percussion), Josh Braun (percussion as well), Philippe Hagen (bass), Phil Kline (guitar and vocals), and a budding director by the name of Jim Jarmusch (vocals and keyboards). Author Luc Sante wrote some of the band's lyrics, and artist James Nares (who also played guitar with the Contortions) contributed occasional percussion. The Del-Byzanteens made their recorded debut in 1981 with the 12" single Girl's Imagination, which featured a B-side called "My Hands Are Yellow (From the Job That I Do)." The full-length Lies to Live By followed the next year, and their final release, the 7" Draft Riot single, was also out by the end of 1982. Despite being from the U.S., all of the band's releases were through Don't Fall Off the Mountain (or DFOTM), which -- at the time -- was one of the three affiliates of the U.K.-based Beggars Banquet shop and label (Situation 2 and 4AD were the other offshoots). After the Byzanteens broke up, the Braun brothers (who had previously played with Swans leader Michael Gira in Circus Mort) formed Deep Six. Kline became further immersed in the New York art scene, and Jarmusch became a deeply admired independent movie director (Stranger Than Paradise, Mystery Train, Dead Man, etc.). Though the Del-Byzanteens' records haven't been reissued on CD, "Girl's Imagination" reappeared on Beggars Banquet's 1999 compilation Pspyched.