American 80s synth pop band SSQ are probably best remembered for the steamy soft porn/NSFW video “Screaming In My Pillow” that featured singer Stacey Q [Stacey Swain] carousing on a bed and fully naked people getting their romance on.But Playback, the LA band’s debut studio album - that’s about to get the reissue treatment - contains amazing 80s synth bangers like “Synthicide” and “Anonymous”. Released in 1983 on Enigma Records, it was to be the band’s only album before they shifted their focus to Swain’s rising solo career.The original Q project started as a minimal synth act in 1982 and was composed of Swain, Jon St. James on guitars, and Dan Van Patten and John Van Tongeren on vocoder and synthesizer. But after a cease and desist from producer Quincy Jones, who was also using the name Q, they changed to SSQ and took a more synth pop approach.St. James, an influential producer who pioneered techno pop using Moog synths and effects also recoded 80s LA punk bands like the Vandals and Social Distortion.Listen to “Screaming in My Pillow” and read a chat we had with Stacey.Noisey: Was your first singing project at a LA radio station introducing programs while impersonating members of the Go-Gos?
Stacey Q: My first project with Jon St. James was to participate in the recording of the local rock radio station KMET sound alike ID's.First, I was to sing my impersonation of Martha Davis of the Motels' "Only the Lonely". I sang, "It's like I told you KMET rocks L.A." A week later I was watching TV and a commercial for KMET radio came on with some computer graphics and me singing. I took it to be a very good omen.Jon St James worked at the studio where the Adolescents and Agent Orange recorded. Did you get to see much early California punk?
Jon was producing lots of punk rock but I saw surprisingly little of that. I saw Eddie and the Subtitles once at the Cuckoo's Nest in Costa Mesa and I really stood out in that crowd.Olivia Newton John released Physical in 1981. What did you think of the album?
I'm able to recall only the title track on John's Physical. I recorded my first three songs that year…coming from where the punks come from!In the videos you had a definite look. Who was your stylist at the time?
My best friend Danny Medellin and I did hair and wardrobe between 1981-86. Miss Charlotte joined for “Two of Hearts” and “We Connect” videos. Charlotte’s day job was as comedy partner for Pee Wee Herman. Tragically Danny died in 1988 and our magical dream was over all too soon.What do you think of the controversy surrounding the ‘Screaming In My Pillow” video?
Looking back at the perv footage I’ve often thought that I may have missed my calling. No! I have often thought, again, “I love the sound", or," How beautiful" or, sometimes I'd think, "what's so controversial about it?”You appeared as a singer on popular 80s TV show The Facts of Life when regular George Clooney ran away to be your roadie. What was Clooney like back then?
In 1987 George Clooney was a very, very young guy. I confess that I knew of him through mutual friends from years previous. You'd be amazed at how many people just assumed I shagged him because we worked one week together. Absurd. He's done so much gorgeous work. You gotta love George.There’s a renewed interest in 80s pop. How do you think Playback stands up over time?
Playback is timeless. Ironically, we were out of time. So there you have it, poetic justice, the end.
July 12 - Brisbane at Eatons Hill
July 14 - Gold Coast at Jupiters Theatre
July 15 - Melbourne at Palais Theatre
July 16 - Sydney at Enmore Theatre
July 20 - Perth at Astor Theatre
July 21 - Adelaide at The Gov
July 22 - Hobart at Wrest Point
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Stacey Q: My first project with Jon St. James was to participate in the recording of the local rock radio station KMET sound alike ID's.First, I was to sing my impersonation of Martha Davis of the Motels' "Only the Lonely". I sang, "It's like I told you KMET rocks L.A." A week later I was watching TV and a commercial for KMET radio came on with some computer graphics and me singing. I took it to be a very good omen.Jon St James worked at the studio where the Adolescents and Agent Orange recorded. Did you get to see much early California punk?
Jon was producing lots of punk rock but I saw surprisingly little of that. I saw Eddie and the Subtitles once at the Cuckoo's Nest in Costa Mesa and I really stood out in that crowd.
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I'm able to recall only the title track on John's Physical. I recorded my first three songs that year…coming from where the punks come from!In the videos you had a definite look. Who was your stylist at the time?
My best friend Danny Medellin and I did hair and wardrobe between 1981-86. Miss Charlotte joined for “Two of Hearts” and “We Connect” videos. Charlotte’s day job was as comedy partner for Pee Wee Herman. Tragically Danny died in 1988 and our magical dream was over all too soon.What do you think of the controversy surrounding the ‘Screaming In My Pillow” video?
Looking back at the perv footage I’ve often thought that I may have missed my calling. No! I have often thought, again, “I love the sound", or," How beautiful" or, sometimes I'd think, "what's so controversial about it?”You appeared as a singer on popular 80s TV show The Facts of Life when regular George Clooney ran away to be your roadie. What was Clooney like back then?
In 1987 George Clooney was a very, very young guy. I confess that I knew of him through mutual friends from years previous. You'd be amazed at how many people just assumed I shagged him because we worked one week together. Absurd. He's done so much gorgeous work. You gotta love George.There’s a renewed interest in 80s pop. How do you think Playback stands up over time?
Playback is timeless. Ironically, we were out of time. So there you have it, poetic justice, the end.
‘Playback’ is available April through Strange Disc.Stacey Q will be playing in Australia as part of the Totally 80s tour that includes Martika, Berlin, Katrina of Katrina & the Waves and Men Without Hats.Totally 80s Tour:
July 12 - Brisbane at Eatons Hill
July 14 - Gold Coast at Jupiters Theatre
July 15 - Melbourne at Palais Theatre
July 16 - Sydney at Enmore Theatre
July 20 - Perth at Astor Theatre
July 21 - Adelaide at The Gov
July 22 - Hobart at Wrest Point