The band was created by vocalist Pete Burns, a young, sexually confused hair stylist who decided to swop his blow waves for the chance to front a band and get his jollies back stage afterwards. He was joined by his friend, hippie keyboardist Martin 'Magneto' Healy. The two of them previously played in a very poor band called Nightmares in Drag. They were soon recruited by drummer Joe 'I-can't-hit-that-fucking-snare-drum-so-I-hit-toms' Musker, guitarist Adrian 'Mitch' Mitchley and bassist Sue Bangton-James.