Originally formed in 1974 by keyboard player Pete Banks, the British band After The Fire would have to wait nearly a decade before having a hit in the US - and it would prove to be their only one - but it was worth the wait as "Der Kommissar" is one of the most enduring hits of the new wave era. The song was actually a cover of a European hit by another touchstone of the period, Falco, who topped the charts with "Rock Me Amadeus."

Pulled from their ATF album which had culled together songs from previous releases dating back to 1979, "Der Kommissar" first began to attract attention for its moody video from a fledgling MTV. Soon radio picked up on the track which fused a synth-heavy, techno-pop sound with part spoken, part sung lyrics, and an infectious vocal chant. The song became a pop radio and club smash and peaked at #5 in the spring of 1983.

It would be After The Fire's fifteen minutes of fame in the US. A follow-up single, "Dancing In The Shadows," would barely make it onto the Hot 100 charts and After The Fire wouldn't be heard from again. However, "Der Kommissar" became a staple of new wave compilation albums and remains a song much identified with the period.

To hear this song, and other hits from the early '80s, log on to Pop Go The '80s

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