Cuddly Toys - Guillotine Theatre (1979)

Getting their start as bratty punkers called the Raped, the members of that band wisely went for a name change -- after the release of the Pretty Paedophiles EP and a follow-up single -- to the Cuddly Toys, also revamping their image in the mold of a cross-dressing glam band. A drastic change in sound would also ensue. As the Raped, bookings were hard to come by, so they opted to go with a more pleasant name. The Cuddly Toys are probably best known for releasing a single of "Madman," a song written by David Bowie and Marc Bolan days prior to Bolan's death. Two albums were released prior to their breakup. Someone's Crying (Fresh) was released in 1981, universally panned for being a poor attempt at rehashing the band's '70s influences. They fared no better by adding synths and heading into new wave territory for 1982's Trial and Crosses. Three months after its release, lone mainstay Sean Purcell left his frontman post to join Goat. The remaining members attempted to continue, but nothing of note materialized.