Rich Kids - Career

Career

The Rich Kids were formed by Glen Matlock (vocals / bass guitar) after he left the Sex Pistols, and fronted by Glaswegian Midge Ure (vocals / guitars / keyboards) (formerly of Slik and PVC2). Rusty Egan (drums) and Steve New (vocals / guitars), briefly second guitarist for the Sex Pistols and later PiL, completed the line-up. An early line-up in 1977 consisted of Matlock, New, and Egan, with The Clash's Mick Jones on guitar. Midge Ure, whose band Slik had split up and reformed as the punkier PVC2, moved to London and joined The Rich Kids, and Jones dropped out and continued with The Clash.

The Rich Kids were amongst the foremost British exponents of the power pop style, blending influences from 1960s acts such as The Small Faces and The Who with more recent punk rock sounds. They released one album, Ghosts Of Princes In Towers (produced by Mick Ronson), and three singles during their existence, from March 1977 to December 1978 (although the official announcement of their disbanding was not made until mid 1979). At their Lyceum show in spring 1978 Ronson played guitar and Ian McLagan (ex-Faces) played keyboards. Several of the band's performances were featured in the 1980 film D.O.A..

Matlock and New went on to tour with Iggy Pop, while Egan and Ure formed a band called The Misfits (not the American horror punk band Misfits) and, after short spells with The Skids and Thin Lizzy, respectively, reunited in Visage. In April 1979, Ure joined Ultravox.

With only one single making the Top 40 in the UK Singles Chart, the Rich Kids join the list of one-hit wonders; a list that includes other UK punk or new wave acts such as John Cooper Clarke, Jilted John, 999, the Radio Stars, and The Vibrators.

On 7 January 2010, the band played a one-off reunion concert at The O2 Academy Islington, London in aid of Steve New. New died from cancer on 24 May 2010.