 Prior to their collaboration, Russell was with poet Nick Toczek in a Bradford-based new wave outfit called Ulterior Motives.After impressing their future manager Alan Brown at a musical instrument shop, Fassbender and Russell signed to independent record label Criminal Records and wrote "Twilight Café", which was released in 1980.Two appearances on BBC Television's "Top of the Pops" followed in January 1981, with a band also consisting of drummer Gary Walsh and bassist Mike Close.