▁English ▁singer - song writer , ▁who ▁was ▁part ▁of ▁punk ▁band ▁The ▁Ad ver ts ▁in ▁the ▁late ▁ 1 9 7 0 s . ▁Since ▁then ▁he ▁has ▁front ed ▁other ▁bands , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁purs uing ▁a ▁solo ▁career . ▁ ▁Biography ▁ ▁T . ▁V . ▁Smith ▁and ▁G aye ▁Black ▁( aka ▁G aye ▁Ad vert ) ▁moved ▁from , ▁respectively , ▁O ke ham pton ▁in ▁mid - Dev on , ▁and ▁B ide ford , ▁a ▁small ▁coast al ▁town ▁in ▁Dev on , ▁to ▁form ▁The ▁Ad ver ts ▁in ▁London ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 6 . ▁ ▁The ▁Ad ver ts ▁are ▁best ▁known ▁for ▁their ▁ 1 9 7 7 ▁hit ▁single ▁" G ary ▁Gil more ' s ▁E yes " ▁and ▁acc laimed ▁ 1 9 7 8 ▁debut ▁album ▁Cross ing ▁the ▁Red ▁Sea ▁with ▁The ▁Ad ver ts . ▁Following ▁un success ful ▁follow - up ▁album ▁Cast ▁of ▁Th ous ands , ▁The ▁Ad ver ts ▁split ▁up ▁in ▁late ▁ 1 9 7 9 , ▁and ▁Smith ▁formed ▁a ▁new ▁band , ▁T . V . ▁Smith ' s ▁Ex pl or ers . ▁They ▁were : ▁Erik ▁Russell ▁( gu itar ), ▁Col in ▁St on er ▁( b ass ), ▁Mel ▁W ess on ▁( key boards ) ▁and ▁David ▁S inc la ir ▁( d rum s ). ▁The ▁Ex pl or ers ▁released ▁their ▁debut ▁single ▁" Tom ah awk ▁Cru