The Babys
In 1975 Waite decides to fly back to London. In a pub in London's notorious East End, he meets a similarly disillusioned character, guitarist/keyboardist Mike Corby. The two go on an all-night drinking binge which results in the pair making firm plans to form a band in which they can really express themselves musically.
The result is 'The Babys' -- "spelled like that," Waite says, "because I'm a lousy speller!" It takes the band an eighteen month struggle before they finally get a contract. Waite remembers: "For a long time we felt like underdogs, but we were desperate to make it."
May labels turn their demo down pointblank. Their cute looks are a drawback. "The only way we could prove that it was us playing on our tape was with a video presentation," says Waite.
The band borrow money to make the video. (According to some sources, Ringo Starr, who really believed in the band, funded the video). The four or five-song colour video tape, produced by Mike Mansfield, is an innovation at the time.
The Babys (completed with Wally Stocker on guitar and Tony Brock on drums) sign to Chrysalis - for "elephant dollars," according to John Waite - and make rock history by becoming the first band to be signed to a major record company on the strength of a video demo. According to unconfirmed sources, Chrysalis paid between a half and one billion British pounds for the contract.
Between late 1976 and late 1980, the Babys make five albums. January 1977 sees the release of their self-titled debut album 'The Babys' which is recorded in Toronto, Canada by famous producers Brian Christian and Bob Ezrin. The album isn't a big success though. In the US and the UK a single 'If You've Got The Time' is released.
The Babys cross the Atlantic just once, for a UK tour in the early 1977, where they perform as an opening act for The Damned and Deaf School.
In this period of punk rock The Babys go down rather badly with the Damned' punk following. Shortly after however, during a USA tour, they are met with more enthusiasm.
Their second album, 'Broken heart,' (released September 1977) proves their breakthrough; A track from this album 'Isn't It Time' becomes an international hit. The Babys tour extensively in the USA and also visit Japan. In the UK they perform 'Isn't It Time' on 'Top of the Pops.' Waite is very excited about this native success. The group visits Holland to promote the album. Waite tells Dutch Magazine 'Oor' that he regrets he didn't write their hit 'Isn't It Time' himself.
