Real Life are an Australian new wave and synth-pop band that achieved international chart success with their 1983 singles "Send Me an Angel" and "Catch Me I'm Falling". Both singles appeared on the band's debut album, Heartland, released in 1983. The band originally consisted of David Sterry, Richard Zatorski, Alan Johnson and Danny Simcic. Steve Williams replaced Zatorski in 1986, who was then replaced by George Pappas in 1996 after a long hiatus of band activity.
History
1980–1984: ''Heartland''
In 1980, David Sterry responded to an advert in a newspaper from a keyboard player looking for a guitarist with whom to write songs. The keyboardist was Richard Zatorski. The duo started doing gigs as a 3-piece with a primitive drum machine they named Gloria and soon gained a loyal following, opening for bands such as INXS, Mi-Sex, The Church, Midnight Oil and others. The group signed to Whetley Records in early 1983 and released their debut single, "Send Me an Angel", in May 1983. "Send Me an Angel" became a top 10 hit in Australia, and topped the chart in New Zealand and Germany. It also entered the top 30 in the US. Follow-up single "Openhearted" was released in August 1983 and peaked at number 72. In November 1983, "Catch Me I'm Falling" was released and reaching the top 10 in Australia and Germany, and top 40 in the US. The band's debut album Heartland entered the top 40 in Australia, Germany, New Zealand, and Switzerland, and reached No. 58 in the US. "Always" was released in Europe in August 1984 as the album's fourth and final single. In November 1984, the band release a remix album titled Master Mix which peaked at number 74 on the Australian charts.
1985–1989: ''Flame'' & ''Down Comes the Hammer''
In April 1985, the group released "Let's Dance Tonight", which failed to chart. In September 1985, they released "Face to Face" as the lead single from their second studio album. "Face to Face" was a minor hit peaking at number 32 in Australia. In October 1985, the group released the album Flame which peaked at number 42 in Australia. In 1986, they recorded the controversial song "Babies" for a North American re-issue of the album titled Down Comes the Hammer, but this also failed to chart. "Babies" was the first new recording by the band that was not written by David Sterry and Zatorski. There were two other new songs and a remix of "Send Me an Angel" on the album. The movie Rad featured "Send Me an Angel" on its soundtrack, as one notable scene from the film featured riders on BMX cross-country bikes performing various freestyle stunts as the song played. In 1989, Real Life released a new version of "Send Me an Angel", titled "Send Me an Angel '89", which fared slightly better than the original in the United States. The video for the 1989 version was identical to the original except Zatorski was edited out of all shots. The Australian video of "Send Me An Angel '89" was filmed in Ormond College, The University of Melbourne, with Steve Williams on keyboard.
1990–1999: ''Lifetime'' & ''Happy''
In 1990, the group released their third studio album Lifetime; their first album of all-new material in five years. The album spawned minor hits with "God Tonight" and "Kiss the Ground". Steve Williams replaced Zatorski in the band, and was later replaced by George Pappas. A falling-out occurred between Sterry and the remaining two original members Simcic and Johnson. In 1997, the band released their fourth studio album Happy and would perform at Salt Lake City's Synthstock2000 with OMD and Berlin.
2000–present day: ''Imperfection''
In 2004 the band signed to the US label A Different Drum, and released their fifth studio album Imperfection, this time featuring only David Sterry and George Pappas. In 2004, the band toured the West Coast of the US to promote the album with additional member Scott Ingram on drums. For this tour the band consisted of David Sterry, George Pappas and Scott Ingram. In November 2005, Pappas announced his departure from the band. Sterry has continued to carry the band name on his own, performing at various 80s events such as Australia's Absolutely 80s and the US' Lost 80s Live. In spring 2008, Real Life performed live for the first time in the Philippines along with When in Rome and A Flock of Seagulls as part of the Lost 80's Live Tour in Manila. Also in 2008, George Pappas released his debut solo albumDon't Open Till Doomsday under the artist name of Alien Skin. This was also under the A Different Drum label. On 19 May 2009, Real Life released their sixth studio album of their cover versions of 1980s classics called Send Me An Angel – '80s Synth Essentials on Cleopatra Records in the US. Real Life returned in 2020 with a new album, Sirens.
