Information/Write-up
Images in Vogue – A Vancouver Synth-Pop Story
Images in Vogue emerged out of Vancouver’s vibrant early-1980s underground, a scene where art-school ambition collided with electronic experimentation. Formed in 1981, the band’s founding lineup brought together guitarist Don Gordon (later of Numb), bassist Gary Smith, synth players Joe Vizvary and Glen Nelson, percussionist Kevin Crompton (soon to be known worldwide as cEvin Key of Skinny Puppy), and vocalist Dale Martindale, recruited more for his look and charisma than for any previous musical experience. Managed by the future MuchMusic VJ Kim Clarke Champniss, the group quickly established themselves as one of Vancouver’s most stylish and ambitious new wave acts.
From the start, Images in Vogue stood apart. Their first demo and self-financed EPs — Pre-Release (1982), Educated Man (1982), and their self-titled EP (1983) — showcased a shimmering, synth-driven pop sound influenced by Japan, Ultravox, and Simple Minds. The breakthrough came with “Lust for Love”, a sleek slice of synth-pop that became a national hit and secured them opening slots for Depeche Mode, Roxy Music, Bryan Adams, and Duran Duran. By the time their full-length debut In the House arrived in 1985, Images in Vogue were firmly established on Canadian radio and MuchMusic. The single “In the House” earned them CASBY Awards for both Single of the Year and Group of the Year in 1986.
But internal tensions shadowed their success. Gordon left in 1984 to pursue darker industrial textures with Numb, and in 1986 Crompton departed, frustrated by the band’s commercial polish, to fully commit to Skinny Puppy. These departures connected IIV to two of Vancouver’s most groundbreaking industrial acts, even as the band carried on with new members — including Strange Advance’s Ed Shaw and Tim Welch, as well as Derrick Gyles.
Their second album, The Spell (1988), reflected both their ambition and their challenges. Originally intended as a fresh start under a new name, it was ultimately released as an IIV record, but struggled commercially. By 1991, after years of touring, label conflicts, and lineup changes, the band quietly played a farewell show at Toronto’s Opera House.
Even after disbanding, Images in Vogue never fully disappeared. Compilation albums — Best of Collection (1994), Collection Versions 2.0 (2004), Prototypes (2010) — kept their music circulating, and reunions in 2002, 2004, and 2012 drew loyal fans back to celebrate their legacy. In 2017, Toronto-based label Artoffact Records released Incipience, a lavish four-LP box set compiling early demos, live recordings, and the classic EPs, limited to 200 copies. The set cemented IIV’s reputation as one of Canada’s most collectible and cult-adored synth-pop acts.
Today, Images in Vogue stand as a bridge between glossy Canadian new wave and the darker industrial current that put Vancouver on the global map. Their songs — from the icy elegance of “Lust for Love” to the propulsive drive of “Call It Love” — capture the sound of a city in transition, where damp streets and neon lights reflected both style and substance. Though they never became international stars, their influence radiates through the Canadian alternative canon, their story intertwined with the rise of Skinny Puppy and Numb. For fans of synth-pop’s golden age, Images in Vogue remain a uniquely Vancouver creation: fashionable, ambitious, and unforgettable.
-Robert Williston
Dale Martindale: vocals
Don Gordon: guitar, synthesizer
Joe Vizvary: synthesizer, piano, electronic percussion
Gary Blair Smith: bass guitar, synthesizer
Kevin Crompton: percussion, electronic percussion
Produced by Images In Vogue
Recorded by Lindsay Kidd
Artwork (poster) by Steven R. Gilmore
Concert photography by P. Coquand
Recorded live at Luvafair, Vancouver, British Columbia, October 6, 1982
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