Dean & Britta return to the scene of the crime

For better or for worse, Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips are side by side like a 2012 Bonnie and Clyde.

He is famous for his roles as former frontman of the bands Galaxie 500 and Luna. She is best known as the singing voice behind the 80s animated rockstar Jem and as a former Luna bassist. Together they’re the husband and wife indie pop duo Dean & Britta.

On April 21 these partners in crime are returning to where it all started. They’re revisiting the beginnings of their romance and releasing vinyl limited editions of Luna EPs Romantica and Rendezvous to celebrate Record Store Day.

That’s very fitting seeing as Luna is completely responsible for bringing the pair together over a decade ago.

But before Luna and way before Dean & Britta, there was Britta & Jem. Back in 1985 Britta landed her first big job as the frontwoman of Jem and the Holograms on the “truly outrageous” animated TV series.

“Aw yes, she was the singing voice of Jem. We meet fans who are like, ‘Oh my God! You’re Jem!’” Dean laughs over the phone. “But it doesn’t seem to have that effect on me. Sadly, I was just too old to have watched it at that time.”

As Jem came to an end in 1988, Britta joined Julia Roberts, Liam Neeson, Justine Bateman and Debbie Harry on the set of the 80s cult flick Satisfaction. Britta went on to play in the bands Belltower and Ultrababyfat before she found her way to Luna as a bassist gig opened up. And that’s where she met her man.

Dean formed Luna in 1991 after his first band Galaxie 500 didn’t make it out of the 80s alive. After 13 years of devotion to Luna, Dean started a sideproject and made an accomplice out of Britta.

“I was just going to do a solo album of covers, and then Britta started helping me with it,” Dean remembers. “She had a couple songs she had written and I had a couple. It wasn’t planned, yet it turned out great.”

And Dean & Britta’s collaboration obviously didn’t end with L’Avventura.

“L’Avventura felt so great. When Luna was over I knew that this was the next thing I wanted to do. I’m not the kind of person who can or wants to do it all myself. Britta has all kinds of musical skills that I don’t have.”

Together Dean and Britta have produced three EPs, three full length studio albums and toured the world.

“We just work well together,” Dean says. “I’ve always needed someone like that.”

Luna’s Romantica and Rendezvous vinyl releases are a Record Store Day exclusive and will not be sold online. Click here to find participating stores. Join Dean & Britta on twitter and facebook.

Posted by Marc Andrew on Apr 18 2012. Filed under Interviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.