Blue Shoes was a hugely popular regional New Wave/Postpunk band from Tempe, Arizona. Fronted by Peggy “Murph†Murphy and Don “D.R.†Wilke, the band released several 7†EPs including
... Blue Shoes was a hugely popular regional New Wave/Postpunk band from Tempe, Arizona. Fronted by Peggy “Murph†Murphy and Don “D.R.†Wilke, the band released several 7†EPs including “Better†and finally a full-length LP, “Put On Blue Shoesâ€, in 1980.
The first time the song “Better†hit the airwaves was on local station 104.7 KSTM, Within weeks of release, “Better†was in high rotation on stations “KDKB†and “KUPDâ€. Blue Shoes opened shows for, Talking Heads, The Ramones, Ian Hunter, The Producers, The Cretones, The Fleshtones, 20/20, Gary Myrick & the Figures and The Vapors. Blue Shoes music was spinning in the southwest region including LA as Brian Smith of the Pills recalled first hearing “Better†on KROC.
The full band was Peggy “Murph†Murphy - Vocals, Keyboards Rick “Troy†Janzen-Guitar, vocals, D.R. Wilke - Guitar, vocals, Jim Allen - Drums, Richard Dye - Bass. Murphy and Wilke later formed Red Alert, 1960-Something and numerous other bands before splitting up in 1996. Read more
