Post punk cult band The Names started in the winter of 1977-1978 as The Passengers, gathering immediate attention on the Brussels scene and from the local press. In 1979, after a series of successful gigs and a crucial step by playing as opening act for Magazine, they recorded a first E.P. («Spectators Of Life») that attracted the interest of Manchester’s prominent label Factory Records. Their first mancunian studio sessions (at Stockport’s Strawberry Studio) was the single “Nightshift” / “I Wish I Could Speak YourLanguage (fac 29). Getting enthusiastic reviews in the UK and abroad, it marked the start of a long and fruitful collaboration with producer Martin Hannett. The album “Swimming” and more singles (the hit “Calcutta” and “The Astronaut”) followed. With this recordings and high impact stage performances, The Names achieved the status of cult band of the post punk scene. LTM Recordings re-releasing their Factory, Factory Benelux and Disques du Crépuscule’s sessions on different albums (“Swimming + singles”,“Spectators Of Life”, among others).

After reuniting for the hugely successful Factory Night in December of 2007, the Brussels based band has since then released a live-music DVD (“Nightshift”, on LTM) and a few albums: “Monsters Next Door” (on Str8line Records), the double vinyl «Stranger than You» (on Factory Benelux) , «In Time» (Factory Benelux) and «German Nights» (recorded live on tour in Germany – Factory Benelux). The Names have been featured on many compilations, including “Zero”, the best of Martin Hannett album, and Warner’s Factory Records box set “Communications 1978-1992”. Playing songs of their Manchester era and new ones recreating the magic of then with sounds of now. And that both live and in studio. 2022 saw the release of a new album, «Hidden Tracks» (La Vague belge), a collection of never released before rarities 2009-2020.