Mark Hollis formed a group called "The Reactors" in 1977 and
with the help of his DJ brother Ed, a bunch of demos were recorded for Island records including their only single, "I Can't Resist" in 1978.
After The Reactors broke-up, Hollis formed his new band "Talk Talk" in 1981. The name came from a demo that Hollis recorded with The Reactors. Talk Talk was completed by Paul Webb, Lee Harris and Simon Brenner, and their debut album "The Party's Over" saw it's release in 1982. The album produced three minor UK hits including a new version of "Talk Talk" which became their first American hit.
Their follow-up album "It's My Life" produced the title-track which became their only American top 40 hit. The single also became their only hit to chart higher in America than the UK, but a 1990 re-release of the song made the UK top 20. Their third album produced three more hits including their final American hit "Life's What You Make it".
Their 4th album "Spirit of Eden" was a small UK success but failed to make the Billboard charts. Their next album, 1991's "Laughing Stock" flopped miserably, and that same year, Talk Talk called it quits.