Topping the 80s charts with their mega-hits, 'Come On Eileen' and 'Geno', the Dexys Midnight Runners became a household name and captured the hearts and souls of not only the Great British public, but the rest of the world.
The Birmingham-based group was originally formed in 1978 and was composed of eight founding members, including lead singer and guitarist Kevin Rowland.
Other members included Kevin 'Al' Archer on vocals and guitar, Jim 'Big Jim' Paterson on the trombone, Geoff 'JB' Blythe on the saxophone, Steve 'Babyface' Spooner on the alto saxophone, Pete Saunders on keyboard, and Pete Williams on bass.
Four decades after their rise to fame and months out from their 2026 tour, we are having a look at what the gang is up to now…
Kevin Rowland
© Getty ImagesNow 72 years old, the frontman of the band, Kevin Rowland, lives in London, in a flat in the Hackney area.
He successfully overcame a severe cocaine addiction that left him bankrupt and homeless in the 1990s and continues to make music with the Dexys.
The singer also launched a solo career in the late 90s and released his album of covers, titled My Beauty.
Kevin 'Al' Archer
Kevin 'Al' Archer remains one of the most well-renowned songwriters in Britain at the age of 66. He co-founded the group as well as co-wrote some of their biggest hits.
He chose to adopt the name Al to differentiate himself from the other Kevin, and after an exhausting tour, he left the group in early 1981.
After his departure, he formed the Blue Ox Babes and recorded three singles with them.
© RedfernsJim 'Big Jim' Paterson
Jim 'Big Jim' Paterson was the original trombonist and co-songwriter for the group, and he continues to work with Kevin as a key musical collaborator.
Now in his late 60s or early 70s, the star has worked hard to keep his personal life extremely private while remaining a non-touring core band member of Dexys.
He now spends his time helping the band's founder, Kevin, review unreleased Dexys demos and archival material for future projects.
Away from the band, he splits his time between London and his hometown of Portsoy in Banffshire, Scotland.
Geoff 'JB' Blythe
As the founding saxophonist and horn arranger for Dexys Midnight Runners, Geoff 'JB' Blythe was also a veteran of the Irish-American rock band Black 47.
Now, he continues to create and record music, operating under his production pseudonym, Saxofficer Productions.
He is still performing with an international music collective called Samsonite Gypsies.
Steve 'Babyface' Spooner
Best known for playing alto saxophone on the band's acclaimed 1980 debut album, Searching for the Young Soul Rebels, Steve Spooner went on to play for The Bureau after his time with the Dexys.
Since he left both groups in the early 80s, he has stayed away from the limelight and the music industry.
© RedfernsPete Saunders
Pete Sauders left the band and rejoined in 2003, following which he started working at a London cabaret venue in Holborn in 2005.
He was then part of Blues and Burlesque, an independent performing group, putting on weekly shows at Volupte.
In 2014, he took the Blues and Burlesque group to the Perth and Adelaide Fringe festivals and in 2023, to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
The same year he rejoined Dexys, he married Shelley Graham and moved in with her in Islington.
Pete Williams
Bassist Pete left Dexys Midnight Runners in Zurich once their trans-European tour came to an end and formed The Bureau, who had top ten singles in Australia and Canada.
His new band broke up in 1983, following which Pete started a new group he called These Tender Virtues.
In 2003, he rejoined his old friends for a revamp of the Dexys and toured the UK and Europe with the band, only to form Basehart shortly afterwards.
