Play Dead were an English post-punk group from Oxford that grew out of the fading English punk scene of the late 1970s/early 1980s. Although the band became identified with other music groups like UK Decay and Sex Gang Children, the band felt they didn't belong under the Gothic title. The band made three studio albums for four different small labels — Fresh Records, Jungle Records, Situation 2, and Clay Records — before forming their own label, Tanz, for their final album, Company of Justice, which they released in 1985.
The original line-up of Play Dead consisted of Rob Hickson (vocals), Pete Waddleton (bass guitar), Mark "Wiff" Smith (drums) and Re-Vox (guitar). In July 1981, Re-Vox was replaced by Steve Green, a very talented guitarist who took the band in a far more successful direction with his unique style of playing.
During their active years, Play Dead were well respected among their peers, including the likes of Killing Joke, The Cult and The Sisters Of Mercy in the UK, all of whom had Play Dead as a support band at one time or another. An appearance on Channel 4's flagship music TV show, The Tube in late 1984 also cemented their credibility as a serious band who, despite their own attempts to dis-establish themselves from the Goth genre, were actually true pioneers of the movement with their dark, tribal music and often enigmatic image (photographs of the band members never appeared on any of their vinyl releases).
A string of singles were released (many through Stoke-based Clay Records) from late 1983, throughout 1984 and early 1985. Play Dead toured frequently around the UK and Europe and, by 1985, felt they had enough quality material to be able to put out their first ever live album, "Into The Fire", which was released in May of that year. However, against the backdrop of similar artists such as Spear Of Destiny, The Cult, The Sisters Of Mercy and Fields Of The Nephilim, whose success was evident through having higher profiles in the music press, Play Dead struggled to compete.
In 1984, Rob and Pete created the project Mankind's Audio Development (nicknamed M.A.D.). Only one single single was recorded with the two songs "Craving" and "Sunfeast." Waddleton left the group in 1986 and, after a brief period as The Beastmaster Generals, the band dissolved.