There is more than one artist with this name:

1. The original The Shapes released their Part Of The Furniture EP in 1979, which contained such memorable tracks as Wot's For Lunch, Mum? (Not Beans Again) and (I Saw) Batman (In The Launderette). They recorded a session for John Peel's BBC Radio One show, and played gigs supporting The Killjoys, The Cure and The Fall.

After releasing their second single Airline Disaster b/w Blast Off! on Terri Hooley's Belfast-based label Good Vibrations, they self-imploded. However, John Esplen persuaded them to release Songs For Sensible People on Overground Records in 1998 , and in 2007, US label/Chuck Warner Hyped2Death included (I Saw) Batman (In The Launderette) on Messthetics # 103.

2. The Shapes are a currently active indie-rock band from Brooklyn, NY. Formed in 2004, The Shapes have self-released one self-titled EP (2005) and also composed the theme song for the popular A&E Television show "Dallas SWAT". Its members are Mark Allen (vox/guitar), Tonia Samman (vox/guitar), Brent Gonzales (guitar), Dmitry Dodin (bass), and Ian Hendrickson (drums).

3. Shapes (Oxford) or Shapes Oxford http://www.shapesoxford.co.uk
A short history
The Shapes are:Anthony Kelly – Guitar and Lead Vocals (also plays in The Factory Lights)Steve White – Drums, Backing Vocals, (plus Guitars, Mandolin, Banjo & Bouzouki) (also plays in La Phooka)Gary Warmington – Bass Guitar (also plays in La Phooka and The Factory Lights)Jez Bale – Lead & Rhythm GuitarEd Bressan – Acordion, Backing Vocals & Trumpet (also plays in The Factory Lights) Alix Champ – VocalsClaire Heaviside – Sax (also plays in Moogieman and The Masochists, pandapopalypse and The Balkan Wanderers)Andy Boyd – TrumpetBethan McDonald – Trombone (also plays in Storyteller)

Anthony played in many local bands including The Flex (in the early 80’s) and the popular band Soul Devotion (90’s). Before forming The Shapes, Tony lead The Morose Brothers a Celtic Irish combo.

Tony recruited Jez Bale on lead guitar, Oxford legend Tony Jezzard on Hammond Organ and well know West Oxfordshire legend Steve White, who (Tony says) is a genius on Drums, Guitar & Mandolin, Banjo & Bouzouki.

After watching local bands for 10 years or so, including Gold Rush, Stornoway and the Epstein, Anthony was inspired to return to song writing, something he hadn’t done for 20 years.

The creative juices were stirred and a 7-track demo album called Dark Clouds was recorded at Big Boys Studios in Witney, Oxfordshire, with Steve White playing almost all of the instruments.

This was swiftly followed by a 3-track EP entitled Baby You’re Strange and then a 4-track EP called Like.

The band have graced many stages since then, playing all over southern England, and get great responses to the live shows. This has included many festival appearances.

Right now the band are writing and recording new material and gigging regularly.
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