The Waves were originally a band that guitarist Kimberley Rew and drummer Alex Cooper started in 1975 in Cambridge, England. The band made a few recordings, but nothing was released at the time. Four tracks recorded in 1976 were later added as bonus tracks to the 2010 reissue of Shock Horror! This early version of the Waves disbanded when Rew joined the Soft Boys in 1977. Cooper had joined Mama's Cookin' in 1979, a pop/soul cover band that featured singer Katrina Leskanich, guitarist Vince de la Cruz, and bassist Bob Jakins. After the break-up of the Soft Boys in 1981, Rew re-connected with Cooper, who convinced Rew to join Mama's Cookin', which was soon re-named the Waves.
