Scottish singer/songwriter and producer Jimmie O'Neal first appeared in the late '70s with Fingerprintz, an eclectic band that recorded for Virgin from 1979 to 1981 and also released an album for Stiff. O'Neal produced and co-wrote much of Jacqui Brookes' 1984 LP Sob Stories, and then formed the Silencers in 1986 with guitarist Cha Burns (also a graduate of Fingerprintz), plus bassist Joe Donnelly and drummer Martin Hanlin. Signed to RCA, the group debuted in 1987 with A Letter From St. Paul. The Silencers hit the charts during 1988-1989 with two modest British hits, "Painted Moon" and "Scottish Rain," and recorded A Blues for Buddha and Dance to the Holy Man.