by John Bush
Vocalists Paul Hyde and Bob Rock formed the Payola$ with drummer Chris Taylor and bassist Larry Wilkins. After China Boys was released on their own Slophouse Records, A&M signed the band and released four albums from 1979 to 1985 — No Stranger to Danger (1982), Hammer on a Drum (1983), In a Place like This (1984) and Heres the World for Ya (1985). After breaking up in 1985, Rock and Hyde continued on, releasing a popular single in 1987 called Dirty Water. Paul Hyde left for a solo career in 1989; Bob Rock later joined the band Rockhead.