The band General Public formed after the 1983 break-up of The Beat (see 1983 in music). Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger added Mickey Billingham (Dexy's Midnight Runners), Horace Panter (the Specials) and Stoker (Dexy's Midnight Runners/The Bureau) to form the band. They signed to IRS Records and released All the Rage (1984 in music); the album was a British hit, aided by the single "Tenderness".

Hand to Mouth (1986 in music) was significantly less successful, and the band soon split up. Rogers and Wakeling worked on various projects and reunited for the Threesome soundtrack; "I'll Take You There" (the Staple Singers) was a surprise hit, and they stayed together to release Rub It Better in 1995 (1995 in music). Sales were dismal, and they soon broke up again.