Action Now

Before she started the Pandoras, Paula Pierce was in an initially modish band called the Direct Hits (Paula Pierce, Scott Hillman, Jim Schuster, and Mike Lawrence). Unfortunately for Pierce and company, they discovered there was an English band with the same moniker, so the obligatory name change was made in 1982 to Action Now. Signed to Posh Boy, Action Now recorded a full-length album (All Your Dreams, a Lolita Records release that was only issued in Europe) and other tracks including "Try" for Rodney Bingenheimer's Rodney on the ROQ, Vol. 3. The band attempted to consolidate the reputation it was making for itself (during its Direct Hits days) on the Los Angeles new wave scene, but internal troubles (Pierce's hope for garage purity and the other members' hopes that the band would modernize and/or emulate the styles of U.K. acts like Stiff Little Fingers) coupled with Pierce's realization that (after taking the lead on many songs and at many shows) she was enthusiastic and talented enough to lead her own group eventually led to Pierce's departure and her eventual formation of the Pandoras with Gwynne Kahn. Pierce would tragically pass away in August of 1991, while Schuster, Lawrence, and Hillman would eventually regroup in 2003 at the International Pop Overthrow Festival (with Kristi Callan taking Pierce's place on vocals and guitar) and would see the re-release of collected studio recordings and live tracks dating from 1981-1984: Averbury Records' compilation of the band entitled All Your Dreams...and More. ~ Chris True