Fusing the strut and swagger of the Rolling Stones and New York Dolls with the dank coldness of goth-rock, Flesh for Lulu arose from Brixton to build their initial reputation in London's so-called "Batcave" scene. Vocalist/guitarist Nick Marsh, drummer James Mitchell, guitarist Rocco Barker (formerly of Wasted Youth), and bassist Glen Bishop made enough of an impression with their leather, mascara, and lipstick to cut a single for Polydor, "Restless," after which Bishop departed in favor of Kevin Mills.
The singles "Roman Candle" and "Subterraneans" followed, with new member Derek Greening joining to play keyboards and guitar, and a self-titled album appeared in 1984. It proved quite unsuccessful, and Flesh for Lulu found themselves back in the world of indie labels for the 1985 EP Blue Sisters Swing, which attracted attention for its possibly blasphemous cover art (two nuns kissing) more than the band's greatly improved music.
The improvement continued on that year's full-length Big Fun City, an eclectic outing that aroused the interest of the Beggars Banquet label.
With a new rhythm section of Mike Steed (bass) and Hans Perrson (drums), 1987's Long Live the Flesh was a stab at success on mainstream and/or college radio, and "I Go Crazy" proved a minor hit on the latter. Commercial aspirations got the better of the band on the somewhat generic Plastic Fantastic, a 1989 record that spelled the end of Flesh for Lulu's career.