Dexys Midnight Runners took their name from Dexedrine, an amphetamine associated with the Northern soul scene, and from the all-night dance events that helped shape the band’s early identity. The name reflected both the group’s musical influences and their desire to present themselves as part of a committed, energetic soul culture.

The “Midnight Runners” element referred to the late-night clubgoers who would dance through the night, while “Dexys” was a shortened reference to the drug. Formed in Birmingham in 1978, the band became best known for the 1982 hit ‘Come On Eileen’, though its sound drew heavily on soul, R&B and Celtic folk influences.