Howard Brown (Halifax Bank) sing in that particular advert as it was performed by Matt Thornfield and Brown only appeared in cartoon form. In 2004, the Bank Of Scotland dropped Brown from their versions of the adverts, as the style of the adverts was not well received by its customers. In 2005, he released a cover of the Barry White song "You're the First, the Last, My Everything" as a charity single. It peaked at number 13 in the UK Singles Chart. From April 2008, Brown no longer starred in the Halifax adverts, instead taking a role in its public relations department. In 2011,
The Adverts and an appearance on "Top of the Pops", the Adverts became big news. Observers focused on frontman Smith and bassist Gaye Advert. Reviewers noted Smith's songwriting ability. He was said to have "captured the spirit of the times few contemporaries could match". Another reviewer described Smith as the band’s "raging heart, spitting out the failsafe succession of songs which still delineate punk’s hopes, aspirations and, ultimately, regrets". In contrast, Gaye Advert's reputation was more fleeting. She was "one of punk’s first female icons". Her "photogenic" looks, "panda-eye make-up and omnipresent leather jacket defined the face of female punkdom until well