In 1980, Robinson organised Sector 27, a less political rock band that released a critically acclaimed but unsuccessful album, "Sector 27", produced by Steve Lillywhite. The band nevertheless received an enthusiastic reception at a Madison Square Garden concert with The Police. However, their management company went bankrupt, the band disintegrated, and Robinson suffered another nervous breakdown. Desolate, in debt, and sorrowing from a breakup with a beau, Robinson fled to Hamburg, Germany, much like his idol David Bowie . Living in a friend's spare room, he began writing again and ended up working in East Berlin with local band NO55.