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  • The Mob

    Location: Somerset, England
    Active: 1979-1983, 2011-2015+

    Formed and disbanded during the early UK punk scene, The Mob distinguished themselves with possibly the most emotional, albeit negative, of contemporaries like CRASS, Conflict, and Flux Of Pink Indians. They used dirges and a pessimistic perspective to paint a dim picture of the world with their music. With most of their songs maintaining the slow pace of a dirge, they were one of the bleakest punk bands ever. Even other bands with a morbid streak like UK Decay, Rudimentary Peni and Southern Death Cult could take a non-cynical perspective from time to time. 

    They released one LP, ‘Let The Tribe Increase’, but had a healthy collection of EPs and singles. The ‘No Doves Fly Here’ 7” was released on on Crass Records, but they formed their own label, All The Madmen to release most of their records, also releasing bands like Clair Obscur, Blyth Power, The Astronauts, Part 1, Zos Kia, Flowers In The Dustbin, Poison Girls among others. The label was related to the Kill Your Pet Puppy collective, which also had ties to Blood And Roses and other bands through the squat scene.

    After they split up in 1983, Joseph Porter who had also played in Zounds, formed Blyth Power. In 2011, The Mob reformed and played several gigs through England, Europe and America. They released new material in 2013, ‘Rise Up’.

    Related: Blood And Roses, CRASS, Conflict, Flux Of Pink Indians, UK Decay, Rudimentary Peni, Southern Death Cult, Crass Records, All The Madmen, Clair Obscur, Blyth Power, The Astronauts, Part 1, Zos Kia, Flowers In The Dustbin, Poison Girls, Kill Your Pet Puppy, Somerset, England, 1979

    Links: 

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/261863-The-Mob-3
    Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mob_(British_band)

  • Amebix

    Location: England
    Active: 1978-1987 (+)

    Beginning in Devon, England as the Band with No Name by brothers Rob “the Baron” Miller (vocals, bass) and Chris “Stig” Miller (guitar) in 1978, Amebix established a sound all their own. They dealt with dark, apocalyptic motifs with a sound to match, much more foreboding than peers like those in the CRASS records camp or Killing Joke, though not as bizarre as Rudimentary Peni. Most fans of the genre known as crust punk claim Amebix as a formative influence.

    Their first album Arise was released on Alternative Tentacles (Dead Kennedys) though the rest of their EPs and singles were on Spiderleg Records (Flux Of Pink Indians). The band relocated several times during their existence including Cornwall, Bristol, some time cohabitating with CRASS, much of which was squatting. After the bands initial split, Tim Crow of The Smartpils joined sans Baron to form Zygote. Some activity in 2008-20012 resulted in additional releases, though another official split up was announced.

    Related: Band With No Name, CRASS, Killing Joke, Rudimentary Peni, Alternative Tentacles, Dead Kennedys, Spiderleg Records, Flux Of Pink Indians, The Smartpils, Zygote, Nausea, Cornwall, Bristol, CRASS Records, Tim Crow, Rob “The Baron” Miller, Chris “Stig” Miller, crust punk, England, 1978, Devon

    Bandcamp: https://amebix1.bandcamp.com/music
    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/73168-Amebix
    Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amebix

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  • Rudimentary Peni

    Location: London, UK (Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire)
    Active: 1980-present

    Rudimentary Peni began in the UK (north of London) in 1980. Prior to that vocalist/guitarist Nick Blinko and drummer Jon Greville were The Magits. Joined by Grant Matthews, Rudimentary Peni released their first self-titled EP in 1981, followed by the Farce EP in 1982 which began their relationship with Crass Records and it’s Corpus Christi imprint (UK Decay).

    Combined with their sometimes morbid themes, the artwork of Blinko was their dominant visual characteristic and earned them a reputation as dark and twisted. One look at the deluxe gatefold sleeve for their ‘Death Church’ LP should be enough to convince the non-believer! Though their association with anarcho-punk bands through the Crass label wasn’t unwarranted due to the social-political context of some half of their songs, Rudimentary Peni were deemed too weird for that clientele. They were often shunned by anarcho punks, but loved by generations of deathrockers to come.

    After a hiatus due to Matthews’ cancer diagnosis, and Blinko’s stint in a mental institution, Rudimentary Peni returned with Cacophony in 1988, exploring the themes of Lovecraftian horror, which at the time was an oddity, and reaffirmed their interest in things weird and surreal. Since then, their output has continued on the slow but steady track with an album every half decade or so. Notoriously reticent to appear live or be photographed, the surreal artwork of Nick Blinko is the primary representation of the band outside the music. 

    In addition to his work for the band, Blinko’s illustrations have also earned him a name in the outsider art category. His work was used on the album cover for Coil’s ‘Unnatrural History III’ collection. Blinko also authored his own fictionalized auto-biography, Primal Screamer and the Haunted Head novel. Nick Blinko: Visions of Pope Adrian 37th is an art book detailing his output of illustrations during his 1983 institutionalization. 

    Links:

    Discogs.com: https://www.discogs.com/artist/253948-Rudimentary-Peni
    Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudimentary_Peni

    Related: Magits, Crass, UK Decay, Coil, Corpus Christi Records, London

    This profile is in development. Contributions?