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  • Anorexic Dread

    Location: London, Southend 
    Active: 1983-1985

    Formed in London, 1983, Anorexic Dread played often in Southend. Their sound was a monstrous tremor that added some meat to the sinewy link between punk, gothic, psychobilly and that rare enzyme known as Batcave. Their first gig took place at The Zero 6 on Monday July 18th, 1983. They performed with Alien Sex Fiend at Crocs and on January 20th 1985, supporting Killing Joke at the Queens Hotel and played a show at the original Batcave. The original line up was Phil Black on Vocals (ex-Time in Motion), Andi Schurer (ex-Convicted etc) on Guitar, Pat Moriarty credited as Magoo on Keyboards and Donald Frame (ex-Occult) on Drums. Leonard Finch aka Perry Archangelo Bamonte joined for a while until departing to roadie for and eventually play guitar with The Cure, replaced by Andy Fisher (Kronstadt Uprising). 

    Anorexic Dread released one 12″ single, ‘Tracey’s Burning’/‘Tick Tock’ in 1984 on Criminal Damage (Ausgang, Twisted Nerve, Geschlecht Akt, Stunt Kites, Look Back in Anger). Other songs in their repertoire ‘She’s Beautiful and She’s Mine’, ‘Dragnet’, and ‘Limelight’. Not long after a 1985 demo with songs including ‘Dark Night in London’ Anorexic Dread came to an end, but appear on compilations such as Young Limbs Rise Again and a DJ favorite on deathrock dancefloors has kept their legacy alive.

    Related: Alien Sex Fiend, Killing Joke, Batcave, Time in Motion, Convicted, Occult, The Cure, Kronstadt Uprising, Ausgang, Twisted Nerve, Geschlecht Akt, Stunt Kites, Look Back in Anger, Criminal Damage, Andi Schurer, Phil Black, Pat Moriarty, Magoo, Donald Frame, Leonard Finch, Perry Archangelo Bamonte, Andy Fisher, London, Southend, 1983

    Links:

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/704236-Anorexic-Dread

  • Actifed

    Location: London, England
    Active: 1981-1984 (+)

    Short-lived punk band from London that had a darker sound akin to UK Decay, Killing Joke, Ritual. At the start vocals were carried out by Weasel, though Phraser from Crisis also auditioned. They performed regularly throughout London, accompanying bands like Killing Joke, The Dark, Uk Subs, Danse Society, pre-Ausgang The Solicitors, Sex Gang Children, Ritual, In Excelsis, Bone Orchard, and Brigandage to name a few.

    They released two singles, though a live recording with Erazerhead at 100 Club for it’s 2nd anniversary was released in July 1982. Weasel was replaced by David Rogers who took on vocals as well as guitar. They obtained a cover feature on Sounds magazine, before releasing either of their initial records (both produced by Tony James of Generation X) put out by Jungle. They allegedly beat a lawsuit by the company who released the Actifed cough syrup. After a long time of inactivity, the band reformed and put out their only full albums, ‘Chains No More’ (2009), ‘Rhythms Of Mass Destruction’ (2011).

    Related: UK Decay, Killing Joke, Ritual, Crisis, Killing Joke, The Dark, Uk Subs, Danse Society, pre-Ausgang The Solicitors, Sex Gang Children, In Excelsis, Bone Orchard, Brigandage, Erazerhead, David Rogers, Tony James, Generation X, Jungle Records, London, England, 1981

    Links:

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/277656-Actifed

    Actifed interviewed for The Sky-Fi Music Show by Pat Sharp, 1983: http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=St-LWy8tQ1Q

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  • Blood And Roses

    Location: London
    Active: 1982-1985

    Emerging from the positive punk movement in London alongside Southern Death Cult, Sex Gang Children, influenced by the bleaker sound cultivated by UK Decay. Their songs were shrouded in the dark haze illuminated by the glow of horror films (Blood and Roses, 1960) and touching on occult writings. This was evident in not only the subject matter of I Spit on your Grave (I Spit On Your Grave, 1978) but cover versions of John Capenter soundtracks. They performed for the first time in January 1982 at the Anarchy Centre, London. There had been a few prior iterations of the band around founders Bob Short and Lisa Kirby. 

    Blood & Roses attracted the attention of radio host and producer John Peel for a session on his BBC program in 1983 and featured in the South of Watford ‘Positive Punk’ special by Michael Moorcock. They were involved with the anarcho/anti-vivisection zine collective Kill Your Pet Puppy (along with Dave Roberts of Sex Gang Children) and included on The Whip compilation.

    Links:

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/353038-Blood-And-Roses
    John Peel: https://peel.fandom.com/wiki/Blood_And_Roses

    Related: Brigandage, Southern Death Cult, Sex Gang Children, UK Decay, Blood And Roses, I Spit On Your Grave, Bob Short, Lisa Kirby, John Peel, Positive Punk, Kill Your Pet Puppy, The Whip, London, 1982, Anarcho

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  • Alien Sex Fiend

    Location: UK
    Active: 1982-present

    One of the original Batcave bands, formed in London of 1982, that club was where they played their first gig. They remained active for long periods with an extensive discography, exploring many styles from straight up gothic punk to industrial and even more electronic sounds. Sampling, dubbing and synthesizer elements played a dominant part in their sound, while their visual aesthetic always featured the art of Nik Fiend, and their live performances usually featured  heavy use of props like bones, cobwebs, torn nets and from time to time an oversized inflatable banana. Somewhere in my collection is a Zillion Dollar Bill bearing Nik Fiend’s iconic visage.

    Nik Fiend and partner Mrs Fiend started in 1975 with a group called Demon Preacher, later just ‘Demons’ (with Jim Bryson and Razzle who would both go on to join The Dark), they were joined by Johnny Ha Ha and Yaxi Highrise (aka David James, later of Savage Opera). They worked performing with artists like Specimen, Meteors, and one of their initial cassettes was produced with Youth of Killing Joke, and they appeared on the Batcave Compilation Young Limbs and Numb Hymns in 1983, featured on the John Peel show. They signed on early to Cherry Red’s Anagram label in 1983, putting out several 12” singles, EPs and albums until starting their own 13th Moon label. 

    Official: http://www.asf-13thmoon.com/
    Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_Sex_Fiend
    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/29001-Alien-Sex-Fiend

    Related: Batcave, Demons, Demon Preacher, Meteors, Young Limbs Numb Hymns, Killing Joke, London, 1982, Savage Opera

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  • Zig Zag Club

    The ZigZag club opened 1981 in Westbourne Park, London in the former Grand Cinema built in 1912. The auditorium was destroyed by German bombs in WW2, but the original art deco façade remained. The club lasted barely a year with headliners like Birthday Party, UK Decay, Blancmange, Dead Or Alive, and was infamously squatted by Crass in Christmas 1982 for a free gig. The building lay derelict until 1994 when it was demolished and replaced by housing.

  • Richard Strange

    Richard Strange’s first band was Doctors of Madness, formed in 1975, recording three influential but non-commercial albums. The band was supported by the Sex Pistols, The Jam and Joy Division. He disbanded the band in 1978, after Dave Vanian of The Damned briefly joined him on vocals.

    Related: Doctors of Madness, Sex Pistols, The Jam, Joy Division, Dave Vanian, The Damned

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  • The Dark

    Location: Islington, London, England, UK
    Active: 1978-1982

    Formed in London in 1978, The Dark alongside The Damned stood out as capable of more melodic and dynamic sounds, though they never achieved wide success or recognition. Despite never focusing on a particularly gothic sound as their name might imply, their single ‘The Masque’ is a cornerstone on any gothic punk compilation. Like many of their peers in the movement at the time, they highlighted political and social topics, but more directly and succinctly than style over substance bands that achieved more attention. 

    The majority of their music was put out on the label Fresh Records, who brought out some of the earliest UK Decay, Play Dead, and Second Layer records, some more experimental bands like Cuddly Toys and Family Fodder, not to forget about more punk fare like The Wall, Menace, and the fantastic Punk and Disorderly. Their final record was a 1982 live recording of what was to be their final gig, though their actual last gig was at the Klub Foot in August with The Lurkers.

    The initial lineup consisted of John Flannagan, Billy O’Neil, Jim Kane and Phil Langham (later Action Pact and staff at Cherry Red Records), soon joined by Andy Riff. Other members over their career would include Jim Bryson and Razzle (both formerly of Demon Preacher, with Nik Wade aka Nik Fiend in Demon Preacher – the band that would become Alien Sex Fiend). Razzle would end up with Finnish rock band Hanoi Rocks until his tragic death in 1984.

    Related: UK Decay, The Damned, Alien Sex Fiend, Hanoi Rocks, Play Dead, Demon Preacher, Second Layer, Cuddly Toys, Family Fodder, The Wall, Menace, London, UK, 1978, Action Pact, Anagram Records, Cherry Red Records, Fresh Records, Punk and Disorderly

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  • Sexbeat

    Location: London, England
    Active: 1983-1984

    Sexbeat arose out of London’s Batcave club, where Hamish McDonald (guitar, vocals) was one of the core DJs. They are remembered for their self titled song on the ‘Batcave: Young Limbs And Numb Hymns’ compilation. Initial reception to the song led to a record with ABC Records but the resulting  ‘Pump/Sweat’ 12″ lost the essence of the band in production – an all too common occurrence as the 80s music climate began to shift. Though they managed some high profile gigs in England and the USA (CBGBs, Danceteria), after a tour with The Cramps, they ceased activity. A posthumous 7” single of ‘Sexbeat’ was released in 2024.

    Related: Batcave, Young Limbs And Numb Hymns, CBGBs, London, Hamish McDonald, The Cramps

    Links:

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/278399-Sexbeat

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  • Magits

    Location: London, UK (Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire)
Active: 1977-1980
Related: Rudimentary Peni

    Nick Blinko and Martin Cooper were the Magits before forming Rudimentary Peni in 1980. Primarily keyboards and guitars, the Magits released one 7″ EP, ‘Fully Coherent’, which featured the photograph of the two by Jon Greville, who would join Blinko in Rudimentary Peni. Martin Cooper remained involved with Outer Himalayan Records, the label associated with the later Rudimentary Peni releases.

    Links:


    Discogs.com: https://www.discogs.com/artist/254362-The-Magits

    Related: Rudimentary Peni, Nick Blinko

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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?