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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)

  • 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

    This profile is in development. Contributions?

  • 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

    This profile is in development. Contributions?

  • Play Dead

    Location: Oxford, England
    Active: 1980-1986

    Play Dead was an early entry into what was becoming known as post punk and even gothic, with a much more rhythmic sound along the lines of what The Southern Death Cult and UK Decay were starting to develop. Initially a punk band, they quickly found their direction and released many singles (beginning on Fresh Records along with The Dark and UK Decay) and three albums in their relatively short existence. After they disbanded in 1986, founding members Rob Hickson and Pete Waddleton, guitarist Steve Green, were joined by Mich Ebeling of Look Back In Anger and formed Mankind’s Audio Development aka M.A.D.

    Related: Oxford, UK, 1980, Punk, Gothic, The Dark,The Southern Death Cult, UK Decay, Rob Hickson, Pete Waddleton, Steve Green, Mich Ebeling, Look Back In Anger, Mankind’s Audio Development, M.A.D.

    This profile is in development. Contributions?

  • 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

    This profile is in development. Contributions?

  • Resiztors

    Abbo (Steve Abbot), Steve Harle, and Martin Segovia Smith prior to forming UK Decay.

    This profile is in development. Contributions?

  • Pneumonia


    Luton, UK punk band who shared a split single with UK Decay. Guitarist Steve Spon would then join that band.

    Related: UK Decay, Luton, UK, Punk, Steve Spon

  • Furyo

    After UK Decay disbanded, Eddie Branch, Steve ‘Abbo’ Abbott and Steve Harle contributed the track “Slave Drive” under the name of Slave Drive to The Whip compilation LP. Similarly, they did the same under the moniker Meat of Youth for the Batcave ‘Young Limbs, Numb Hymns’ compilation – both in 1983. When they enlisted Albie De Luca (Gene Loves Jezebel) they settled on the name Furyo and released two dramatic 12″ records under that name in 1984.

    Related: UK Decay, Meat Of Youth, Slave Drive, Eddie Branch, Steve ‘Abbo’ Abbott, Steve Harle, The Whip, Batcave, Young Limbs Numb Hymns, Albie De Luca, Gene Loves Jezebel

    This profile is in development. Contributions?

  • Meat Of Youth

    After UK Decay disbanded, Eddie Branch, Steve ‘Abbo’ Abbott and Steve Harle contributed the track “Slave Drive” under the name of Slave Drive to The Whip compilation LP. Similarly, they did the same under the moniker Meat of Youth for the Batcave ‘Young Limbs, Numb Hymns’ compilation – both in 1983. When they enlisted Albie De Luca (Gene Loves Jezebel) they settled on the name Furyo and released two dramatic 12″ records under that name in 1984.

    Related: UK Decay, Slave Drive, Furyo, Eddie Branch, Steve ‘Abbo’ Abbott, Steve Harle, The Whip, Batcave, Young Limbs Numb Hymns, Albie De Luca, Gene Loves Jezebel

    This profile is in development. Contributions?

  • Slave Drive

    After UK Decay disbanded, Eddie Branch, Steve ‘Abbo’ Abbott and Steve Harle contributed the track “Slave Drive” under the name of Slave Drive to The Whip compilation LP. Similarly, they did the same under the moniker Meat of Youth for the Batcave ‘Young Limbs, Numb Hymns’ compilation – both in 1983. When they enlisted Albie De Luca (Gene Loves Jezebel) they settled on the name Furyo and released two dramatic 12″ records under that name in 1984.

    Related: UK Decay, Meat Of Youth, Furyo, Eddie Branch, Steve ‘Abbo’ Abbott, Steve Harle, The Whip, Batcave, Young Limbs Numb Hymns, Albie De Luca, Gene Loves Jezebel

    This profile is in development. Contributions?