Sons Of Bad Breath – Wood Green Art Centre, London, N22 – 1985

Posted on August 23, 2008January 17, 2024 by Penguin

An excellent recording of Monty and his Sons Of Bad Breath thrashers giving it all the effort they could muster on the night.

Part of the infamous Hackney Hell Crew. Pretty rough bunch of heavy drinking and heavy speeding squatters that formed an axis of bands such as Blower, Eat Shit, God Told Me To Do It and of course Sons Of Bad Breath.

Amongst the Hell Crew were Monty, Ollie, Pus, Simo, Martin, Animal, Napoleon, Sean, Bully, Alien and Scruff from Gateshead.

Some of the Hell Crew did not survive passed the 1980’s, the ones that did hopefully are well enough.

I was very pleased to see Ollie in Bristol in the early 1990’s at a Gunshot (UK Hip Hop) performance (on a boat in the docks that is actually a club). Ollie was Nike trainer’d up and looking well, in some sport tracksuit clobber. Very much a change from when I had last saw him, while on one of my regular visits to 108 Brougham Road to see Andy Martin and Dave Fanning.

At that time in the mid 1980’s, a whole bunch of the Hell Crew were camped out at this house including both Pus and Simo, two that did not make it through to the next decade.

Thanks to Clint for sending this tape in, and thanks to Mike from Decadent Few for recording it for Clint in the first place.

196 comments

chas
June 19, 2011 at 7:36 pm

nice to read some good news Luggy
jock dougie
June 20, 2011 at 9:23 am

Hello everyone, good to hear you are all wellish. I am alive n well and living in Paisley. I remember that gig as i played in TMG2, with a badly out of tune bass, and later that night played bass for GTMTDI, as Bill R.I.P. had given up the concept of music and was breaking down the barriers of audience/band interaction. Well chucking stuff back at them anyway. Think Chas came onstage and opened a can of super T in my face mid “gig.” Saw the orig Toms stuff on youtube good stuff Dev.
chas
June 20, 2011 at 8:25 pm

Dougie – nice to hear from you. The tenants thing sounds about right, especially if this is the GTMTDI gig at wood green. I never knew you were there or that TMG played but then all i can tell you is that i went with a 4 pack of tenants super
luggy
June 21, 2011 at 12:35 pm

A big hello from me too, Dougie. Have good memories of you from those days.
chas
June 21, 2011 at 8:29 pm

PS I do of course mean ‘about right’ in the sense of ‘believable’ rather than, well any other sense! I’m looking forward to hearing the Tom’s Midnight Garden CD if Dev ever gets it together to send me the free copy he promised me for writing the lyrics to one of the songs (or is that just too cheap of me?). I saw him a few weeks ago and he was well. We got pissed with Gerard – again!
jock dougie
June 21, 2011 at 11:19 pm

good to hear from you all. nice piece about solstice, pity its pissing down or i would have been dancing round some stones, any old stones ones will do. is the pic of luggy, used in the toms youtube being given a helping hand by the long arm from stop the city? if so which year? seem to rember getting arrested at one and the bins played that night at the fulham greyhound. which was chas favourite venue
luggy
June 22, 2011 at 10:40 am

Think that was from the first Stop The City, Dougie. May have been the second one as I was nicked at that one as well!
chas
June 22, 2011 at 9:01 pm

i seem to remember seeing you in a brief but passionate embrace with the long arm at a CND one at Hyde Park 82? but they’d obviously got the wrong man – or maybe i have. I reckon if we played after it it was 84 but my memory’s not as good as yours Dougie – yeah I did love the Greyhound and it’s welcoming staff, always had a smashing time… 😉
jock dougie
June 22, 2011 at 11:41 pm

charlie being my favourite stone, much better than mick. good strike rate luggy. trying to make it down for the mob brixton. ive even got a brixton pound note which isnt worth much but might get a drink for for you guys.
chas
June 23, 2011 at 8:38 pm

well i may just see you there – i bought a ticket, even though flowers in the dustbin aren’t playing. what a band they were, i understand a mint copy of their third single is worth about 10 grand now, if someone had a box of those in their attic they could probably retire on the proceeds
chas
June 23, 2011 at 8:40 pm

well, you know, if hellcrew can become legendary via the internet anything’s possible
Dev
July 12, 2011 at 11:38 am

Hey Dougie! Great to hear from you mate… Robin told me you were doing OK. Glad you like the vidz. Can’t remember how we lost contact, but definitely remember playing the gig that night. If you send me a message with your address, I’ll send you a TMG CD… that goes for you too Chas – I sent you a message asking for your address ages ago! Cheers.
info@whileangelswatch.net
Caven Vets
February 27, 2012 at 9:44 am

Hello Monti
Your posts are really interesting- each and everything. How much of this is in Ian Glasper’s forthcoming book?

Thanks
Cavan Vets
Don B
March 24, 2012 at 8:29 pm

Enjoyed this Thread! Because of my fondness at the time for the Merrydown, Carlsberg and Super T my memories of all this are a little vague. Lots of familiar names and places here though. Id spent approx 17-18 years getting used to being named Donald when Fi Fallover christened me ‘The Oik’ I hated it, being the cultured and well mannered individual that I was and still am, however it stuck for a few years.
If anyone still reading and they remember can you let me know the name of the squatted venue in Stokey where you had to go down the trap door to see the bands?
PS: Only claim to fame here is that I was the only arrest, by I believe the tactical support cops when they tried a mass eviction on the Stamford Hill Estate. Oh those heady days, I was only trying to get to the chippy!
Love to all those who made it. RIP to those who didnt.
Don.
Anthony
June 1, 2012 at 5:35 pm

Hello Peeples…yes tis me…the man that made that phone call to the metal show and yes the name stuck…it was off the tongue and from the hip…I just needed a collective description on the spot…no real members in mind…just us (Me, Palmer, Olly, Nic and Al I think!!) at the time (in 267 Victoria Park Road)….there is much much more info on Hackney squatting and the 281 Hackney Hell Crew Krew and all this can be read on my squatting page at my website…just type in…punk up close and personal……into google and its the fourth page or so down…the one at weebly dot com…hope you like the memories…both good and bad…I am still updating it from memory…happy reading old punkie-wunkie peeples.
Tony Puppy
June 3, 2012 at 2:36 am

Anthony thanks for the link to your memories – but by the time I’ve typed all that into my search engine are you the real deal?

Fourth flight up but right now it feels like underground? I’m channelling Lloyd Cole
Anthony
June 6, 2012 at 7:19 pm

Hello Mister Puppy….I have a website link but your filters blocked me and put me in the junk…so I thought I´d go the long way around to get my ´time´ out there to people who maybe would like to read it all from a ‘part’ of it actually there (way back then)…all I have done is (“Jennifer she said lets”) put it writing (form) for your passing traffic searching for yesteryear…Cheers
Anthony
June 6, 2012 at 7:28 pm

Here is the Punk Squatting Page website link for you Tony (and your viewers too!)

http://punk-rock-photography.weebly.com/squatting.html
Champagne socialists and punk squatters at Sutton House | The Radical History of Hackney
August 9, 2012 at 1:38 pm

[…] about gigs at The Blue House on the excellent Kill Your Pet Puppy site. (See the comments sections here, here and […]
John Bryson
October 31, 2012 at 12:23 pm

Brilliant to see that old photo of the Hell Crew which brought back a lot of memories. Also nice to read the comments and conversations between folk I remember from those days. My fondest memory of the time was when Caz and I (both still in Antisect at that time I think), joined Pus, Martin (Brad Caddis), Alien and others to see the Butthole Surfers at the Ambulance Station, and ended up sleeping over. Nice drunken night and hilarious morning blagging food in a cafe on the Old Kent Road. I remember Martin wearing a full lenghth leopard print coat flying in the wind behind him as he walked down the street. I bumped into Martin in Hastings last year with Karen (? apologies if I have Karen’s name wrong I’m terrible with names), and it was great to see them both. Martin said he recognised me from my walk!?! I also remember Alien ended up attending a training session I was running for people wanting to start their own business in Tottenham about 10 years or more ago. Wonder if he ever went into business? Sad to hear that so many unique individuals are no longer with us, may they rest in peace, but nice and reassuring to see that Monty and Ollie are also still alive and kicking. Antisect have reformed of course, though I am no longer in the line up. All the very best to you all. John
Nosh
February 23, 2013 at 2:05 am

Pus ‘Goatsbreath’ got stabbed after jumping out a window in Bristol during a drug deal that went horribly wrong back in the late 1980′s.

to update and prevent any “nonsense tales” about pus…out of the 5 blokes who stabbed pus 3 of em od`d within 3-4 yrs after pus`s death…the other 2 were killed in seperate incidents by “person or persons unknown”…it’s true i was questioned in relation to these deaths as were a few other people but lack of evidence AKA none has led to nuffink tho none of us has officially been 100% cleared of any involvment…its also been at least 10 yrs since a copper last talked to me bout it…all info i’ve just said is fact nuffink more, nuffink less…if u hear otherwise then your bein lied to…

————————-
BULLSHIT

The `FACTUAL` series of events that led to the death of Pus

He turned up at the squat at about 2am – the guy(s) who were due to turn up with the drugs

NEVER ARRIVED

at half 8 in the morning – there were loadsa folks there waiting – Pus went off to the local supermarket n bought 6 cans of Brew and a half bottle of cheap vodka

When he went back to the house – he fell out with everyone there cos he wouldn’t share

He drank the lot n fell asleep

when the pubs opened – everyone left n went to the pub as thats where it was they was gonna score

he was left behind – sleeping

two guys in the pub that had been at the house – had left stuff behind

they were asking for the key to the gaff

The kid whose house it was – Scots John (Borthwick) from Aberdeen – wouldn’t give the key

`Theres a guy in there asleep` – just `knock` on the door & he`ll let you in – they was told

they went to the house – Bang Bang Bang

& they got frustrated cos he wouldn’t wake up

they started shouting shit through the letterbox at him…..

then he woke up – n started shouting back

FUCK OFF – FUCK OFF

they got proper fucked off – started yellin they was gonna kick the shit out of him

he picked up a hoover – & n he threw it through the front door glass – `AT THEM` – then they got in

they kicked n punched him

& `one` of them `stabbed him` `ONCE`

the blade went in 12mm Deep & was 6mm wide

it was a stupid tiny little lock knife

they then dragged him (ankle each) down the (6) outside concrete steps – and they dragged him about 80m down the road & flung him in the back of a semi derelict van that a local prostitute `lived in`

local do-gooders phoned the pigs – n when they turned up – they went to the back of the van to talk to him

He told them to FUCK OFF

So they did

it was about 3 hours later at about 7pm

the tom turned up – and started shouting

WooOOooo ! Get this dirty crusty punk out me van

He`s bleeding all over me bed

Scots John was there – they had all come back to the house by then

Couple of folks got him out the van – he `staggered` about 7 meters & collapsed to the floor

Everyone who was anyone – knew what had happened – that’s why they all stayed in the pub on CCTV for as long as they did

Scots John – was alright – he never did fuck all bad to anyone

it was he who went to Pus`s aid – noticed his lips n ears were turning Blue

and `HE` rang for an ambulance

the 12mm stab wound had `pierced` the bag that the heart lives in

for just over 4 hours – this bag filled with blood – slowing his heart beat

`Hello Bristol n Avon Ambulance Service – How can we Help`

Hello – ther’es a kid in the street that needs serious urgent help – l think he`s dying – you gotta come quick

`What makes you think he`s dying ?` – is he breathing ?

He`s been sta….. – l DON’T KNOW – all I know is that he needs URGENT Help – QUICK

Ambulance arrived and took Pus to hospital

Scots John was arrested shortly after – due to his `self admission` of KNOWING Pus had sustained a stab wound

Pigs `KNEW` he never done it – but they charged him with MURDER

Scots John spent the next 11 months in HMP Horfield

`I was his cell partner for 5 months`

I read EVERY STATEMENT all 4,000 pages of them !

including the pictures of him in the morgue

When Pus got to the hospital – the trauma team nurses

REFUSED to treat him – this is straight up

he was `Filthy` hadn’t had a bath in 3 years – was covered in lice

& those of you who knew him – KNOW this

was an Australian Doctor who treated him – he died in hospital

his heart stopped – they injected some shit into him to get his blood pumping – but it didn’t work – cos the bag surrounding his heart was full of blood – was a lost cause

that’s what caused his death

because the stab wound was so small and because he was so filthy – it weren’t `obvious` to the Doc that he`d been stabbed – looked like a small `scratch`

his cause of death was FIRST discovered during his `autopsy`

I KNEW Pus – I was a Wood Green Crusty for years and all – gigs at the Ballet School – & Kardboard Box – Hackney Hell Crew

Scottish Allan – Donald – Glasgow Mark – Craig the young Glaswegian – Tania

Trigger was Pus`s girlfriend if you remember – She and him had a big fall out

He held a knife to her throat and told her if she ever went off with anyone else – he`d cut her face up

This was two to three weeks before we went to the Slayer Gig at Hammersmith Odeon – which would have made it March April 1987

It was shortly after this that Pus went to Bristol

The man `lived` & `Died` `BY THE SWORD`

You might not like to hear that – but its FACT

Scots John KNEW who did the deed – Pigs KNEW it

so as did a lot of people

`but he never turned anyone in`

and neither did any of them !

but that’s not `strictly` TRUE

Pigs DID find out – they went after – & got their man

`FOR SOMETHING ELSE`

The case was `CLOSED` & was best to be forgotten…..

Due to the FACT

Fingers were pointed at the Police `handling` of when they

spoke to Pus whilst he `LAY DYING` in the back of that van

& there was ALSO Fingers pointing at the

MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE at the hospital

which FUCKED OVER any real chance of anyone being

convicted of his MURDER ????????

That’s why the case got buried

The Day BEFORE Scots John`s Trial

His Lawyers produced ANOTHER 102 witness statements who all said – John WAS in the pub at the time of the stabbing

……just thought l`d clear that up
tall chris
April 30, 2013 at 7:02 pm

So which HHC member tattooed Goat Breaths forehead then? I saw the wee fella at the time and the reaction around Hackney was visceral.
John Doe
May 7, 2013 at 10:47 am

Hi

I am a researcher and investigator who is very interested in finding out more about the murder of Pus Goatbreath – if anyone has any further information please email me at unsolvedbristol1987@gmail.com.

Any contact will be treated in the strictest confidence.

I am particularly interested in hearing from “Nosh” who posted the comment above on February 23rd, 2013 at 2:05 am.

Thanks

John
monti
June 23, 2013 at 9:16 pm

Let Pus Rest in Peace, nuffink good is gonna come outta discussin this anymore.. If u dont agree n want to keep talkin about this subject then do it somewhere else Fanks!!
monti
June 24, 2013 at 8:02 am

Nosh, who are you? cos u certainly werent part of the Hackney Hell Crew n i dont remember ya from the Wood Green lot either??.. While some of wot u say is true the rest is based on wot john borthwick told ya n he was a lyin thievin shit… Those who know the truth know it anyfink anybody else says is rumour/hearsay so is therefore irrelevant… Last fing i gotta say on the subject… RIP Pus mate
Napolean
March 21, 2014 at 11:44 am

About Pus. Pus took Fang to look after when I moved up north. I’m glad he did as at the time Fang needed someone to care for her. Fang was the doberman cross dog, she was also a member of the hell crew. I was sorry to hear about Pus and have always wondered what happened to Fang.

Napolean. Bass player Eat Shit . Hell crew member…
sean
June 16, 2015 at 9:33 pm

I would very much like to have a recording of the wood green show – SOBB at the height of their powers and Eat Shits last ever show. Would/could anyone be kind enough to help me? I had some head injuries and a stroke a couple of years ago and so much of my once accurate,if often largely embellished, memory is lost to me.
sean, Eat Shit vocals/GTMTDI guitar/occasional Bladder All Stars drums
Penguin • Post Author •
June 17, 2015 at 12:14 am

Hi Sean. There is a link to the audio of the performance in between the Monty live photograph and above the Monty dog and knackered arm photograph. That will download for you to hear. Sorry to read of your recent tribulations Sean… All the best.
Erik
November 2, 2015 at 12:00 am

Does anyone on here have a contact for Alien or Napoleon that they could please share? Hoping to interview them about Eat Shit. Thanks. Pleas send to ewrecksn[at]gmail.com
Melz
March 10, 2021 at 6:38 pm

Any one remember Kulty/Culty?
Whst happened to him?
Adrian Elliott
November 11, 2023 at 6:32 am

I have a 49×40” original screen printed poster of this band and eat shit opening up for conflict at the station dec 4th but doesn’t have the year on it