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

Sons Of Bad Breath performance

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
  1. chris
    chris
    August 19, 2009 at 5:33 pm

    By coincidence I found a load more photos taken at 281 only last night. Happy to scan them and forward to anyone they’re of interest to when i’m back in London.

    There was a ‘HCC’ comic strip in Vague magazine which may have established the name back then.

    Was never part of that scene myself and could never understand the crusty look but all the folk I knew who were were sound and a good laugh. Had some highly productive shop-lifting missions with a few 281 residents who would be magnets for any store detectives as soon as they entered a shop whilst I got busy filling my the ‘poachers pockets’ of my adapted coat 🙂

  2. Grant
    Grant
    August 20, 2009 at 12:05 pm

    Just scanned an old flyer of an Eat Shit gig with Hagar The Womb at the Metropolitan, Farringdon Rd. If anyone’s interested send me your email and i’ll forward it.

  3. Clinton
    Clinton
    August 20, 2009 at 1:16 pm

    Hagar The Womb written with a pair of breasts as their logo! Come and watch Eat Shit blow Hagar The Womb off the stage or some such nonsense-what a flyer.
    Apparently that gig was a viewing event for label types looking at signing Hagar The Womb. I’m sure Hagar The Womb were happy to have nice noise boys as Eat Shit opening for them on such a special night.

  4. Grant
    Grant
    August 20, 2009 at 1:29 pm

    that’s the one…

  5. John No Last Name
    John No Last Name
    August 20, 2009 at 4:03 pm

    If I remember correctly Eat Shit were never actually booked to play that show, but Sean and Animal came to the conclusion that if you made more flyers and posters saying you were playing than the headlining band did they would have to let you play. Which is exactly what happened, the whole part about Hagar showcasing for labels seems a bit unlikely though. Somehow I doubt the Hags were itching to get signed by a whole slew of big record label fat cats.
    Animal was walking around that night in military fatigues pretending to be an Falklands vet with the handset of an old telephone in his hands that he kept yelling into in a bad American accent and handing to people saying “here it’s for you”. I didn’t make it into the show as I was friends with both Sean & Animal and the Hagars and didn’t feel like being part of pissing off a group of my friends which seemed pretty inevitable.

  6. monti
    monti
    August 21, 2009 at 2:04 am

    sum interestin info there chaps but yet again I`d like to remind people that the H H C consisted of all members of both eat shit`n sons of bad breath plus pus, simo, robso and one or two others….if anyone finks or beleives otherwise then sorry but u are wrong or ave been told bollox…cud`ve been palmer who came up wif the name but the only one of us who wud say he was in the HHC was napoleon who in my personal opinion a total fuckin idiot`n the idea of`im workin in a fairground is a bit ludicrous as he was one of the laziest fuckers ive ever met wif the strength of a 8yr old girl….i remember that hagar the womb fing but am confused as to why if pretendin to be a falklands vet why was animal talkin in a american accent???….the biggest difference between the 2 bands was that eat shit were really an outlet for sean`n animals sumtimes hilarious but mainly cringworthy sense of humour…and sons of bad breath??…well we were just a shit band who were avin a laff….as opposed to the many shit bands who took themselves far to seriously……but the funniest fing of all is the fact that 25 or so years on people are still talkin about wot essentially was a buncha muppets (includin myself) avin a laff……give it 100yrs`n i can see the HHC being one of londons urban legends complete wif rumours of incest`n cannibalism…you`ll see!!!……the metropolitan in farringdon…probably the most unsuitable gig venue ever…ambulance station on the old kent road was a good place, to play and also the see bands….antisect & crucifix gig was one of the best gigs i ever went to…ace!!

  7. Grant
    Grant
    August 21, 2009 at 7:23 am

    I remember well the Antisect & Crucifix gig, amazing. I’d followed them around the previous four nights and the gigs were great but the atmosphere at that last gig of the tour at the Ambulance Station was something special.
    I remember seeing Eat Shit at Bowes Lyon House too, might have been supporting Flux but can’t be sure about that. I travelled up there with the lads (HHC) from London, i knew Alien a bit as he would come up to P’boro (my hometown) every now and then with his then girlfriend who was also from P’boro and was a mate of mine.
    I can remember staying at 281 a couple of times during the wintertime, once in the basement bedroom which had some broken windows and it would snow inside.

  8. Trev
    Trev
    September 14, 2009 at 4:12 pm

    Hi Monti

    I forgot about this page until I stumbled across it again. Hope you and the family are well. Lots of bands reforming, Amebix in the US with the Soulfly drummer!!! Deviated Instinct, Hellbastard (did they ever split) maybe a crust reunion is on the cards lol! Any news on the book? it all seems to of gone very quiet, is there going to be a DVD as with The Day? You have to get yourself on that mate.
    If there is any Gutrot vinyl still about I am definitely up for one of those

    Anyway take care
    Trev

  9. Dalb
    Dalb
    September 18, 2009 at 10:54 am

    Hi Trev..
    Contact me thru myspace or e-mail me at argybargyuk@googlemail.com and I can sell you a Gutrot 10″ vinyl.. Got 50 in royalties and still got some left.. My bills don’t pay themselves!! hahaha!!
    Dalb..

  10. Simon
    Simon
    September 18, 2009 at 11:25 am

    Hi Monti and other genuine HHC on here,

    You really need to document the times in Hackney. Just read Ian Glasper’s new book and it would make for a very interesting read from a very interesting period in musical history.

    Cheers all
    Simon

  11. monti
    monti
    September 18, 2009 at 2:49 pm

    I got the time these days Simon but i wudnt ave a clue `ow to go about it…..aint been able to get the new book in Bristol yet but look forward to readin it…they were mental days but sum good lastin friendships were made..Dalb (comment above urs)`n me see each other regular`n Trev (above`im) i ad a drink wif at rebellion……..the more i fink of it i can imagine a book about us hackney gits wud make a pretty funny book…the fings that went on in 281 victoria park road wud stretch the imagination to the extreme…altho funniest fingof all is that fact that Alien SoBB/Eat Shit drummer is now a London Underground Stationmaster hahaha..All the best to ya`ll……monti

  12. monti
    monti
    September 18, 2009 at 2:55 pm

    I`d like to point out that the stupid hat on my`ead in pic at top of page werent mine..we`d gone swimmin to a quarry outside bristol i cudnt go in the water cos id ad a op on my hand and Beano stuck `is hat on my `ead…just want u all to know that hahaha…makes me look more of a eejit!!

  13. Tony Puppy
    Tony Puppy
    September 22, 2009 at 10:40 pm

    Ian Glasper’s got a new book?

    Crikey he has and all:

    Here’s a list of the bands in it, including Sons of Bad Breath (and Eat Shit):

    Due on September 7 via Cherry Red Books, “Trapped In A Scene: UKHC 1985-1989” features the following artists, among others:

    ACTIVE MINDS
    ADVERSARY
    ANHREFN
    ANIHILATED
    ATAVISTIC
    AXEGRINDER
    BAD BEACH
    BAD DRESS SENSE
    CAN’T DECIDE
    CIVILISED SOCIETY?
    CONCRETE SOX
    CORPORATE GRAVE
    COWBOY KILLERS
    CROWPEOPLE
    DEATH ZONE
    DEBAUCHERY
    DECADENCE WITHIN
    DECADENT FEW
    DEFAULT
    DEVIATED INSTINCT
    DIRGE
    DOOM
    DR. AND THE CRIPPENS
    EAT SHIT
    ELECTRO HIPPIES
    EXIT CONDITION
    EXTREME NOISE TERROR
    EYES ON YOU
    F.U.A.L.
    FEED YOUR HEAD
    FILLER
    FILTHKICK
    GENERIC
    GUTROT
    HATE THAT SMILE
    HAYWIRE
    HDQ
    HEAVY DISCIPLINE
    HELLBASTARD
    HERESY
    HIPPY SLAGS
    IMMOLATO TOMATOES
    INCEST BROTHERS
    INSIGHT
    INSURRECTION
    INTENSE DEGREE
    JAILCELL RECIPES
    JOYCE MCKINNEY EXPERIENCE
    LONG COLD STARE
    M.T.A.
    MAD AT THE SUN
    MERE DEAD MEN
    MORTAL TERROR
    NAPALM DEATH
    PARANOID VISIONS
    PINK TURDS IN SPACE
    PLEASANT VALLEY CHILDREN
    PRO PATRIA MORI
    PROPHECY OF DOOM
    RIPCORD
    SACRILEGE
    SALAD FROM ATLANTIS
    SARCASM
    SEDITION
    SKUM DRIBBLURZZZ
    SLEEP
    SMART PILS
    SNAPPING BOGSEATS
    SNUFF
    SOFAHEAD
    SONS OF BAD BREATH
    SORE THROAT
    STEADFAST
    STUPIDS
    TERMINUS
    TERRORAIN
    THE ABS
    THE DEFORMED
    THE DEPRAVED
    THE DISTURBED
    THE FIEND
    THE UPRISING
    TOXIK EPHEX
    TRENCH FEVER
    UNSEEN TERROR
    V.D.G.
    VISIONS OF CHANGE

    list from blabbermouth.net

  14. call me old fashioned
    call me old fashioned
    November 18, 2009 at 10:29 am

    Call me old fashioned but is Glasper’s book just a list of the worst bands in history or did everyone else miss out on a significant cultural event or deep and meaningful political import?

  15. monti
    monti
    November 20, 2009 at 3:48 am

    so wot if it is???..if ur lookin for deep and meaninful political import why u on this page fella??..stick to the guardian or wotever u read….ur possibly right about the “worst bands” but u gotta remember a lot of people dont give a shit about significant cultural events etc maybe u or everyone else could write a book about em

  16. Tony Puppy
    Tony Puppy
    November 20, 2009 at 10:16 am

    Call me old fashioned, ‘call me old fashioned’, but in the book on the Roxy (‘The Roxy London WC2 – A Punk History’ by Paul Marko) the best bits for me were about the lesser known bands playing there and the previously unwritten history of the place after the luminaries had moved on.

    Sometimes the cultural significance isn’t so easy to pin down.

  17. Tony Puppy
    Tony Puppy
    November 20, 2009 at 10:36 am

    Another case in point is the Stokey Punx film brought to my attention by Mr Lugworm.

    Part one of the film here:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlNVK6fhBtE

    Excellent stuff, but not easy to explain why.

  18. grim
    grim
    November 26, 2009 at 3:03 am

    Just heard that Skinny – bass player of Coitus who are featured in the video mentioned above – is dead.

    Condolences to his family and friends.

  19. Monti
    Monti
    November 26, 2009 at 4:15 am

    Skinny`s funeral was held on monday 23rd Nov…Martin`n Alien attended. Condolences to Michelle`n the kids….R.I.P. Skinny mate

  20. grim
    grim
    November 26, 2009 at 2:27 pm

    Any news on the cause?

  21. luggy
    luggy
    November 26, 2009 at 8:17 pm

    I heard that he had a brain haemorrhage. R.I.P.

  22. Penguin
    Penguin • Post Author •
    November 27, 2009 at 12:17 am

    I had a brain haemorrhage when I was 23 years old (20 years ago). I was extemely lucky though and got patched up with bits of metal on my brain and so forth. Must never have an M.R.I. scan for any part of my body as that metal will fly out my head from the inside of my skull (attracted to the magnetic force of the scan) and that will be the end of me!
    I was also on prescribed downers for over two years. Phenobarbitol (dunno about the spelling). Like I say I was one of the lucky ones.
    Shame about Skinny. R.I.P.

  23. luggy
    luggy
    November 27, 2009 at 10:14 am

    I knew someone who collapsed walking out of his squat with one. Woke up in hospital with no idea what had happened but thankfully made a full recovery. You never know when shit like this is going to happen to you.

  24. grim
    grim
    November 27, 2009 at 12:38 pm

    Very sad as he was still quite young.

    RIP Skinny

  25. monti
    monti
    November 28, 2009 at 11:10 am

    I was told he died of organ failure possibly due to drink but i s`pose theres all sorts of stories going about…wot really happened will come out eventually tho…..Fuckin`ell penguin mate that sounds`orrible mate!!!…..I gotta say, Skinny was one of the most likeable blokes u cud meet…very sad!!!

  26. luggy
    luggy
    November 28, 2009 at 1:46 pm

    You might be right, I’m only going by what someone told me in the pub last week.

  27. grim
    grim
    December 3, 2009 at 11:05 am

    Ahhhh, “down the pub.” Always such a source of accurate information.

    As Bruce says it is very sad and Skinny was one of the more likeable people in a scene filled with nasty toerags.

  28. luggy
    luggy
    December 3, 2009 at 11:34 am

    Didn’t doubt the pub source as his sister knew Skinny well.

  29. grim
    grim
    December 4, 2009 at 5:53 am

    Sorry Micky, I stand corrected.

  30. Trev
    Trev
    December 11, 2009 at 7:16 pm

    Oh my God Skinny was one of the nicest guys and used to visit the Grinder household along with Graham. He used to thrash us at pool everytime and heckle at every Grinder gig. Lasting image will be watching Anti Sect with him somewhere drunk in Stratford I think

    RIP

    Trev

  31. monti
    monti
    December 17, 2009 at 6:45 am

    Theres been a fair few posts about the death of our good mate Skinny, but one catches my eye..Grim, wot name wud i know u as???..i dont know any Grim and u obviously know me….u mentioned bruce and skinny in a sentence…if u used skinnys nickname why not mine, in case u didnt know skinnys name was paul…..In the hackney days only 3 people ever called me bruce..when they were pissed and tryin to wind me up, or so they thought. bruce was the name i was given like many others i ended up bein known by my nickname strange wind up….so who outta the 3 are you???….whoever u are dont u fink avin a sly dig at me in a post concernin the death of a friend is a bit disrespectful to Skinnys memory???…its pretty feeble and if ur the bloke named after a eatin implement (no names, no solicitors letters to pengs) then i told u wots gonna happen and it will…did u really fink i wudnt notice that?? or that if i did i wudnt say anyfink???….Anyone know who Grim is??..or u gonna tell us??…. if u are the cutlery item then i`ll be seein u sometime.

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