The Dead Rest In Peace Cassette
Some information and photographs on The Dead courtesy of Trunt originally from the killfromtheheart site:
Part of the Howgil Contingent in Cumbria, The Dead were formed around 1982. They were the original garage band, practicing in Reg’s garage and producing some great songs such as “It’s No Joke,” “Band Stand Boys” about sniffing glue, and the classic “Come to the Place.” The Dead had a rare assortment of members – Damian a bit of a mod and a Smiths fan, Claire a big Blondie fan, Leecey the anarcho-punk, and Greeny, who knows what. All came together to form a brilliant form of punk sound.
The Dead soon became very active in the punk scene, organising gigs, producing demos and releasing the Echos of Hirosima fanzine which Reg edited.
Reggy, a great guitarist who used to throw in the odd guitar solo which was not often heard in punk songs of the time, wrote most of the songs as well as the lyrics. The band had songs on the punk compilations Contaminated Cassettes and the Scrobe label’s Return From the Grave. They then released their second demo Rest In Peace which was the first time they used a studio and the first time Claire sang lead vocals. She added a fresh sound and delivered some great tracks like “Prince of Darkness” and “Screaming” – a live favorite.
The demo brought great interest from Trunt, producer of the fanzine and tape label Scrobe, who asked The Dead if they wanted to release a split 7″ with the Newcastle band the Famous Imposters. They went into the studio again and recorded “Duty Calls” and “Burke and Hare.” The latter was about the two bodysnatchers who dug up corpses for experimentation.
The split was released to great reviews and it got them a gig with the A-Heads and Psycho Faction. All this and still at school! Looking back the whole experience was amazing and if the band hadn’t split due to members going to university (art and teaching), they would have gone on to better things. Damian went on to join The Green, Leecey joined Seven Deadly Sins, and disaster struck Reg who had had M.E. for many a year… Someday The Dead will rise!
gerard
August 21, 2009 at 11:13 ampunk is the dead
alistairliv
August 21, 2009 at 12:34 pmYay, The Dead…they just keep on Truckin’…
Sometimes the light’s all shinin’ on me;
Other times I can barely see.
Lately it occurs to me, What a long, strange trip it’s been
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pafY6sZt0FE
OOPS, did I get the wrong Dead?
Carl
August 21, 2009 at 2:31 pmBela Lugosi is the dead…
Great jumper, the guitarist is wearing, red and black Dennis the Menace…superb. I once got chased down Central Drive in Blackpool for wearing one in 1981 ish !!…Stylish or what !!
Ian
August 21, 2009 at 2:45 pmExcellent, a jumper thread! My sister knitted me a black jumper with one white sleeve, like the one JJ Burnell wears on the front of the Black and White lp. Now nearly 30 years later an old dear at the nursing home where my girlfriend works has offered to knit me another one. Just in time for winter.
Carl
August 21, 2009 at 3:12 pmGood stuff, far more interesting than the “Crass” debate that is going on else where !!!
Also had a black mohair…something like Captain Sensible wore !!!
Trunt
August 21, 2009 at 3:26 pmWOW, Who would have thought the Dead on KYPP site, and to see my Ex-wife’s photo of which was taken by me along with a few others for the cover of my fanzine Scrobe (this one wasn’t used). I sort of managed the band, well, got them gigs drove them to recording studios etc. They were a brilliant band and maybe should have done a bit more than just gigs around the Cumbria area. Claire and I are still friends, we have a son together Sam who is coming up 14. Claire has no interest of her days in The Dead and don’t really see any of the others apart from the drummer Damien, who I will see at the local Solfest festival. And as usually will try and show me up by shouting from one end of the bar. Reg still lives down Nottingham (get in touch mate) Leecey is a music teacher and Greeney is also a teacher but not sure which school or county. Anyway thanks for posting this demo. Oh I had a hand knitted pink and black jumper which I lived in, wish I still had it. In a bit of a rush at the moment taking Sam to footie training, I will post some more in the next few days. Cheers.
Poodle
August 21, 2009 at 7:23 pmSome acknowledgment must be due the drummer for getting away with punk fashion heresy and wearing a tanktop in 1984.
Trunt
August 22, 2009 at 7:18 amYeah, ha ha Damien was into mod and The Smiths in 1984.
Mike/Lena
August 31, 2009 at 9:23 pmSweet we was curious about that band, Thanks!
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=31540870
Penguin • Post Author •
August 31, 2009 at 10:52 pmTrunt – you seen Mike and Lena’s video of this band and your ex wife. You got any info on why, when and where?
Trunt
September 2, 2009 at 8:43 pmYeah, I was there when they filmed it for the BBC programme called ‘Off the Peg’ also on the programme was Psycho Faction and me being interviewed about my Scrobe fanzine, filmed in the loft of my parents house, I still live there after buying the house off my dad. Sorry to say the loft is no longer like the shots in the programme. If you would like a copy of ‘Off the Peg’ drop me a line with an address, as I have it on a DVD. I cringe when watching it, but it was 1984. Oh Claire wasn’t my wife until much much later, she was going out with Leecey who played the bass with ‘The Dead’. The tracks from the programme are on the end of the DVD ‘The Day the Country Died’
Damian tanktop
September 29, 2011 at 7:45 pmHere Trunt waddayamean show you up, how’s things mate. Nice to see we are still making headlines. The comment about driving us to recording studios reminds me, you still owe me a fishcake from Shap chip shop what a liberty!!!!!! Take care Geezeer, we are the mods. Damian the Stix Burns.
Trunt
September 30, 2011 at 2:12 pmHa Ha, Great to hear from you Damian me old mucka. I’ll get you a chick pea curry at Solfest next year, fishcake indeed. Always thought The Dead would have been more known outside of Cumbria. The showing up crack, was, we I met up with you in the beer tent in the early Solfest days, you would always give it “here’s the Dead’s manager”. etc. You still living in Carlisle. Cheers mate, we are the mods lol.
DAK
February 11, 2012 at 10:16 pmhi, any chance on re-uploading? the file appears to be down and i’d love to hear it!
thanks.
Penguin • Post Author •
February 11, 2012 at 10:58 pmReuploaded now… mediafire can sometimes be a wind up deleting files whenever they want to seemingly.
DAK
February 12, 2012 at 1:34 amTHANKS!!!