Everybody’s favorite ‘street punk’ band, or at least they are in my house i.e my favorite ‘street punk’ band. Maybe that’s not everybody but anyway…
The first half a dozen singles and the first couple of LP’s ‘Another Kind Of Blues’ and ‘Brand New Age’ are all filled up with mighty fine material, not a bad track on them. Later on though by 1981 the band (without most of the early members at this stage) had gone passed their sell by date somewhat.
Still you can listen again to the debut 7″ single which still has bags of charm and was released in quite a few different coloured vinyl at the time. My little brother’s copy was see-through yellow. Sadly my copy is boring black vinyl, but perhaps that makes it rarity maybe? Nice photos of the band belong to me as they were sent to me along with five others after joining the fan club in 1980/81.
The text below is ripped from the U.S. all music guide site, so is geared a little to the U.S. reader…just in case you think it reads a little strange. More UK Subs on this site if you search for it.
As part of the original punk rock movement in England during the mid-’70s, the U.K. Subs scored several hit singles in their homeland, switching between politically charged material and party-hearty rockers. Led by singer Charlie Harper (who previously fronted a R&B outfit called The Marauders), the U.K. Subs formed in November of 1976, after Harper discovered the Damned. Originally called The Subversives before shortening their name, Harper recruited guitarist Nicky Garratt, bassist Steve Slack, and a revolving door of drummers (eventually finding a semi-permanent member with Pete Davis), and soon after began plotting their plan of attack from Harper’s place of business, a hairdressing salon in South London. Around this time, the up-and-coming group recorded a live set at the infamous punk club the Roxy (just prior to its closing), with hopes of the recording being issued as their debut album. Although the recording did indeed go down, the tapes sat on a shelf for several years, before eventually being issued in 1980 under the title of Live Kicks. This led to several John Peel sessions on BBC Radio One in 1977 and 1978, and eventually, a recording contract with the GEM record label, and what’s often considered to be their finest recording, their 1979 full-length debut, Another Kind of Blues.
The group enjoyed success back home straight off the bat, as they had several moderate hit singles (“Stranglehold,” “Tomorrow’s Girls”), appeared at the mammoth Glastonbury Festival, landed a cover story for Sounds magazine, and were even the subject of a Julien Temple-directed film documentary, entitled Punk Can Take It. 1980 saw the U.K. Subs attempt to crack the U.S. market, with a few opening gigs for the Police, as a pair of studio albums were issued, Brand New Age and Crash Course. But as the public’s interest began to shift from punk to new wave/synth pop in the early ’80s, the U.K. Subs saw their popularity quickly begin to dwindle, as bandmembers began to come and go. The band continued on with such further releases as 1981’s Diminished Responsibility and 1982’s Endangered Species (among others), as the group’s sound grew more and more a kin to hard rock/heavy metal. But despite almost all of the original U.K. punk groups going their separate ways by the early to mid-’80s (the Sex Pistols, the Clash, the Damned, etc.), the U.K. Subs never split up; although Harper was often the only original member left in attendance, the group continued to issue albums and never ceased playing shows.
Nic
October 4, 2008 at 11:11 amThere’s a great article by Nicky Garrett about the early years of the UK Subs available here:
http://www.newredarchives.com/bands/uksubs/earlyyears.html
It’s full of interesting reminiscences, including mentions of their path crossing bands like The Pack and *whisper* Crass…
(I agree Penguin – they’d lost it by 1980: ‘Party in Paris’ was the end of the line for me when the frilly shirts came out 😉 )
Nuzz
October 4, 2008 at 2:41 pmAnyone for the UK Subs covering Tube Disasters ? http://www.mediafire.com/file/tmiyr5jdtzm/tube disasters – UK Subs.mp3
or Chaos UK covering Witch Hunt? http://www.mediafire.com/file/y12jzjkiniw/11-witch hunt.mp3
Enjoy?/Destroy?
baron von zubb
October 4, 2008 at 5:22 pmthey had a mate, cant remember his name – oh yeah Costa was it? Charlies mate I think. Always hung about at the Music Machine on Subs nights. Tried to pick me, and probably anyone up every time. Ugly old greek looking git. Seedy as hell. Must have been my make up . . .
Still.
B1C. Cant exactly remember what one was. Some nasty little document from ‘the state’
They were a great live act. That they played the Roxy gives ’em cred.
Whatever did happen to those stars ‘The Unwanted’? What a track ‘Freedom’ was.
Crass Dave
October 4, 2008 at 8:08 pmI recall my copy was in ‘orange’. Yeah B1C always had me puzzled , anyone recall what it stood for.
gerard
October 4, 2008 at 10:18 pmwasn’t it a dole form?
later dole forms were namechecked by wham in the wonderful ‘wham rap’: “B1, B2, make a claim sign your name’s all you have to do”
james
October 4, 2008 at 11:09 pmDole form makes sense.
The Raped did two songs which were pretty much the same song with different lyrics – one was ECT and the other was BIC which you can hear here: http://www.last.fm/music/Raped/_/B.I.C.?autostart
luggy
October 4, 2008 at 11:33 pmI remember a B1C being an A5 form that you’d get on signing-on day after you’d made a fresh claim that you’d have to take to the social security office before you got any dosh. Might be wrong though, it’s been a long time!
baron von zubb
October 5, 2008 at 10:21 amIts definatly a dole form.
Cant remember why young charlie didnt want one so vehemently
Crass Dave
October 5, 2008 at 3:22 pmCheers guys, a dole form. Talking of the UK Subs I recall Steve Ignorant blasting them out of one of the rooms of Dial house when I was visting them years and years ago.
luggy
October 5, 2008 at 7:36 pmBaron, I can’t remember Charlie ever being young but he looks pretty well these days.
John Serpico
October 6, 2008 at 3:33 pmI’ve always wanted to hear Chaos UK’s version of Witch Hunt so thanks for the link. Not as good or as unsettling as the original but it’s actually quite good all the same. They go at it with respect, which is a pretty important thing. Good also to hear UK Subs doing Tube Disasters. Quite a few bands have had a go at this one but the Flux original has never been supassed. One of the unbeatable things about the original is of course, the quite extraordinary vocals of Colin Latter. There is an argument to be had that all the best (or at least the most interesting) vocalists can’t really sing for toffee. If this is the case then Colin Latter certainly fits that bill too, for not only could Colin not sing in tune but he couldn’t shout in tune either. Though whatever Colin may have lacked in vocal talent he more than made up for in panache, attacking the lyrics of Tube Disasters with gusto. There’s a lesson there. Thanks again for the link.
baron von zubb
October 6, 2008 at 3:51 pmHe was always very old. In his 20s.
I wonder if they listened to The Crass?
John Liedown
October 7, 2008 at 9:10 pmFrom Best Before LP Crass – “Throughout the long, lonely winter of 77/78 we played regular gigs at The White Lion, Putney with the UK Subs. The audience consisted mostly of us when the Subs played and the Subs when we played. Sometimes it was disheartening, but usually it was fun. Charley Harper’s indefatigable enthusiasm was always an inspiration when times got bleak, his absolute belief in punk as a peoples’ music had more to do with revolution than McClaren and his cronies could ever have dreamt of.”
http://www.southern.com/southern/band/CRASS/biog.html
Stewart
October 8, 2008 at 6:45 pmYes, some sort of dole form, can’t remember exactly what either – but essential if you wanted your dosh… The UK Subs were great live, but yes, also agree, completely lost it by the time of their first album…
I have a single by The Unwanted where they do a storming version of ‘These Boots Were Made For Walking’ – it’s fab! No idea who the fuck they were though – I got the impression they were – ahem – probably generally crap…
Alan Rider
October 8, 2008 at 8:00 pmI played a support to UK Subs at Blackpool Bier Keller with industrial/goth/electronic act Attrition. Not a good mix. Lucky to escape alive. Remember Charlie Harper crimping his hair in the dresssing room – he was pretty friendly but looked like he was a little weary of playing that sort of place. I knew one of the “revolving door” collection of UK subs drummers too as he lived a few doors down from me in West London. He looked like a smacked up Rod Stewart! I don’t think he lasted more than a few gigs with them. I haven’t seen him around since so I guess the experience finished him off!
luggy
October 8, 2008 at 8:29 pmThe Unwanted’s singer, Ollie ran The Batcave & was in The Specimen.
Chris
October 8, 2008 at 9:54 pmas in Olly of “Where’s Olly” fame on the Live at The Roxy LP? Specimen? Fuck! never knew that.
Funnily enough, i was flicking through Andy Blade of Eater’s book in Waterstones today. Hadn’t ever come across it before. Looks like it might be worth a read.
Carl
October 9, 2008 at 1:03 pmAlan…lol “playing that sort of place”..
I am sure I was there that night …1984 ish ??
Alan Rider
October 9, 2008 at 7:50 pmHi Carl
Nothing wrong with the bierkeller, he just looked a bit knackered backstage thats all I meant. Still, didn’t seem to affect his performance at all. You are right, it must have been around 1984, so you could have been there. You weren’t the one who threw the can were you?. I wouldn’t have minded, but it was empty! (joke)
I met John Robb of the Membranes/Blackpool Rox there too, who I’d been writing to/swopping zines with for years. I can tell you this, he was really tall!
Phil R
October 10, 2008 at 11:23 amYeah..Donno why they used to sing “I dont want no B1C” cos this was an order from the job centre to the DSS to issue a payment. Maybe cos Charlie Harper was a hairdresser in his daytime job and didnt sign on!
Carl
October 10, 2008 at 12:16 pmNo Alan, it wasnt me lobbing beer cans around!!…I was never that type.
And Blackpool Rox, that takes me back to the days when it was Blackpool Rox and not just Rox. Blackpool had a good punk scene around the early 80’s with The Membranes and The Fits leading the way. Gigs in Church Halls and that sort of thing….Memories Eh !
Alan Rider
October 10, 2008 at 8:04 pmH Carl
I think every town had a pretty good local scene back then. Coventry was really good (as Nic will tell you). I used to go to 4 gigs a week, every week, big and small. It’d be all sorts too. Eyeless in Gaza one night, Criminal Class the next, then Dead Kennedys, followed by Echo & the Bunnymen. If I fancied a change of scene I’d go to Northampton or Birmingham for a few days & bunk up with a local fanzine writer/band/indie label (there was always someone with a spare floor) and there’d be loads of bands and zines there too. Without zines I don’t think its possible to create a scene in the same way and (lets face it) e-zines just aren’t the same. Only a few come close (KYPP being one if them, natch). I’m not being a misty eyed nostalgic (well….) – thats just the way it is.
Nic
October 13, 2008 at 8:37 amYou’re right there, Alan: there was a thriving culture of local music in the early 1980’s…Coventry was great: most of the ‘big’ bands would come through (to play at Coventry Theatre or the Lanchester Polytechnic – or Warwick University) while there seemed to be hundreds of local bands playing concerts all over the place…
I think the point about fanzines has been raised here before (at some point), and I totally agree with you: they provided the cohesive social glue which allowed localised creativity to forge links with other areas of localised creativity…They helped to join the dots (as anyone who has written a fanzine will know)…
E-zines are perhaps less effective because they can be submerged in the vast swathes of data floating around in the ether, whereas fanzines were available at 3 key points: concerts, record shops and ‘peace centres’…
Chris was thinking (on this site) about the way gigs used to occur in community centres and church halls as well: anybody have any thoughts why this avenue seemed to dry up and vanish?
I’ve been to some of the best concerts I’ve ever seen in community centres!
John Robb was a fiendishly good publicist for the Membranes: he wrote to practically ANY address which was published in a fanzine…
😉
(Some demon bass on their recordings, it has to be said)
baron von zubb
October 14, 2008 at 9:17 amSpecimen ? Batcave?
Jesus forgoten memories of all those squats down in New Cross. Had a mate who lived there and his mate, a girl called, dunno, something gothic, was in The Specimen. Or maybe she just was into them. S’all a bit hazy.
baron von zubb
October 14, 2008 at 10:29 amHer name was Animal. Was she ever in The Specimen?
caps
March 13, 2010 at 3:42 pmYes Coventry was a great town… Being french and disappointed by London I came there in the mid’ eighties, hanging around with Rich Mulligan, Dekker, Kev from the SECT … so many great gigs, pubs and discos ….
DavidM
March 13, 2010 at 8:18 pmWould disagree regarding the Subs early eighties output with both Diminished Responsibility and Endangered Species terrific albums. Sure, Party In Paris ain’t the best, but ES really saw the band explore new and exciting musical forms, disappointed they couldn’t continue in this more adventurous vein. Was definitely their last hoorah with Charlie left to pick up the pieces after the band split with Nicky Garrett, Alvin Gibbs, and Steve Roberts leaving for pastures new. However, would most definitely recommend anniversary discs Quintessentials and Riot from ’97 seeing Garrett and Gibbs return to the fold and producing some of the band’s best ever work.
Talking about John Robb, saw the man on London’s Oxford Street last weekend.
McCormick
March 14, 2010 at 2:42 pmCoventry was not a great place in the 80s in my opinion, but yes, music-wise it had a lot of venues and pretty much everyone played there. The last gig I was at in Coventry was actually the UK Subs at the Stoker, a fairly short lived venue but one that hosted a lot of diverse bands. That was actually in 1991…
The Hand and Heart hosted pretty much every anarcho-punk and hardcore band touring, including American outfits like Die Kreuzen, Scream and Toxic Reasons in the mid-80s.
The Subs also played a pub on the Foleshill Road in 1988 but were double booked as I remember and had to play in the public bar! :-). I just can’t remember the name of the place. It was possibly the last regular punk venue in Coventry after the Brewer and Baker and the Hand and Heart stopped hosting punk.
BTW. Does anyone remember Committed Suicide fanzine?
dan i
March 15, 2010 at 8:53 pm“Chris was thinking (on this site) about the way gigs used to occur in community centres and church halls as well: anybody have any thoughts why this avenue seemed to dry up and vanish?
I’ve been to some of the best concerts I’ve ever seen in community centres!”
Many of them dried up or were closed. Bands started getting more involved with managers and record companies, less openly political and more rock n roll i reckon. Less DIY, more ‘make me a star’.
I DJ in a community centre in Oxford regularly at reggae nights we hold there. We have fought very hard to stay open for music against forces in the police, council and our own ranks. In recent years we have been closed down twice and been through a number of crisis points. Given that reggae has been part of comuunity centre life here for 40 years, we have strong roots to draw on to resist. I can imagine many centres where there were less established patterns of music entertainment having more trouble than us staying open. Especially when supporting folk devils like freaks, punks, hippies and rastas.
dan i
March 15, 2010 at 8:59 pm“However, would most definitely recommend anniversary discs Quintessentials and Riot from ‘97 seeing Garrett and Gibbs return to the fold and producing some of the band’s best ever work.”
I will have to check these out. I didn’t know that Garratt and Gibbs had rejoined at all – long out of touch with UK Subs’ world.
I agree with DavidM about Diminished Responsibility and Endangered Species. Kind of Robert Calvert-ish at times, I loved these albums and the Subs although seeing them at this time, they seemed a little confused about their direction. Crash Course is still the business tho.
DavidM
March 15, 2010 at 11:05 pmThough said reunion ’97 was short lived, both Garrett and Gibbs have made numerous returns since. Saw Alvin with the Subs I think two years ago.
Rich Mullgan
July 2, 2010 at 11:18 pmHey Caps…..
Still around Coventry…and still playing punk stuff now and then…
Rich Mulligan
Alan Rider (Adventures in Reality)
February 11, 2011 at 9:10 pmAnyone remembers anything about the Coventry scene in 79/80s then please e-mail me. I’m putting together a book on Coventry fanzines, but it’ll also cover the scene at the time too from a persional angle so any anecdotes and recollections are invaluable. Also anyone who has copies of, or info on any Coventry zines from the time, please do get in touch. E-mail me at alanrider1@aol.com