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LU Punx
Where are they now?
The Jets - Appeared on the 'Farewell To The Roxy' LP with two songs: "TV Drink" and "Dreg Town". I'm the only person who knows this. Go on, listen to it. There are two distinct songs. The Jets, and Phil Imber in particular, were initially responsible for what happened in Luton in the late seventies/early eighties. They organised gigs, did a fanzine, set up a label. They were there. And then they weren't. Released a single - "Block 4"/"The Iceburn" - on Good Vibrations International, then re-appeared as The TeeVees. UK Decay - Started life as the Resistors with a gig at Barnfield College at Christmas 77. Steve Harle drums, Martin Smith bass, Mick Dove guitar and Ricky Smith vocals. Ricky either a) joined Milwall as an apprentice, or b) run off to sea. During 78 other vocalists were tried - Paul Wilson (later with the Traitors) and St Albans Simon - before Abbo took over. Later Spon joined on guitar. The rest is history. Go to www.ukdecay.co.uk now. Go on then.
 Click Click - These nervous surgeons were old hands at the game, always on the outside, one step ahead, and still at it. Huge on the continent. Come on Derek, let's have a pop tune out of you.  Acme Attractions - Started life as Innocent Bystanders doing Clash and Pistols covers at the Newtown Sugarloaf. Jim Nagle and the lads changed name and issued the single "Anyway"/"Never Again". How right they were. Do not write them out of history.  Five Year Plan - Played with the Resistors at that Barnfield gig then never heard of again. Where are you now, Aki?
Pneumania - Originally SnoWhite and the Rockers. With Gaynor attracting interest from the local media, they were always high profile. After the Split Single with UK Decay, Spon changed sides and was replaced by Pete Keady from the Cinematics. Gaynor moved to Wales and Elaine O'Brien moved to Pneumania. Spon and Steve Voice often joined up with the two UKDK Steves to play covers as the Stevieband! 
The Friction - If you've got here you know almost everything.....
Cinematics - started life as the Rebel Style, then International Rescue then Cosmetix. The axis of the group was always Gregg Electric guitar and Tim Vass bass, joined at various times by Pete Keady, Ian Shaw and Colin Rodgers. Released the "Farewell To The Playground" ep on their own Pulsebeat label. A few years later emerged on Creation records as Razorcuts. A live tape exists somewhere in my loft.
The Statics - Candi Stripe and the ... Formed by Lorraine 'Lol' Turvey (below), with Paul Mitchell, Pete 'Rat' Bolton, Eric Roberts, Debbie Barable and Mark Cottle. Perhaps the most musically experimental (I mean that in a good way) of all the Luton punk groups. Their demo tape "Electric City" is a must have item. Go get it. Lol also guested on bass for UK Decay on the first European tour.
The Vegetables - P. Pod, Tom Ato and the boys. Did they ever play live? Does it matter? I Want Vegetable Control.
The Clips - Big Mick Desmond, Stu Spokes et al. Huge wall of sound. Great punk thrash. Fantastically entertaining. Seeing Big Mick on stage was a sight to behold. Also known as Klips 1988. No, I don't know why, either.
Paranoia - They thought we were all talking about them behind their backs. They were right. "Ever Been Conned" on the Voxhall Tracks ep is an absolute 100% punk classic.
Traitors - Also No Poppies, a far better name. They made a huge scrunching noise but never made it out of the traps. Paul Wilson singing - wasn't Martin Smith involved in there somewhere?
Phallic Symbols - They didn't care and made a wonderful noise. Phil, Steve, Greg, who else? They left on a jet plane. That was their sound.
Chronic Outbursts - Huge UKDK fans from Leighton Buzzard, all acne and studs. Never messed with these boys.
Rattlesnakes - A brilliant rock'n'roll name for the Lutonew york dolls. They did it with a swagger and a dagger.
Passchendaele - Could never spell that right! We're now getting onto the real underground dirty new punk types. A good noise and a good following.
Karma Sutra - Oh er missus that's a suggestive name. While the rest of us were listening to Dexys, these boys and girls were into pneumatic drills.
Screaming Blue Murder - Big Al and his mob rocked it up for a short time. Then they stopped.
Go Dog Go - Dunstable duo, not punk rock but very bohemian. Robert and Pete made the wonderful Welcome to Weston Super Mare ep. Robert McMinn is still recording some very beautiful love songs.
Let's not forget Marc Fincham aka Bald Eagle, who, after wasting his teens in big glasses and at 6th Form College, turned up as singer in the reformed international punk rock superstar group The Lurkers in the early 80's. |
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