Vice Squad
| Vice Squad | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Bristol, England |
| Genres | Punk, street punk |
| Years active | 1978–1985, 1997–present |
| Labels | Heartbeat, Riot City, EMI, Anagram, SOS, Sudden Death, Rhythm Vicar, Last Rockers |
| Associated acts | Beki & the Bombshells, Ligotage, Chaotic Dischord, Sweet Revenge |
| Website | www.vicesquad.co.uk |
| Members | |
| Beki Bondage Paul Rooney Wayne Firefly Kev Taylor |
|
| Past members | |
| Original band: Dave Bateman Mark Hambly Shane Baldwin Lia Mark "Sooty" Byrne John Chilcott New band: Michael Giaquinto Wayne Cotton Tony Piper |
|
Vice Squad is a punk band formed in 1978 in Bristol, England. The band formed from two other local punk bands, The Contingent and TV Brakes. Songwriter and vocalist Beki Bondage (born Rebecca Louise Bond) was a founding member and is currently with the band, although there was a period of time when the band had a different vocalist. She is often cited as being the first punk pin-up featured on the front cover of a number of influential music tabloids such as Melody Maker, NME, and Smash Hits.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Original band
Vice Squad formed in 1978 with an initial line-up of Beki Bondage (vocals), Dave Bateman (guitar), Mark Hambly (bass), and Shane Baldwin (drums), and played their first gig at Bristol University's Anson Rooms on 12 April 1979.[1] Bateman and Baldwin had previously been members of the TV Brakes.[1] The first release by the band was the track "Nothing", which was included on the 1979 compilation Avon Calling. Members of the band were involved in setting up the Riot City label with Simon Edwards, the label becoming one of the major punk labels of the era. The band took some time to make further impact, only playing six gigs in 1980, but 1981's debut single "Last Rockers" was well-received, selling over 20,000 copies and spending almost forty weeks in the UK Indie Chart, reaching number 7.[1] The follow-up, "Resurrection", reached number 4, and the band undertook a tour supporting UK Subs. The singles received airplay and support from BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, and they would go on to record two sessions for his show, in 1981 and 1982.[2]
In 1981 the band signed with major label EMI (their Zonophone subsidiary), prompting criticism from many within the DIY punk scene.[1][3] Their debut album, No Cause For Concern, was released in late 1981, reaching number 32 in the UK Album Chart. A second album followed in 1982, and the band embarked on a tour of the United States and Canada. On returning from the US, Bondage announced that she was leaving the band.[1] She went on to front Ligotage and later Beki and the Bombshells, and without her, Vice Squad were dropped by EMI.[1] The band carried on, however, replacing Bondage with a new singer called Lia (who was previously known as Jools and had been the singer for local band Affairs of the Heart).[1] The new line-up, also including the band's manager Mark "Sooty" Byrne on second guitar, signed with Anagram Records, and recorded a session for David Jensen's BBC radio show. Indie hits continued with singles such as "Black Sheep" and "You'll Never Know", but sales began to dwindle, and the band split up in 1985.[3] Dave Bateman died in 2007.
[edit] New band
Bondage formed a new version of Vice Squad in 1997, along with former members of The Bombshells, after being persuaded to perform the old material at the Holidays In The Sun festival.[1] The line-up was initially Bondage on vocals, Paul Rooney (guitar), 'Stilton' (bass), and 'Pumpy' (drums). The rhythm section was replaced by Michael Giaquinto (bass) and Tony Piper (drums) in late 1999/early 2000.[1] This new line-up has recorded several albums and they continue to tour Europe and the United States. In 2006, they released the album Defiant, produced by guitarist Rooney.
[edit] New Album
2008 was spent recording the album, "Fairground For The Demented" which was shelved as the band decided the finished collection of songs did not represent the 'Old School' punk sound that the band wanted to achieve. This collection of songs is currently released in digital form with retailers such as iTunes and Napster. The gritty punk style was eventually realized in 2009 when Vice Squad released the "London Underground" album which was co-produced by Bond and Rooney. Released on their own "Last Rockers Label" London Underground has received rave reviews on website "Studs And Punks" and songs such as "Punx United", "Old Skool" and "Sniffing Glue" form a major part of the bands live show.
2009 also saw Vice Squad's return to America on an 18 date tour of the western states promoting London Underground with American drummer Nick Manning and support from The Lower Class Brats [4] [5]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Singles
- "Last Rockers" (1980) Riot City (UK Indie #7)[6]
- "Resurrection" (1981) Riot City (UK Indie #4)[6]
- Special Edition Tour EP (1982) Riot City (UK Indie #21)[6]
- "Out of Reach" (1982) EMI/Zonophone (UK #68)[3]
- Stand Strong (1982) EMI/Zonophone
- State of the Nation (1982) Riot City
- "Black Sheep" (1983) Anagram (UK Indie #13)[6]
- "You'll Never Know" (1984) Anagram
- "Teenage Rampage" (1985) Anagram (UK Indie #44)[6]
- Lavender Hill Mob (2000) Combat Rock
- Santa Claws Is Coming to Town (2009) Last Rockers
- "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" (2010) Last Rockers
- "London Lowlife" EP (2011) Last Rockers - limited edition 4 track CD single (tracks: Drama Queen / Plain Jane / Jimmy Jaguar / Dead Doll)
[edit] Studio albums
- No Cause for Concern (1981) Zonophone (UK #32)[3]
- Stand Strong Stand Proud (1982) Zonophone (UK #47)[3]
- Shot Away (1985) Anagram
- Get a Life (1999) Rhythm Vicar
- Resurrection (1999) Rhythm Vicar
- Lo-Fi Life (2000) Sudden Death
- Rich and Famous (2003) EMI
- Defiant (2006) SOS
- Unreleased 2008 (2009) Last Rockers
- London Underground (2009) Last Rockers
[edit] Live albums
- Live in Sheffield (1981) Chaos Tapes Cat: Live003 - cassette only release - limited edition of 3000
Track Listing: A Side: Resurrection / We're Still Dying / Coward / Young Blood. B Side: The Times They Are A Changing / 1981 / Change The Record / Saturday Night Special / Sell Out.
- Live and Loud!! (1988) Link
[edit] Compilation albums
- Last Rockers - The Singles (1992) Abstract
- The Punk Singles Collection (1995) Anagram
- The BBC Sessions (1997) Anagram
- The Rarities (1999) Captain Oi!
- The Very Best Of (2000) Anagram
- Bang to Rights: The Essential Vice Squad Collection (2001) EMI
- The Riot City Years (2004) Step-1
- Fuck Authority (2007) Anarchy
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Glasper, Ian (2004). Burning Britain: The History of Punk 1980-1984. Cherry Red Books. ISBN 1-901447-24-3.
- ^ "BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - Vice Squad". Keeping It Peel. BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/artists/v/vicesquad/. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
- ^ a b c d e Strong, Martin C. (1999). The Great Alternative & Indie Discography. Canongate. ISBN 0-86241-913-1.
- ^ http://www.punknews.org/article/33524
- ^ http://ukpunk.blogspot.com/
- ^ a b c d e Lazell, Barry (1997). Indie Hits 1980-1999. Cherry Red Books. ISBN 0-9517206-9-4.
