Formed: Norwich, Norfolk, England, UK
Band bio / Lineups / Discography
A band which mixed anarcho punk leftie politics with a Chaos U.K.-level of cider consumption, they remain best known for the singalong ditty Young Offender, chiefly because it appeared on the widely distributed and high selling Punk And Disorderly compilation. The band ran the Radical Change label, also home to Icon A.D. and Self Abuse (amongst others). The were active from 1980 to 1988, and again from 2007 to 2011.
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Lineup 1 (1980-1981)
Bangkok Steve (real name Steve Hansell) vocals (pre-New York Scumhaters)
Andrew 'Gibbon' Gibson- guitar
Dave Howard - bass
Kevin Wymer - drums (ex-Aborts, pre-Saigon Kiss)
Dave was booted out of the band after two gigs but he was a member long enough to play on 'Napalm' from Bullshit Detector (1981).
Lineup 2 (1981)
Bangkok Steve - vocals
Gibbon - guitar
Tim Perkins - bass
Kevin Wymer - drums
This lineup released the Young Offender 7" in December 1981, whereupon Gibbon was sacked
Lineup 3 (1982-1983)
Bangkok Steve - vocals
Paul Greener - guitar
Tim Perkins - bass
Kevin Wymer - drums
This lineup released two singles: Shelters For The Rich (August 1982) and Bomb Heaven (1983). Tim then left during rehearsals for the debut LP Unrehearsed Wrongs (1983).
Lineup 4 (1983-1988)
Bangkok Steve - vocals
Paul Greener - guitar
Steve Hough - bass
Kevin Wymer - drums
Prem Nick (real name Nick Lake) - poems
The most stable lineup, responsible for both LPs and Alive In The Electric Chair (12", 1985). Steve Hough's brother John also briefly jammed with the band but didn't appear at any gigs or on any recordings as he went backpacking to Europe. The band's last release was a posthumous tape, Anarchy Peace And Chips, which was taken from video recordings of some shows in 1988.
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DISCOGRAPHY
Subsequent studio albums: Generation Retard (2011).
Singles & Albums
Young Offender (7", 1981)
Shelters For The Rich (7", 1982)
Bomb Heaven (7", 1983)
Unrehearsed Wrongs (LP, 1983)
Playing With Fire (LP, 1984)
Alive In The Electric Chair (12", 1985)
Extraneous Releases
Anarchy Peace And Chips (Tape, 1989)
Gas The Punx (A Collection 1980-1988) (Tape, 1995)
Gas The Punx (CD, 2005)
Open Wounds: 1980-2011 (LP, 2018)
Various Artists
Bullshit Detector UK LP 1981 (Crass): Napalm
Punk And Disorderly UK LP 1982 (Abstract): Young Offender
Words Worth Shouting UK LP 1985 (Radical Change): Dead In The Head
Anti-State: Anarcho Punk Compilation Vol. 2 UK CD 2005 (Overground): Stonehenge
Active Response UK CD 2008 (Politicide): Animal Farm
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