Formed: Warminster, Wiltshire, England, UK
ABOVE RIGHT: Review from PUNK LIVES magazine #11, 1983
Band Bio / Lineups / Discography
A melodic yet powerful band from the fertile Warminster area, A-Heads were active between 1981 and 1985 and were an important and much appreciated cog in the local anarcho scene. Founding member Jock took their name from a piece of graffito scrawled on a wall in Germany, where he was living at the time with his army parents. He found out in 1982 that the graffito had been daubed by the German punk group A-Heads, hence two bands in the early '80s with the same name.
The British A-Heads were tuneful and thoughtful, and shared stages, members and friendships with both Subhumans and Organised Chaos. Their debut 7", Dying Man was a bitter rant about glue sniffing, which is right up there with 'Suicide Bag' in self-righteous indignation but equally appealing. Single #2 Forgotten Hero was another great tune, but their last year was dogged with lineup problems, and when they recorded it as an album in 1984 Vox Populi came out on cassette only and was their final release.
Original bassist Nigel later joined Dick Subhuman in Culture Shock. Singer Mel went on to join Faction. Sadly, Nigel committed suicide in 1993.
They have since reformed.
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Lineups
1981:
Mel - vocals
Jock - guitar
Nigel - bass
Andy - drums
1982:
Mel - vocals
Jock - guitar
Nigel - bass
Bruce - drums
Early '83:
Mel - vocals
Jock - guitar
Nigel - bass
Wally - drums
Late '83:
Mel - vocals
Jock - guitar
Nigel - bass
Bruce - drums
1984:
Mel - vocals
Jock - guitar
Lester - bass
Wally - drums
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DISCOGRAPHY
Singles & Albums / Extraneous Releases / Demos & Tapes / Various Artists
Subsequent studio albums: Ash To The Soil (2009).
Dying Man (7", 1982)
Forgotten Hero (7", 1983)
Extraneous Releases
Discography 1982-2009 (LP, 2010)
Demos & Tapes
Live Pickwick Studios (Tape, split with Organised Chaos, 1982)
14 Months To Go.. (Tape, split with Subhumans, 1982)
Demo & Live (Tape, 1982)
Vox Populi (Tape, 1984)
Various Artists
Wessex '81 UK Tape 1981 (Bluurg): Dying Man / Isolated / Telepathy / No Rule
Subversive Elements UK Tape 1982 (Social Disorder Tapes): tracks unknown
Wessex '82 UK 7" 1982 (Bluurg): No Rule
Statements Tape 1985 (no label): Puritan / Self Honesty
Shoulder To Shoulder - Oi! 'N' Punkrock Classics Vol 3 LP 1990s (Street Kids): Dying Man
Anti-War: Anarcho-Punk Compilation Vol. 1 UK CD 2005 (Overground): Forgotten Hero
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Links
Nihilism On The Prowl has an excellent article about the band
