ARTHUR 2 STROKE + WM7

Formed: Newcastle, Tyne & Wear, England, UK

Purveyors of amusing funny-punk for (half of) one single, this was naturally picked up and played by John Peel. Arthur 2 Stroke were regulars at the Gosforth Hotel "Anti-Pop" punk/new wave nights, playing alongside The Noise Toys, 29 Steps, Parting Shots and other equally forgotten local obscurities. "Anti-Pop" attracted the attention of local brothers Chris and Simon Donald friend Jim Brownlow, who produced the very first issue of Viz comic in December 1979 as a 12-page special dedicated to "Anti-Pop", in a run of 150 copies had sold out within hours.

Tim Readman, as recounted in Alex Ogg's No More Heroes book: Viz used to sell their early comics at the Gosforth. They presented Phil [Arthur 2 Stroke] with a "Camouflage Record" 'cos his record "went camouflage" in the charts. Yes, no wonder no-one spotted it! It was a joint single with The Noise Toys and is now worth its weight in polystyrene.

After this sole effort the group re-branded itself as Arthur 2 Stroke And The Chart Commandos and started playing Dexys Midnight Runners style soul music, ultimately releasing two singles (The Who Who Song, 1980, and Hawaii Five-O, 1981) and a live LP (Live At Banswell's).

Chris Donald, also as recounted in Alex Ogg's No More Heroes book: Take my word for it, they [Arthur 2 Stroke And The Chart Commandos] were a poor man's Bad Manners.

Lineup:

Arthur 2 Stroke (Phil Branston) - vocals, guitar
WM7 (Steve Nash) - guitar
Tim Readman - bass
"Naughty" Norman Hobbs (pre-Sensational Spares) - drums

DISCOGRAPHY

Singles / Albums

The Wundersea World Of Jacques Cousteau (7", split with The Noise Toys, 1979)

Various Artists

Punk Territory Vol. 2 - G.B. 1979-82 Italy CD 1994 (Anthology): The Wundersea World Of Jacques Cousteau

Links