Formed: Stoke Newington, North London, England, UK
These squatters (featuring an ex-pat Aussie on guitar) were popular in London in the early-to-mid-'80s as part of the so-called "positive punk" movement, although they were also variously described as anarcho punk, hippy punk, and even acid punk. Like Part 1, UK Decay and Brigandage they played doomy, tribal punk that placed them simultaneously within the anarcho and goth brackets.
Their first demo - recorded in 1981 - was deemed by the band to be so bad that bassist Ruth 'Ruthless' Tyndall quit soon after. After a short spell playing as "A,B,C,D,E,F,G" they settled on the name Blood And Roses and became embroiled in the current anarcho punk scene. In 1983 they released their well-received debut single, a 12" EP possibly Love Under Will (but also maybe self-titled: the packaging is a bit unclear), and a tape compilation for 96 Tapes, Life After Death.
Following a short breakup, the band bounced back in 1985 with a new lineup, featuring Martin Parrott of Case on drums. They released another single, (Some) Like It Hot, and finally an LP, Enough Is Never Enough, but split for good in 1986.
Post-Blood and Roses, Martin Parrott formed Dirty Love, who released an LP in 2006 (Trashed), and reformed Case.
As you can guess from this rather lukewarm write-up, I am not a fan of this sort of music at all.
ABOVE MIDDLE AND RIGHT: Article from Punk Lives #5, 1983
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Lineup #1 (1980-1981)
Lisa Kirby - vocals
Bob Short (ex-Urban Guerrillas, pre-Junkyard Blues) - guitars, keyboards, effects
Ruth 'Ruthless' Tyndall - bass
Richard Morgan - drums
Lineup #2 (1981)
Lisa Kirby - vocals
Bob Short - guitars, keyboards, effects
Clapham - bass
Richard Morgan - drums
Lineup #3 (1981-1983)
Lisa Kirby - vocals
Bob Short - guitars, keyboards, effects
Jez James - bass
Richard Morgan - drums
Lineup #4 (1985-1986)
Lisa Kirby - vocals
Bob Short - guitars, keyboards, effects
Ralph Jezzard - bass
Martin Parrott - drums (ex and pre-Case, pre-Dirty Love)
Lineup #5 (1986)
Lisa Kirby - vocals
Bob Short - guitars, keyboards, effects
Ralph Jezzard - bass
Kate - drums
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DISCOGRAPHY
Singles & Albums
Love Under Will (12", 1983)
(Some) Like It Hot (7"/12", 1985)
Enough Is Never Enough (LP, 1985)
Extraneous Releases
Life After Death (Tape, 1983)
Same As It Never Was - The Collection (CD, 2007)
Various Artists
The Whip UK LP 1982 (Kamera): ShM YhShVh
In The Old Days...No.7 UK Tape 1987 (RAC Cassettes): Unknown / Tomorrow
1980-1982 In The Old Days! UK Tape ???? (BBP Records & Tapes): Unknown / Tomorrow
Silhouettes & Statues (A Gothic Revolution 1978 - 1986) UK 5xCD Box Set 2017 (Cherry Red): Spit Upon Your Grave
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Links
Kill Your Pet Puppy - John Peel Session 1983Listen And Understand - Excellent bio with photos
