Formed: Coatbridge, Scotland, UK
Band Bio / Discography
BAND BLURB FROM THE UK82 WEBSITE, ITSELF GRABBED OFF SOME WEBSITE THAT IS NO MORE:
EXTERNAL MENACE formed from the same youthful energy that gave birth to many of the "second wave" of British punk bands. Put together by vocalist Wullie Hammill and John Sneddon in the summer of 1979, the band were typical of the 1979/1980 punk bands--faster and rougher than the class of 77, but not an all out UK82-style attack - yet.
The band played out as often as they could, evolving fully into the UK82 mould, and released two singles on the Beat-The-System!! record label in 1982 and 83, and also putting in an appearance on the Total Anarchy compilation (also in 1982). Their sound was typical of the era, kinda speedy punk with gruff vocals and anarcho-inspired lyrics about war, the evil governments and nonconformity.
That was the side of External Menace that most people knew best, but towards the middle of the '80s they branched out in a more melodic (but still hardcore) direction, playing reggae inspired tunes like "Rude Awakening" and "Killing me Asylum". While the band recorded two or three more demos, putting some of their new tracks down, they didn't manage to get any more vinyl out, and finally broke up in 1985.
Fast forward to 1994--Ian Welsh of Swine Flu harassed John Sneddon to get External Menace back together, and start kicking some more punk rock ass. Sneddy agreed--but only if Welshy (what is it with Scots and diminutive names ending in Y?) joined the band as vocalist, since Wullie Hammill had died in 1987. Swine Flu disappeared shortly after their first single was released, and re-emerged with a new name and a new guitarist. External Menace was back.
Their first new release was Pure Punk Rock on Captain Oi! in 1995, which featured all the band's Beat-The-System!! recordings, plus a handful of early demos, and re-recorded versions of some old songs...the release didn't attract the interest of anyone except the UK82 completists...
The band were invited to play the first Holidays in the Sun festival in August of 1996, and accepted. The entire festival was recorded (very poorly) and released on video by Barn End, and selections were released on two CDs by Anagram Records. The band were invited back for HITS 1997, and (again) accepted.
Around the same time the first of the HITS compilations appeared (early to mid 1997), External Menace finally released their first new single, Seize The Day E.P. The five track single was completely unexpected: it featured some serious punk rock/reggae fusion, in the shape of "Rude Awakening", and was a drastic step AWAY from their UK82 roots.
Later that year they also released a split 7" with Rectify, and their first album, The Process Of Elimination. The songs were a mix of old and new Ex Menace songs, with a few hold-overs from Swine Flu. It was a refreshing blend of UK82 hardcore and more straightforward mid tempo punk, with a healthy dose of reggae thrown in for good measure. The album really made people sit up and pay attention. These guys weren't just another '80s punk band back for a few quick bucks, they were talented musicians with something interesting to offer the punk community. Unfortunately they only managed to release on more 7" (a split w/Recharge) before breaking up again in 1999.
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DISCOGRAPHY
Subsequent studio albums: The Process Of Elimination (1998), Off The Rails (2016).
Singles & Albums
Youth Of Today (7", 1982)
No Views E.P. (7", 1983)
Extraneous Releases
Pure Punk Rock (CD, 1995)
Retrospective (Tape, 1999)
Early Demos EP (1979-84) (7", 2011)
Various Artists
Total Anarchy UK LP 1982 (Beat The System): What The Hell / External Menace / plus, on reissue:] Escape From Hell / Main Street Riot / We Want To Know / Don't Conform
Wet Dreams UK LP 1984 (Rot): Shocktrooper
A Kick Up The Arse - Volume One UK LP 1985 (Rot): Coalition Blues / Vietnam
Religious As Hell UK LP 1986 (Rot): Coalition Blues
The End Of An Era UK 2xLP 1988 (Rot): Vietnam
Beat The System: The Punk Singles Collection UK CD 1995 (Anagram): Youth Of Today / Someday / No Views / Poor Excuse
Kilt By Death: The Sound Of Old Scotland (1977-1984) ?? 2xCD 2005 (no label): Someday
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