A.K.A. THE BLOODCLOTS
Formed: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK
Lineups / Discography
A stupendously great UK punk band who played it Stooges-style. Had they not been from Cambridge they might have amounted to more than two-hit wonders. but what hits! Both of their singles are classic, even with singer James Haight's slightly irksome attempts at an American accent. They also recorded a version of 'Louie, Louie', but label boss Lee Wood's decision to issue it on the Raw Deal! compilation LP with the band credited as The Bloodclots was a decision made without the band's knowledge, and was the reason they left the label soon after, which scuppered any plans for a potential album. UK Subs bassist Alvin Gibbs was also briefly a member. Drummer Adrian Bor was later found in The Sinix and The Friendly Hopefuls.
The band formed in September 1976 and, despite having played only two gigs, won a record deal in early '77 when they invited Lee Wood, owner of local record shop '"Remember Those Oldies", to one of their rehearsals. He was so impressed that he immediately set up a label, Raw Records, with the intention of releasing the band's debut single. In March the group entered Spaceward Studios in Cambridge and recorded four songs. One ('Message') was not released, but two were chosen for the debut 7-inch, Sick Of You / (I'm) In Love With Today, and the fourth one was the aforementioned 'Louie Louie'. Initial pressings of the single were badly mastered, so a second run with superior sound was called for. The disc won some rave reviews (and some scornful ones), eventually going on to sell over 20,00 copies (if Lee Wood is to be believed). A third pressing, on 12", came out in 1978 and was issued without the band's consent.
Still, despite this success the band members clung onto their day jobs (mainly because Wood never paid them a penny, allegedly). The core trio of Phil Burkill (aka James Haight aka James James aka Phil James, vocals), Chris "Panic" Free (guitar) and Andrew O'Hanrahan (aka Andrew Bor, drums) worked their way though a succession of bassists en route to single number two, the devastating Kicks In Style, which they released on their own label, Warped Records. Like the debut it came in two versions, one with Peter Bevington on bass, and a repressing with a different mix featuring Dave Goodman on bass instead.
1978 saw Alvin Gibbs replacing Bevington, although he struggled to get the band to record anything because some of the other people in the band were into hard drugs. Gibbs left the band shortly but the rest of the group soldiered on with a new bassist, turning into mod group The Selections in the process.
DISCOGRAPHY
Singles / Albums
| Sick Of You / (I'm) In Love With Today (7", 1977) |
Kicks In Style (7", 1978) |
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Extraneous Releases |
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| Secondary Modern - 1976-1979 (CD, 2008) |
Kicks In Style 1976-1979 (LP, 2011) |
LO-FI-EP (7", 2013) |
Now That It's Over (7", 2017) |
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Various Artists
Raw Deal! UK LP 1977 (Raw): I'm In Love With You Today / [as The Bloodclots:] Louie. Louie
Oh No It's More From Raw UK LP 1978 (Raw): Sick Of You / (I'm) In Love With You Today
Killed By Death (Rare Punk 77-82) US LP 1989 (Redrum): Sick Of You
Spiral Scratch UK 7" 1990 (Spiral Scratch): I'm In Love With Today
Anarchy In The U.K. Volume One France CD 1990 (MPO): Kicks
Raw Records Punk Collection UK CD 1993 (Anagram): Sick Of You / I'm In Love With Today
Punk Rock Rarities Vol. 2 UK CD 1996 (Anagram): Kicks In Style / Dead On Arrival
1-2-3-4 Punk & New Wave 1976-1979 UK 5xCD 1999 (Universal): Sick Of You
Action Time Vision (A Story Of Independent UK Punk 1976-1979) UK 4xCD 2016 (Cherry Red): Kicks In Style
Harmony In My Head: UK Power Pop & New Wave 1977-81 UK 3xCD Box Set 2018 (Cherry Red): Now That It's Over
1977: The Year Punk Broke UK 3xCD 2019 (Cherry Red): Sick Of You
Links
RECORD COLLECTORS OF THE WORLD UNITE
