Icons of Filth are a Welsh anarcho-punk band that were formed in 1979. The issues the band promoted through their lyrics included

animal rights Animal rights is the philosophy according to which many or all sentient animals have moral worth that is independent of their utility for humans, and that their most basic interests—such as avoiding suffering—should be afforded the sa ...

anarchism Anarchism is a political philosophy and movement that is skeptical of all justifications for authority and seeks to abolish the institutions it claims maintain unnecessary coercion and hierarchy, typically including, though not necessa ...

environmentalism Environmentalism or environmental rights is a broad philosophy, ideology, and social movement regarding concerns for environmental protection and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seek ...

, anti war,

vegetarianism Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slaughter. Vegetarianism may ...

veganism Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal product—particularly in diet—and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. An individual who follows the diet or philosophy is known as a vegan. ...

, antiglobalisation,

feminism Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. Feminism incorporates the position that society prioritizes the male po ...

, and the negative effects of

organised religion Organized religion, also known as institutional religion, is religion in which belief systems and rituals are systematically arranged and formally established. Organized religion is typically characterized by an official doctrine (or dogma), a ...

. Live shows were often used to raise money for these causes and also others including

Rock Against Racism Rock Against Racism (RAR) was a political and cultural movement which emerged in 1976 in reaction to a rise in racist attacks on the streets of the United Kingdom and increasing support for the far-right National Front at the ballot box. Betwe ...

and the

UK miners' strike (1984–85) The miners' strike of 1984–1985 was a major industrial action within the British coal industry in an attempt to prevent colliery closures. It was led by Arthur Scargill of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) against the National Coal Boar ...

Early history

Icons of Filth started life as Mock Death in

Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city is the eleventh-largest in the United Kingd ...

in 1979, with Aitch (Mark Wilson) on drums, Daffy (Simon DeManuel) on guitar, Socket (Tony Watts) on bass and Fran and Tina sharing vocal duties. After a year of local performances, the band dissolved. Atomic Filth formed shortly afterwards with Socket, Daffy and Aitch from Mock Death and Stig (Andrew Sewell) on vocals. Within a year the name had been changed to Icons of Filth and Socket had left, to be replaced on bass by Ed. They recorded the

cassette Cassette may refer to: Technology * Cassette tape (or ''musicassette'', ''audio cassette'', ''cassette tape'', or ''tape''), a worldwide standard for analog audio recording and playback ** Cassette single (or "Cassingle"), a music single in th ...

LP ''Not On Her Majesty's Service'' in September 1982, becoming the first release on Conflict's

Mortarhate Conflict is an English anarcho-punk band originally based in Eltham in South London. Formed in 1981, the band's original line up consisted of: Colin Jerwood (vocals), Francisco 'Paco' Carreno (drums), John (bass guitar), Steve (guitars), Pauli ...

label (Mortarhate M1). This was followed up by the May 1983 recording ''Used · Abused · Unamused'' which was released as a 7" EP on

Corpus Christi Records Corpus Christi Records is a British independent record label started by some of the members of Crass and their recording engineer and business partner John Loder, to release records by artists who did not perhaps fit in with some of the stric ...

. Ed left after its release and was replaced by Fish (Richard Edwards) on bass. In December 1983, ''Onward Christian Soldiers'' was recorded, and was released the following March on Mortarhate records. This LP featured a strong

theme. After a series of performances in 1984, usually with Conflict, the ''Brain Death'' 7" EP was recorded in October 1984. This was followed in April 1985 by the ''Filth & the Fury'' EP.

Death of Stig

While playing at a squat gig in Hackney, London on 23 October 2004, Stig complained of feeling unwell. He died abruptly of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...

shortly afterwards. The band played two benefit gigs for Stig's children in London and Los Angeles, after which they decided to disband indefinitely. They reformed for two performances in Cardiff to commemorate the ten year commemoration of Stig's death, and played alongside both of Stig's son's bands. After a concert arranged to mark the anniversary of Stig's passing in 2014, the band members decided to reform. After several lineup changes they eventually settled and released a 10" EP 'Plight' on Grow Your Own Records in July 2021.

Discography

Albums

*''Not On Her Majesty's Service'' (1982),

*''Onward Christian Soldiers'' (1984), Mortarhate - UK Indie No. 7Lazell, Barry (1998) ''Indie Hits 1980-1989'', Cherry Red Books, , p. 117 *''Nostradamnedus'' (2002), Go-Kart ;Compilations: *''The Mortarhate Projects'' (1995), Mortarhate

EPs

*''Used, Abused, Unamused'' (1983), Corpus Christi - UK Indie No. 20 *''Brain Death'' (1984), Mortarhate - UK Indie No. 3 *''The Filth and the Fury'' (1985), Mortarhate - UK Indie No. 9 *''Show Us You Care'' (1999), BBP *''Plight'' (2021), Grow Your Own

References

External links

* *
Tribute to Stig at the Animal Liberation Front web site
{{Authority control Musical groups established in 1979 Anarcho-punk groups Welsh punk rock groups Underground punk scene in the United Kingdom