Peterborough
Peterborough () is a cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, east of England. It is the largest part of the City of Peterborough unitary authority district (which covers a larger area than Peterborough itself). It was part of Northamptonshire until ...
, England. Whilst never officially disbanding, they ceased recording and performing in 1979. In 2004, The Now recorded all of their original material and released as the '' Fuzztone Fizzadelic'' album in 2005 on the
Damaged Goods
Damaged goods or Damaged Goods may refer to:
* Goods that have been damaged, where goods are items that satisfy human wants and provide utility
* A person considered to be less than perfect psychologically, as a result of a traumatic experience
...
record label.
Career
The Now, founded by Mike McGuire and Steve Rolls late in 1976, were Peterborough's first punk rock band. Mike and Steve were at the time performing with The Faderz, who had only existed for a few months, before they had hooked into the London Punk scene in 1976. Joe MacColl and Paul Wicks (aka The Dangerous Dip or occasionally The Mysterious Dip) were recruited immediately to form The Now. Early gigs were self organised affairs, notably at the
Peterborough
Peterborough () is a cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, east of England. It is the largest part of the City of Peterborough unitary authority district (which covers a larger area than Peterborough itself). It was part of Northamptonshire until ...
Marcus Garvey Club. A community club, mainly catering for the city's West Indian community. Such gigs were usually with local reggae artists such as The Legions, any punk band who would dare come out of
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
(or other major cities), such as
999 999 or triple nine most often refers to:
* 999 (emergency telephone number), a telephone number for the emergency services in several countries
* 999 (number), an integer
* AD 999, a year
* 999 BC, a year
Books
* ''999'' (anthology) or ''999: ...
Eater
Eater may refer to:
* Eater (band), an English punk rock group
* "Eater" (''Fear Itself''), a 2008 episode of the NBC television horror anthology ''Fear Itself''
* ''Eater'' (novel), a 2000 science fiction novel by Gregory Benford
* ''Eater'' (w ...
, as well as new local punk bands such as Heavy Manners. This was a great challenge for The Now since putting Punk Rock into an East Anglian provincial environment (where there already existed a time warp sensibility), caused a lot of friction at that time. During this time The Dangerous Dip was replaced on the bass guitar by Faz Farrow. The Now were managed by Allen Adams who later went on to form the band
The Destructors
"The Destructors" is a 1954 short story written by Graham Greene, first published in ''Picture Post'' and subsequently collected in '' Twenty-One Stories'' later that year.Fuzztone Fizzadelic'' was recorded during 2004 by the four original members of The Now, representing their original set list, as performed in 1977. In true punk rock style The Now rehearsed for three hours and had two days in the studio for recording and mixing. 27 years between writing and recording must be some sort of record. ''Fuzztone Fizzadelic'' was released in 2005.
Mike McGuire and Steve Rolls went on to form 80's avant garde band
Sudden Sway
Sudden Sway were an English band from Peterborough, formed in 1980. They recorded two sessions for John Peel and released three albums before splitting up in the early 1990s.
History
The band was formed in 1980 by Mike McGuire (vocals) and Steve ...
. Joe MacColl went on to join mod revivalists The Name. Faz Farrow went on to perform with numerous band as a journeyman bass guitarist including Swindon based Mod/Soul/Powerpop bands 'The Suspicions' and 'Peloton'. Steve Rolls joined
The Destructors
"The Destructors" is a 1954 short story written by Graham Greene, first published in ''Picture Post'' and subsequently collected in '' Twenty-One Stories'' later that year.Fuzztone Fizzadelic'' (Damaged Goods, August 2005)
Singles
* "Development Corporations" / "Why?" (Ultimate Records, ULT401, 1977)
* "Development Corporations" / "Why?" (Ultimate Records, ULT401-A, 1977, Blue Vinyl)
* "9 O Clock" / "Into the 80's" (Raw Records, RAW31, 1978)
* "9 O Clock" / "Into the 80's" (Re-distributed under Last Years Youth Records (LAST 1, 2000) Limited Edition of 500
* "Development Corporations" / "Why" / "Development Corporations" (Live In The Studio Mix) (Last Years Youth, LAST 11, 2002) Limited Edition of 500
* "Into The 80's" / "9 O Clock" (Live In The Studio Mix) / "Into the 80's" (Live In The Studio Mix) (Last Years Youth, LAST 12, 2002) Limited Edition of 500
Compilations
* ''Here Come The Now'' CD. Japanese Release (Wizard in Vinyl, June 2005) - Best of Compilation (includes Singles + Live Sessions) Limited Edition 1000. 500 in Red Vinyl
* ''Here Come The Now'' LP. German Release (Last Years Youth, June 2005) - Best of Compilation (includes '79 Recordings)
* ''Oh No! It's More From Raw'' CD (2003)
* ''Don't You Know It's ...Last years Youth!'' CD. Japanese Release(Wizzard In Vinyl, WIV039, 2005) contains Into The 80's. 9 O Clock and Development Corporations.
* ''Punk 45. There Is No Such Thing As Society. Get A Job, Get A Car, Get A Bed, Get Drunk!'' CD & Double Album Vinyl (Soul Jazz Records, 2014) Feat. Development Corporations.
Reviews
* 'A primitive but wonderful single from a criminally underrated D.I.Y. Punk band from
Peterborough
Peterborough () is a cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, east of England. It is the largest part of the City of Peterborough unitary authority district (which covers a larger area than Peterborough itself). It was part of Northamptonshire until ...
. This sounds like the Desperate Bicycles, and is a very simple, but effective protest song about a subject that should be dear to your hearts. And fuzztone fizzedelic guitar! You need more?'
* "It sounds like the rough first cassette of two really good songs from a Peterborough punk band. Usual '77 cynicism, plus (skeleton)
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. Although their initial career lasted just two and a half years, they were one of the most groundbreaking acts in the history of popular music. They were responsible for ...
style melodic strength. I like it. Try and hear it".
* 'Amateur to the point of severe embarrassment'
* 'Well-intentioned identipunk. For specialists only'
* 'Even though the sound is strictly garage production level, the songs too long, and the sleeve packaging amateurish in the most boring way, this is worth checking out. 'Why?' has an intro reminiscent of an old Velvet Underground tune (you decide which one), then bursts into one of the most anguished, bewildered cries at life's futility I've ever heard' Chris D., Slash 12 April 1977
Further reading
* "The Roxy London WC2 - A Punk History'" Paul Marko (2007), with foreword by TV Smith of
The Adverts
The Adverts were an English punk band who formed in 1976 and broke up in late 1979. They were one of the first punk bands to enjoy chart success in the United Kingdom, UK; their 1977 single "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" reached No. 18 in the UK Single ...
, Punk77 Books, .
* "Punk 45 - The Singles Cover Art Of Punk 1976-80"
Jon Savage
Jon Savage (born Jonathan Malcolm Sage; 2 September 1953 in Paddington, London) is an English writer, broadcaster and music journalist, best known for his history of the Sex Pistols and punk music, ''England's Dreaming'', published in 1991.
...
Savage Pencil
Edwin Pouncey (born June 1951), also known by the '' nom de plume'' Savage Pencil, is an English comics artist, musician, and music journalist.
Biography
As Savage Pencil and otherwise, Pouncey has contributed to magazines such as '' Sounds' ...
List of musicians in the first wave of punk music
This is a list of notable first wave punk rock musicians (1975–1979).
0-9
* 4 Skins
*45 Grave
*999
A
*Abrasive Wheels
*Adam & the Ants
*The Adicts
*Adolescents (band)
*The Adverts
*Agent Orange (band)
* The Alley Cats (Los Angeles)
*Alter ...