Angelic Upstarts are an English punk rock/Oi! band formed in South Shields in 1977.[1] The band espoused an anti-fascist and socialist working class philosophy, and have been associated with the skinhead subculture. More than two decades after its release, their debut single, "The Murder Of Liddle Towers", was included inMojo magazine’s list of the best punk rock singles of all time.
Career[]
The band's original members were Thomas Mensforth (Mensi) on vocals, Ray Cowie (Mond) on guitar, Steve Forsten on bass guitar, and Derek "Decca" Wade ondrums. Keith Bell was the manager until 1980 when he was jailed for four and a half years for arson.[3] The band has reformed and split a few times, and former members include bassists Ronnie Wooden, Glyn Warren, Tony Feedback (now in Long Tall Shorty and Kiria's live band), Ronnie Rocker and Max Splodge (who also had a stint playing drums). Other drummers have included Sticks Warrington (who later joined Cockney Rejects), Paul Thompson (ex-Roxy Music) and Chris White. Wade rejoined the band for a few years before leaving again. Hayes originally joined the band as second guitarist until Mond left, leaving Hayes as the only guitarist. Mensi was the only original member still in the band.
In August 2006, Mensi announced he was resigning, however he requested that the band continue with Chris Wright (of the band Crashed Out) on vocals. The band's lineup became Wright on vocals, Dickie Hammond on guitar, Neil Newton on guitar, Gaz Stoker on bass and Wade on drums. In the latter part of 2007, Mensi rejoined the band and the lineup became Mensi on vocals, Stoker on bass, Hammond on guitar, Newton on guitar and Brett Mulvaney (and later Jonnie Halling) on drums.
Discography[]
Studio albums[]
- Teenage Warning (August 1979, Warner Bros. Records) - No. 29 UK[4]
- We Gotta Get out of This Place (April 1980, WEA) - No. 54 UK
- 2,000,000 Voices (June 1981, Zonophone/EMI) - No. 32 UK
- Still from the Heart (1982, Zonophone/EMI)
- Reason Why? (1983, Anagram/Cherry Red)
- Last Tango in Moscow (1984, Picasso)
- Power of the Press (1986, Gas)
- Blood on the Terraces (1987, Link)
- Bombed Out (1991, Dojo)
- Sons Of Spartacus (2002, Captain Oi!/Insurgence Records)
- The Dirty Dozen (2011, Spit album with Crashed Out)
Live albums[]
- Angelic Upstarts Live (September 1981, Zonophone/EMI) - No. 27 UK
- Live in Yugoslavia (1985, Picasso)
- Live & Loud (1988, Link)
- Greatest Hits Live (1991, Link)
- Live in Lubeck 1989 (1994, Bay City)
- Live from the Justice League (2001, TKO)
- Anthems Against Scum (2001, Insurgence)
Compilation albums[]
- Angel Dust - The Collected Highs (1983, Anagram/Cherry Red)
- Bootlegs & Rarities (1985, Dojo)
- Lost & Found (1991, Link)
- Alternative Chartbusters (1991, AOK)
- Kids on the Streets (1993, Cleopatra)
- The Independent Punk Singles Collection (1995, Cherry Red)
- Rarities (1997, Captain Oi)
- The EMI Punk Years (1999, Captain Oi)
- Who Killed Liddle (1999, Recall)
- Punk Singles Collection (2004, Captain Oi)
Singles[]
- "The Murder of Liddle Towers"/"Police Oppression" (1978, Dead Records, re-released on Rough Trade/Small Wonder Records, Repress)
- "I'm an Upstart"/"Leave Me Alone" (1979, Warner Bros.) - No. 31 UK
- "Teenage Warning"/"The Young Ones" (1979, Warner Bros.) - UK No. 29
- "Never 'ad Nothin'"/"Nowhere Left to Hide" (1979, Warner Bros.) - UK No. 52
- "Out of Control"/"Shotgun Solution" (1980, Warner Bros. Records) - UK No. 58
- "We Gotta Get Out of this Place"/"Unsung Heroes" (1980, Warner Bros. Records) - UK No. 65
- "Last Night Another Soldier"/"I Wish" (1980, Zonophone/EMI) - UK No. 51
- "England"/"Stick's Diary" (1981, Zonophone/EMI)
- "Kids on the Street"/"The Sun Never Shines" (1981, Zonophone/EMI) - UK No. 57
- "I Understand"/"Never Come Back" (1981, Zonophone/EMI)
- "Different Strokes"/"Different Dub" (1981, Zonophone/EMI)
- "Never Say Die"/"We Defy You" (1982, Zonophone/EMI)
- "Woman in Disguise"/"Lust for Glory" (1982, Anagram/Cherry Red) (Also released on 12" single)
- "Solidarity"/"Five Flew Over..." (1983, Anagram/Cherry Red) (Also released on 12" single)
- "Not Just a Name"/"The Leech" (1983, Anagram/Cherry Red) (Also released on 12" single?)
- "Machinegun Kelly"/"There's a Drink in It" (1984, Picasso)
- "Brighton Bomb" E.P (1985, Sparta Florida/Gas Music Ltd) (12" Single)
- "Brighton Bomb" (1987, Chameleon)
- "England's Alive" E.P. (1988, Skunx) (12" Single)
DVDs[]
- Angelic Upstarts Live: Solidarity (2005)