London (punk band)

This article is about the English band London. For the American band with the same name, see London (heavy metal band).
London
Background information
Origin London
Genres Punk rock
Years active 1976–1978
2008-present
Labels MCA; Captain Oi!; Bin Liner
Website www.londontheband.com
Members Riff Regan
Steve Voice
Colin Watterston
Hugh O'Donnell
Past members Rick De'Ath
Jon Moss
Dave Wight

London is a four-piece punk band formed in London in 1976,[1][2] best known for their wild stage act.[3] The original line-up was Riff Regan (vocals), Steve Voice (bass), Jon Moss (drums) and Dave Wight (guitar). They were managed by Simon Napier-Bell and recorded two singles, a 4 track EP and an album for MCA Records in 1977. Most of their songs were written by Riff Regan (including the first two singles "Everyone's a Winner" and "Summer of Love") or by Riff Regan and Steve Voice. All their records were produced by Napier-Bell at the IBC Studios in London. After an absence of more than 30 years the band returned to live performance. The current line-up is Riff Regan (vocals), Steve Voice (bass), Hugh O'Donnell (guitar), Colin Watterston (drums).

History

Henry Padovani auditioned for London in December 1976 and was offered a position in the band, but changed his mind when Stewart Copeland invited him to join The Police instead.[4]

Jon Moss joined the band after being tried out as a drummer with The Clash. He later said "the mix of personalities didn't work; their attitudes were too different to mine".[5]

They toured extensively throughout 1977, first supporting The Stranglers[6] and then as headliners in their own right. Their third release, the single "Animal Games", was featured on the notorious Sex Pistols edition of the British TV rock show So It Goes.

Their final gig was at the Marquee Club in Wardour Street on 8 December 1977.[7] The band broke up shortly afterwards. On leaving, Moss joined The Damned[8] and then formed Culture Club with Boy George.[9] Riff Regan released solo records before reverting to his real name of Miles Tredinnick and becoming a comedy writer. He has written scripts for Frankie Howerd[10] and was a writer on the BBC TV series Birds of a Feather.[11]

Steve Voice formed a new band 'The Original Vampires' and Dave Wight following stints in Metro and Holly and the Italians reverted to his real name of Colin Wight and became an academic.[12]

MCA Records released the original band's one and only album, Animal Games, in February 1978.

London The Punk Rock Collection,[13] a CD containing all their recorded work, was released on the Captain Oi! label in 1997 and in 2010 the band released an official live bootleg CD Get Out Of London.

Reboot, their first studio album in 34 years, was released in February 2012.[14]

Discography

Videography

References

  1. ↑ allmusic.com biography on London
  2. ↑ Rimmer, Dave (1985) Like Punk Never Happened, Faber and Faber, ISBN 978-0-571-13739-8, p. 40-42
  3. ↑ Napier-Bell, Simon (2001) Black Vinyl White Powder, Ebury Press, ISBN 978-0-09-186992-2, p. 163
  4. ↑ Sutcliffe, Phil & Fielder, Hugh (1981). L'Historia Bandido. London and New York: Proteus Books. ISBN 0-906071-66-6.
  5. ↑ Kasper de Graaf & Malcolm Garrett (1983) When Cameras Go Crazy - Culture Club, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-907080-85-5, p. 62
  6. ↑ Punk77 interview with Dave Wight
  7. ↑ Punk77 interview with Riff Regan
  8. ↑ allmusic.com biography on London
  9. ↑ Kasper de Graaf & Malcolm Garrett (1983) When Cameras Go Crazy - Culture Club, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-907080-85-5, p. 66
  10. ↑ BFI credits for Superfrank!
  11. ↑ BBC Birds of a Feather list of script writers
  12. ↑ Professor Colin Wight at the University of Sydney
  13. ↑ allmusic.com review of London The Punk Rock Collection
  14. ↑ Bin Liner Records

External links

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