Specimen (band)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Specimen
Johnny Slut
Origin Bristol, England
Years active 1980 – 1985
Genres Glam, Punk, Goth, Deathrock
Labels Sire
Members Ollie Wisdom
Jonny Slut
Kev Mills
Jon Klein
Jonathan Trevisick

Specimen was an 1980s British band. They have been described as being many different genres of music, including; Glam, Goth, Punk and Deathrock.

Contents

[edit] Biography

The band formed in Bristol, England during 1980. Their first show was at a street party celebrating the wedding of The Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer. In 1982, the band relocated to Soho, London, where they would play many shows at the infamous club known as The Batcave, Specimen's vocalist Ollie Wisdom founded and ran the club during 1982-1983. Prior to forming Specimen and opening The Batcave, Ollie was the vocalist for another band known as "The Unwanted". Unlike Specimen, The Unwanted were a traditional '77 / '78 style English garage-core punk band. Their most well known song was a cover of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Were Made For Walking".

Unusual for a keyboardist, Jonny Slut became the face of the band and its most famous member, due largely to his striking image and fashion sense.

While the band were together, they never released a full album, only singles and an E.P. Though in 1997 two full-length compilations would be released featuring various Specimen songs.

[edit] Post-Specimen

After the band went its separate ways, guitarist Jon Klein worked with Siouxsie & the Banshees for a period of 7 years, before working with Sinéad O'Connor.

Johnny Slut formed Diskord Datkord with Mark Tinley and Adam Tinley before going on to work with The KLF, Adamski and is now in Atomizer. He also founded the Nag Nag Nag club in London, where he is one of the house DJs.

[edit] Lineup

  • Olli Wisdom - Vocals
  • Kev Mills - Bass (Replaced by 'Kimba' after the band relocated to the US)
  • Jon Klein - Guitar
  • Jonny Slut - Keyboards
  • Jonathan Trevisick - Drums

[edit] Discography

[edit] Compilations

  • Warm Wet Cling - Film Red Velvet Crush (1997)
  • Azoic (1997)

[edit] E.P.

  • Batastrophe (1983)

[edit] Single

  • Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (1983) London Records
  • Sharp Teeth (1985) Flicknife Records
  • Hex (1985) Flicknife Records

[edit] References

This article on a United Kingdom rock music band is a stub. You can help by expanding it.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../s/p/e/Specimen_%28band%29.html"