London (punk band)

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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, New Wave, post-punk
Years active 1976–1978
2008-present
Labels MCA; Captain Oi!; Bin Liner
Website www.londontheband.com
Members Riff Regan
Steve Voice
Hugh O'Donnell
Colin Watterston
Past members Jon Moss
Dave Wight

London were a four piece punk band formed in London in 1976[1][2] and were 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) and Colin Watterston (drums). They are still playing dates in 2012.

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 Peter Godwin's '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 in February 1978 called Animal Games.

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]

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

Discography

  • "Everyone's a Winner" (1977 MCA Records)
  • "Summer of Love" b/w "Friday on my Mind" (1977 MCA Records)
  • "Summer of Love", "No Time", "Friday on my Mind", "Siouxsie Sue" (1977 12 inch EP, MCA Records)
  • Punk Rock - Various Artists. (1977 Philips/Phonogram Records Brazil)
  • "Animal Games" - single. (1977 MCA Records)
  • Animal Games - album. (1978 MCA Records)
  • Meet the New Punk Wave - Various Artists (1978 EMI Records Holland)
  • London The Punk Rock Collection (1997 CD Captain Oi! Records)
  • Get Out Of London (2010 Official bootleg live CD)
  • Reboot (2012 Bin Liner Records)

Videography

  • "Everyone's A Winner" - Director Mike Mansfield (1977 MCA Records)
  • "Animal Games" - So It Goes. (1977 Granada Television)
  • London Live at the Marquee - (1977 Italy)
  • A collection of 'London' videos - (1977–2011)

External links

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