Heavy Load (punk band)
Heavy Load were a British punk rock band, described by The Sunday Times as "possibly the most genuinely punk band touring today".[1]
Its members met at Southdown Housing, a non-profit assisted-living community for people with mental health issues and learning disabilities, and were a mix of service users and staff.[2]
The band composed the theme for the BAFTA-nominated film Cast Offs and is itself documented in the film Heavy Load.
The band were also the founders of the charity Stay Up Late, a campaign seeking to improve the social lives of people with learning difficulties by calling for more flexible staff hours.[3] Stay Up Late is a national charity promoting full and active social lives for people with learning disabilities.
Heavy Load split in September 2012 with a final gig in London's Trafalgar Square as part of the Paralympic festivities.[4]
Band members
- Simon Barker, vocals
- Jimmy Nichols, guitar and vocals
- Paul Richards, bass
- Mick Williams, guitar and vocals
- Michael White, drums
Albums
| Title | Date of Release |
|---|---|
| Wham | 2011 |
| Shut It | 2008 |
| The Queen Mother's Dead | 2006 |
References
- ↑ Kate Spicer, 'Fashion lovers with learning disabilities', The Sunday Times Style Magazine, 01-11-2009 | http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/style/fashion/article188763.ece
- ↑ http://www.southdownhousing.org/getinvolved/Heavyload.cfm
- ↑ http://www.mencap.org.uk/campaigns/take-action/our-other-campaigns/stay-late
- ↑ http://www.southdownhousing.org/get-involved/heavy-load/
External links
- http://www.heavyload.org/
- http://www.stayuplate.org/
- Alex Petridis, 'We played Mencap and they told us to turn it down', The Guardian, 13-09-2008 | http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/sep/13/popandrock.musicdocumentary