Scissor Fits

Scissor Fits was a post-punk band from Hounslow, England, active from 1978 to 1979.

Line-up

The band's line-up was: Nik East (vocals); Vic Watson (guitar); Simon Ives (bass); Pete Garrard (drums); Colin Roxborough (guitar);Bud Drago (drums); Mike Alway (occasional guitar).

History

Debut 7" EP "Taut? Tense? Angular? And Other British Rail Sandwiches", released in 1978, was recorded at Fair Deal Studios in Hayes, Middlesex before the band had played in public. The record was dedicated to The Soft Boys. Songwriter, manager and occasional guitarist Mike Alway went on to manage the Soft Boys, Scissor Fits opening for them several times around the release of their Underwater Moonlight album. The band issued a live EP on Tortch Records in 1979.

The band's name apparently derived from "a Don Martin cartoon in Mad magazine depict[ing] a woman with a long cigarette holder accidentally stubbing her cigarette out in a man's eye. The resulting sound effect was 'SIZZZA - FITZZ' or something like that."^[1]

Mike Alway subsequently became an influential head of A&R at Cherry Red. He managed English post-punk band The Monochrome Set, and launched, among others, the Blanco y Negro and él record labels.

A reunion is rumoured to be taking place by 2015. Ives, Roxborough and Watson played together in 2011.

Discography

EPs

• "Taut? Tense? Angular? And Other British Rail Sandwiches" (1978, Dubious Records [7"])
• "Soon After Dark" (1979, Tortch Records [7"])

References