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Angelic Upstarts

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Angelic Upstarts

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Biography

Formed in South Shields, England in 1977, the Angelic Upstarts was one of the period's most politically charged and thought-provoking groups; though technically a skinhead band, their records attacked the racism and fascism so prevalent throughout the skinhead community, and while also technically a punk unit, their music quickly evolved beyond the movement's limited scope.

The Angelic Upstarts were led by the rather nasal vocalist Mensi (born Thomas Mensforth), whose impoverished childhood became a frequent lyrical touchstone. Along with a highly fluid lineup which initially comprised guitarist Mond, bassist Ronnie Wooden, and drummer Sticks, the group debuted with the 1979 single "Murder of Liddle Towers," a scabrous attack on police brutality. The record caught the attention of Sham 69's Jimmy Pursey, who produced their debut album Teenage Warning, which, like its 1980 follow-up, We Gotta Get Out of This Place, roundly ridiculed the oppressive policies of Margaret Thatcher while offering an outpouring of sympathy for the working class.

As the Upstarts' popularity surged, so did the levels of violence at their live shows; they became mortal enemies of National Front fascist supporters, who railed against the band after first misinterpreting their leftist songs as supportive of their cause. At the same time, the band's music was becoming more complex and accomplished; by 1983's Reason Why?, the strongest Angelic Upstarts record, Mensi's songwriting skills had become tighter and more melodic, even branching out into reggae and folk, while the group's base broadened with the addition of keyboards and saxophones.

After issuing the inflammatory single "Brighton Bomb," a celebration of the IRA's attempt to assassinate the Conservative cabinet, the band released the LP The Power of the Press; lackluster sales triggered their breakup not long after. In 1988, the Angelic Upstarts briefly re-formed; in 1992, they reunited again, this time long enough to cut an album, Bombed Out. Mensi subsequently arose as a leader of the Anti-Fascist Action group. They managed to reunite occasionally, cutting a live album for Mordam Records (2001's Live from the Justice League), and even revisiting the United States for their first live show in almost 20 years. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi
Wikipedia on Answers.com:

Angelic Upstarts

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Angelic Upstarts
Origin South Shields, England
Genres Oi!, punk rock
Years active 1977–present
Labels Warner Bros., EMI, Anagram, Picasso, Link, Razor, Captain Oi!
Website www.angelicupstarts.net
Members
Thomas 'Mensi' Mensforth
Dickie Hammond
Neil Newton
Gaz Stoker
Decca Wade
Past members
Chris Wright
Mond Cowie
Steve Forsten
Sticks Warrington
Glyn Warren
Paul Thompson
Tony Feedback
Brian Hayes
Derwent Jaconelli
Ronnie Rocker
Max Splodge
Tony van Frater
Lainey
Graham Lant

Angelic Upstarts are an English punk rock/Oi! band formed in South Shields in 1977.[1] The band espoused an anti-fascist and socialist working class philosophy, and have been associated with the skinhead subculture. More than two decades after its release, their debut single, "The Murder Of Liddle Towers", was included in Mojo magazine’s list of the best punk rock singles of all time.[2]

Contents

Career

The band's original members were Thomas Mensforth (Mensi) on vocals, Ray Cowie (Mond) on guitar, Steve Forsten on bass guitar, and Derek "Decca" Wade on drums. Keith Bell was the manager until 1980 when he was jailed for four and a half years for arson.[3] The band has reformed and split a few times, and former members include bassists Ronnie Wooden, Glyn Warren, Tony Feedback (now in Long Tall Shorty and Kiria's live band), Ronnie Rocker and Max Splodge (who also had a stint playing drums). Other drummers have included Sticks (who later joined Cockney Rejects), Paul Thompson (ex-Roxy Music) and Chris White. Wade rejoined the band for a few years before leaving again. Hayes originally joined the band as second guitarist until Mond left, leaving Hayes as the only guitarist. Mensi was the only original member still in the band.

In August 2006, Mensi announced he was resigning, however he requested that the band continue with Chris Wright (of the band Crashed Out) on vocals. The band's lineup became Wright on vocals, Dickie Hammond on guitar, Neil Newton on guitar, Gaz Stoker on bass and Wade on drums. In the latter part of 2007, Mensi rejoined the band and the lineup became Mensi on vocals, Stoker on bass, Hammond on guitar, Newton on guitar and Brett Mulvaney on drums.

Discography

Studio albums

  • Teenage Warning (August 1979, Warner Bros. Records) - #29 UK[4]
  • We Gotta Get Out of this Place (April 1980, WEA) - #54 UK
  • 2,000,000 Voices (June 1981, Zonophone/EMI) - #32 UK
  • Still from the Heart (1982, Zonophone/EMI)
  • Reason Why (1983, Anagram/Cherry Red)
  • Last Tango in Moscow (1984, Picasso)
  • Power of the Press (1986, Gas)
  • Brighton Bomb (1987, Chameleon)
  • Blood on the Terraces (1987, Link)
  • Bombed Out (1992, Dojo)
  • Sons Of Spartacus (2002, Captain Oi!/Insurgence Records)

Live albums

  • Angelic Upstarts Live (September 1981, Zonophone/EMI) - #27 UK
  • Live in Yugoslavia (1985, Picasso)
  • Live & Loud (1988, Link)
  • Greatest Hits Live (1991, Link)
  • Live in Lubeck 1989 (1994, Bay City)
  • Live from the Justice League (2001, TKO)
  • Anthems Against Scum (2001, Insurgence)

Compilation albums

  • Angel Dust - The Collected Highs (1983, Anagram/Cherry Red)
  • Bootlegs & Rarities (1985, Dojo)
  • Lost & Found (1991, Link)
  • Alternative Chartbusters (1991, AOK)
  • Kids on the Streets (1993, Cleopatra)
  • The Independent Punk Singles Collection (1995, Cherry Red)
  • Rarities (1997, Captain Oi)
  • The EMI Punk Years (1999, Captain Oi)
  • Who Killed Liddle (1999, Recall)
  • Punk Singles Collection (2004, Captain Oi)

Singles

  • "The Murder of Liddle Towers"/"Police Oppression" (1978, Dead Records, re-released on Rough Trade/Small Wonder Records, Repress)
  • "I'm an Upstart"/"Leave Me Alone" (1979, Warner Bros.) - #31 UK
  • "Teenage Warning"/"The Young Ones" (1979, Warner Bros.) - UK #29
  • "Never 'ad Nothin'"/"Nowhere Left to Hide" (1979, Warner Bros.) - UK #52
  • "Out of Control"/"Shotgun Solution" (1980, Warner Bros. Records) - UK #58
  • "We Gotta Get Out of this Place"/"Unsung Heroes" (1980, Warner Bros. Records) - UK #65
  • "Last Night Another Soldier"/"I Wish" (1980, Zonophone/EMI) - UK #51
  • "England"/"Stick's Diary" (1981, Zonophone/EMI)
  • "Kids on the Street"/"The Sun Never Shines" (1981, Zonophone/EMI) - UK #57
  • "I Understand"/"Never Come Back" (1981, Zonophone/EMI)
  • "Different Strokes"/"Different Dub" (1981, Zonophone/EMI)
  • "Never Say Die"/"We Defy You" (1982, Zonophone/EMI)
  • "Woman in Disguise"/"Lust for Glory" (1982, Anagram/Cherry Red) (Also released on 12" single)
  • "Solidarity"/"Five Flew Over..." (1983, Anagram/Cherry Red) (Also released on 12" single)
  • "Not Just a Name"/"The Leech" (1983, Anagram/Cherry Red) (Also released on 12" single?)
  • "Machinegun Kelly"/"There's a Drink in It" (1984, Picasso)
  • "Brighton Bomb" E.P (1985, Sparta Florida/Gas Music Ltd) (12" Single)
  • "Brighton Bomb" (1987, Chameleon)
  • "England's Alive" E.P. (1988, Skunx) (12" Single)

DVDs

  • Angelic Upstarts Live: Solidarity (2005)

References

  1. ^ Angelic Upstarts Biography. Allmusic. URL accessed July 3, 2006.
  2. ^ Mojo (October 2001) - 100 Punk Scorchers , Issue 95, London;
  3. ^ Bradbury, Jennifer (2006-03-23). "Still crazy after all these years". ChronicleLive. http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/tm_objectid=16853928&method=full&siteid=50081&headline=still-crazy-after-all-these-years-name_page.html. Retrieved 2012-04-01. 
  4. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 585. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 

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