Doom

Doom were an English crust punk band from Birmingham, England, which were together from 1987 to 1990. Despite its short existence, the band is considered pivotal in the rise of crust punk, a style within the punk rock subgenre that fuses extreme metal with anarcho-punk. They recorded for Peaceville Records and are cited as an early precursor to the grindcore style of heavy metal music. Doom were also a favorite of BBC Radio DJ John Peel.

Early history

Doom began as The Subverters with Jon Pickering (bass/vocals), Brian Talbot (guitar) and Jason Hodges (drums). After Jason was replaced by new drummer, Mick Harris, the band changed its name to Doom.

This line up played one or two gigs, playing in a crossover metal style. Talbot and Pickering decided this wasn't the direction they wanted the band to move in. Consequently they left Harris and the metal style of music, and decided to go in a Discharge-influenced crossover thrash-style that Doom became known for. Pickering dropped bass to concentrate on vocals and Pete Nash joined as bass player. Harris left for Napalm Death so new drummer Tony 'Stick' Dickens, recently made bandless, joined after a drunken meeting at the infamous Mermaid Pub, this was when the 'real' Doom was formed. The band started rehearsing with this line-up in mid 1987.

About this time a small label called Peaceville Records was starting up. They heard about Doom through word of mouth and asked if they were interested in contributing songs to the first peaceville compilation A Vile Peace. Doom went to into the studio to record their first demo on 28 August 1987. Nash unfortunately broke his wrist just before Doom's recording debut, so bass player Jim Whitley (of Napalm Death and Ripcord fame) filled in on the recording. Three songs were recorded (two of which appeared on A Vile Peace).

On the strength of this first recording Peaceville asked Doom if they would record a full LP for them, which they agreed to do. The War is Big Business demo was recorded on 27 November 1987, which the band sold as a cassette at gigs. In February 1988, Doom went into "Rich Bitch" studios and recorded 21 songs for their debut album War Crimes (Inhuman Beings). All this time the band gigged constantly in the UK building up a following on the way. Another demo Domesday was also produced.

At the end of 1988, due to personal commitments Talbot announced that he would be leaving the band. He stayed long enough to record the split LP Bury the Debt - Not the Dead (with Swedish band No Security) on the Peaceville label. The Police Bastard EP (on discarded records) was also recorded at the same session. Doom were also invited to record two sessions for Radio One's John Peel show around this point. Talbot left the band in April 1989 after completing a lengthy European tour.

Doom continued with different guitarists, most notably with Dave Talbot who co-founded UK doom metal band Solstice with Sore Throat's vocalist Rich Walker, but did not settle with four members for long playing numerous gigs as a three piece, as Pickering turned to vocal and guitar duties. This line up continued until a final split in August 1990. Following the group's demise Pickering formed Cain, then Police Bastard, whilst drummer Stick and bassist Nash joined Extreme Noise Terror. Stick then joined DIRT and Nash joined Filthkick and Cain.

Doom reformed

The band reformed in 1992 with the earlier line up of Talbot, Pickering, Nash and Stick. They toured Japan and recorded a 12" of new songs released on the label Vinyl Japan. This proved to be the last recording with this line up. About this point the band almost split up but Talbot and Stick decided to continue with two new members. These being Tom Croft from Genital Deformities on vocals and Paul "Mall" Mallen on bass guitar. This line up recorded the split album with Selfish and a split 7" EP with Hiatus. Mall left shortly afterwards (an amicable parting). He was replaced by bassist Scoot from Largactyl.

This line up recorded the split 7" EP Doomed to Extinction with Extinction of Mankind, the Fuck Peaceville double LP, and the Hail to Sweden 7" EP. This is also the line up who appear on the Videodoom video on MCR recorded on a European tour in 1994

A tour of Scandinavia was organised for September 1995, however Scoot decided not to go due to problems at home, so he was replaced by Denis Boardman (of Blood Sucking Freaks) & permanently by Chris Gascoigne (of Suffer) after the tour. Tom Croft also left just after the tour and was replaced by Wayne Southworth (also of Blood Sucking Freaks). While on the Scandinavian tour Doom recorded the Monarchy Zoo 7" EP at Sunlight Studios.

The band, now composed of Stick, Talbot, Boardman, Southworth and Gascoigne, went into the studio in June 1996 and recorded a full LP for Flat Earth, Called Rush Hour of the Gods.

Talbot would go on to join Khang, this band then evolving into Lazarus Blackstar. Stick is also part of the band RUIN. Pickering went on to form Police Bastard and Haxan and Nash later formed Corvus. Boardman moved to Sweden where he formed the band Gloomy Sunday.

On 18 March 2005 Wayne Southworth (lead singer) was found dead in his home by a friend. The cause of death was an epileptic seizure.

The band then toured England one last time without Wayne Southworth in tribute of their friend.

Discography

EPs/Demos

• War is Big Business Demo Tape (1987 discarded tapes)
• Police Bastard 7" (1989 Profane Existence) (More than 20,000 copies sold. Second best selling crust 7", after Aus-Rotten's "Fuck Nazi Sympathy")
• Live in Japan 7" (1992 Ecocentric Records)
• Lost the Fight 7" (1993 Flat Earth/Nabate)
• Doomed to Extinction split 7" w/ Extinction of Mankind (1994 Ecocentric Records)
• Hail to Sweden 7" (1995 Pandora's Box)
• Pissed Robbed & Twatted - Live in Slovenia 7" (1996 Nuclear Sun Punk)
• Monarchy Zoo 7" (1996 Vinyl Japan)
• split 10" w/ Cress (1998 Flat Earth)

Albums

• War Crimes (Inhuman Beings) LP (1988 Peaceville Records)
• Bury the Debt - Not the Dead split LP w/ No Security (1989 Peaceville Records)
• Total Doom CD (1989 Peaceville Records)Jon Pickering (vocals); Bri Talbot (guitar); Peter Nash (bass guitar); Stick (drums).
• Doomed from the Start LP/CD (1992 Vinyl Japan)
• The Greatest Invention LP/CD (1992 Vinyl Japan)
• Pro-Life Control split LP/CD w/ Selfish (1994 Ecocentric Records)
• Fuck Peaceville 2xLP/CD (1995 Profane Existence)
• Monarchy Zoo CD (1996 Vinyl Japan)
• Rush Hour of the Gods LP/CD (1996 Flat Earth)
• World of Shit LP/CD (2001 Vinyl Japan)

Compilations/Reissues/Live

• Peel Sessions CD (1996 Vinyl Japan)
• Back & Gone Double Live CD & DVD Live video (2006 MCR)

Compilation appearances

• A Vile Peace LP (1987 Peaceville Records)
• Hardcore Holocaust (The 87-88 Peel Sessions) LP (1988 Strange Fruit Records)
• Spleurk! LP (1988 Meantime Records)
• Volnitza: The Worst of the 1 in 12 Club Vol. 6/7 2xLP (1989 1 in 12 Records)
• Hardcore Holocaust II LP/tape (1990 Strange Fruit Records)
• Vile Vibes CD - (1990 Peaceville Records)
• Hardcore Resistance Tape - (1991 Heed the Ball!)
• Endless Struggle: The Worst of the 1 in 12 Club vol. 12/13 2xLP (1995 1 in 12 Records)
• Gay Pride 7" (1995 Rugger Bugger Records)
• Aftermath LP/CD (1999 Aftermath Records)

Members

The following have been members of, or have played for Doom at one point:
(Also note, many members have performed more than one musical role during their tenure with the band)

Guitar

• Brian "Bri Doom " Talbot
• Denis Boardman
• Dave Talbot

Bass

• Jon Pickering
• Pete Nash
• Jim Whitley
• Paul "Mall" Mallen
• Scoot
• Denis Boardman
• Chris Gascoigne
• Andy Irving

Drums

• Jason Hodges
• Mick Harris
• Tony "Stick" Dickens

Vocals

• Jon Pickering
• Tom Croft
• Wayne Southworth
• Karl Willets(Bolt Thrower)on Peel Session

References and external links

• "Doom". Rock Detector: The World's Biggest Rock Music Database. http://www.rockdetector.com/artist/uk/doom. Retrieved December 4 2008. 
• "Sozzfest - Wayne Southworth". 1 in 12 Club. http://www.1in12.go-legend.net/sozzfest/sozzfest.html. Retrieved December 22 2006.