Blitzkrieg (punk band)
Encyclopedia
Blitzkrieg are an English
punk rock
band, based in Southport
and formed in 1979.
Blizkrieg made a distinct contribution to the UK hardcore punk scene and were a powerful antidote to the neo-Nazi skinhead RAC bands that rose to prominence in the early 1980s. The band never achieved major success, and are considered by their fans as one of the most underrated bands on the British punk scene.
This formed the definitive line-up of Mike Riffone (vocals), Phil Din (drums), Gaz Sumner (guitar) and Chris Hind (bass).
It was in this line-up that the band where signed-up by the fledgling independent record label No Future Records and released the track "The Future Must Be Ours" which appeared on the A Country Fit For Heroes compilation album, released in January 1982 – Catalogue number Oi3 reaching #4 in the UK Indie Chart
s.
Blitzkrieg played a vast number of gigs primarily in the North of England both in their own right and as a support group to a number of signed bands of the time including, UK Decay
, Chron Gen
, The Not Sensibles, Anti-Pasti
amongst others.
Shortly after the release of this track, Phil Din left the band and was for a brief period replaced by 'Jackanory' John McCallum on drums.
Despite the Nazi connotations of the name Blitzkrieg, German for "Lightning-War", they took a fiercely anti-Nazi stance, which was reflected in their second vinyl release, a four track EP on No Future Records, entitled the Lest We Forget EP,- Catalogue number Oi8 which reached #11 in the Indie Charts in 1982. Later in the same year, the band parted company with drummer McCallum and their record label, signing to Sexual Phonograph Records, who released their Animals in Lipstick EP.
In on drums came Dave "Bambi" Ellesmere, previously of the local Wigan group The Insane and more notably of the seminal punk/speed-metal group Discharge
who joined the group in mid 1982. The Animals in Lipstick EP featured an aggressively anti-vivisection theme, and their most popular recorded song to date, "Conscience Prayer", an anti-society polemic, it reached #30 in the Indie Chart in 1983.
Since the break-up of the group soon after the "Conscience Prayer" release in 1983, there have since been a number of reformations of the group, initially in late 1987 with new vocalist Spike, Gaz, Bambi & ex-Insane bassist Trev.
Dave left to join Flux of Pink Indians
, and has latterly enjoyed success as a Techno House DJ.
1988 saw Spike form Paradox UK with renowned Liverpool guitarist Martin "Ales" Walker, releasing several vinyl offerings and the now "cult" EP single "Charmed Existence"
Another reformation in 1990 combined Gaz Sumner and Martin "Ales" Walker on guitars, Freddy Doyle on drums, Mal on bass, while Spike returned to vocals. This line-up supported Discharge
on a UK Tour.
When punk became a spent force in the UK, the group disbanded, reforming in the 1990s as part of a 'punk package' series of dates in the UK. The group reformed yet again in 1991, and recorded the LP Future Must Be Ours on Retch Records. A retrospective joint LP with Insane was released on Capt Oi! Records in 1997.
Blitzkrieg reformed for Rebellion 2007 at Blackpool. The new line up was Chris Hind (former member) bass and vocals, Jax Chambers (Girlschool
) lead guitar and vocals, and Tom Tom (Poor Kids with Guns) drums. A new album, Everything is Lies was released July 2008 and they played Rebellion 2008.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band, based in Southport
Southport
Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. During the 2001 census Southport was recorded as having a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England...
and formed in 1979.
Blizkrieg made a distinct contribution to the UK hardcore punk scene and were a powerful antidote to the neo-Nazi skinhead RAC bands that rose to prominence in the early 1980s. The band never achieved major success, and are considered by their fans as one of the most underrated bands on the British punk scene.
History
The original line-up were formed by Mike 'Riffone' on vocals together with his brother Phil 'Din' on drums in 1979, initially with Will Mawdsley on guitar and Gary 'Gaz' Sumner on bass. Tony "Toe" Fowler joined on bass, while Gaz Sumner switched over to guitar. Later when Toe Fowler left, he was replaced with Chris Hind on bass, previously of the local Southport band Mayhem.This formed the definitive line-up of Mike Riffone (vocals), Phil Din (drums), Gaz Sumner (guitar) and Chris Hind (bass).
It was in this line-up that the band where signed-up by the fledgling independent record label No Future Records and released the track "The Future Must Be Ours" which appeared on the A Country Fit For Heroes compilation album, released in January 1982 – Catalogue number Oi3 reaching #4 in the UK Indie Chart
UK Indie Chart
The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
s.
Blitzkrieg played a vast number of gigs primarily in the North of England both in their own right and as a support group to a number of signed bands of the time including, UK Decay
UK Decay
UK Decay are Luton-based post punk band, formed out of the ashes of another local band called The Resistors, who were Steven Abbot guitar, Steve Harle on drums, Paul Wilson vocals, and Martin Smith bass....
, Chron Gen
Chron Gen
Chron Gen were a British punk band formed in January 1978 in Letchworth, Hertfordshire.-History:Chron Gen initially comprised former members of The Condemned and Optional Xtras...
, The Not Sensibles, Anti-Pasti
Anti-Pasti
Anti-Pasti was a British punk band, founded by vocalist Martin Roper and guitarist Dugi Bell in 1978, featuring Kev Nixon on drums and Will Hoon on bass guitar. Later they were joined by a second guitarist, Olly Hoon. Their first album, The Last Call, spent seven weeks in the UK Albums Chart,...
amongst others.
Shortly after the release of this track, Phil Din left the band and was for a brief period replaced by 'Jackanory' John McCallum on drums.
Despite the Nazi connotations of the name Blitzkrieg, German for "Lightning-War", they took a fiercely anti-Nazi stance, which was reflected in their second vinyl release, a four track EP on No Future Records, entitled the Lest We Forget EP,- Catalogue number Oi8 which reached #11 in the Indie Charts in 1982. Later in the same year, the band parted company with drummer McCallum and their record label, signing to Sexual Phonograph Records, who released their Animals in Lipstick EP.
In on drums came Dave "Bambi" Ellesmere, previously of the local Wigan group The Insane and more notably of the seminal punk/speed-metal group Discharge
Discharge (band)
Discharge is a British hardcore punk band formed in 1977 by Terry "Tezz" Roberts and Roy "Rainy" Wainwright. They are often considered among one of the very first bands to play hardcore punk, and to mix punk with metal...
who joined the group in mid 1982. The Animals in Lipstick EP featured an aggressively anti-vivisection theme, and their most popular recorded song to date, "Conscience Prayer", an anti-society polemic, it reached #30 in the Indie Chart in 1983.
Since the break-up of the group soon after the "Conscience Prayer" release in 1983, there have since been a number of reformations of the group, initially in late 1987 with new vocalist Spike, Gaz, Bambi & ex-Insane bassist Trev.
Dave left to join Flux of Pink Indians
Flux Of Pink Indians
Flux of Pink Indians were an English anarcho-punk/post punk band, that originated from Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England.-Biography:...
, and has latterly enjoyed success as a Techno House DJ.
1988 saw Spike form Paradox UK with renowned Liverpool guitarist Martin "Ales" Walker, releasing several vinyl offerings and the now "cult" EP single "Charmed Existence"
Another reformation in 1990 combined Gaz Sumner and Martin "Ales" Walker on guitars, Freddy Doyle on drums, Mal on bass, while Spike returned to vocals. This line-up supported Discharge
Discharge (band)
Discharge is a British hardcore punk band formed in 1977 by Terry "Tezz" Roberts and Roy "Rainy" Wainwright. They are often considered among one of the very first bands to play hardcore punk, and to mix punk with metal...
on a UK Tour.
When punk became a spent force in the UK, the group disbanded, reforming in the 1990s as part of a 'punk package' series of dates in the UK. The group reformed yet again in 1991, and recorded the LP Future Must Be Ours on Retch Records. A retrospective joint LP with Insane was released on Capt Oi! Records in 1997.
Blitzkrieg reformed for Rebellion 2007 at Blackpool. The new line up was Chris Hind (former member) bass and vocals, Jax Chambers (Girlschool
Girlschool
Girlschool are a British heavy metal band originating out of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene in 1978 and frequently associated with contemporaries Motörhead. They are the longest running all-female rock band, still active after more than 30 years...
) lead guitar and vocals, and Tom Tom (Poor Kids with Guns) drums. A new album, Everything is Lies was released July 2008 and they played Rebellion 2008.
Singles and EPs
- "Demo Tape 81"
- "Lest We Forget EP" #11
- "Practice Tape 82"
- "Animals in Lipstick EP" #30
- "The Future Must Be Ours LP"
- A Country Fit for Heroes - No Future Records' 12" sampler features a track of theirs.