Demented Are Go
Encyclopedia
Demented Are Go are a Welsh
psychobilly
band that was formed around 1982 in Cardiff
. They were one of the earliest in the initial wave of bands to mix punk rock
with rockabilly
, and as a result, are considered to be highly influential to the psychobilly scene.
The band often claims their name originated from the phrase "Demon
teds are go!," an adaptation of the phrase "Thunderbirds are go!" from the Thunderbirds
TV series, as rockabillies
are known as teds and psychobilly is often associated with horror.
, South Wales
, near Cardiff. Initially, the band was disorganised, with Mark Phillips or "Sparky" playing drums, Ant Thomas singing, a bass
player with his hair dyed red, and a "rock icon" with a gold-top Les Paul
guitar and leather keks on rhythm guitar
. Dick, a veteran of the punk/pub rock circuits, joined the band in early 1983, reshuffled the line up (Ant moved to drums & Sparky to vocals), taught the bass player and generally consolidated things.
After six weeks of rehearsals, the band's first gig was third on the bill to a line-up of Crass
-type anarchist bands at the Sea Lion in Penarth and was met with good reception. Several years of playing everything from working men's club
s in the Rhondda
to the red-light district
in Hamburg
, turning up at the Klub Foot twenty minutes after they were due on stage. They recorded two songs for their first release on a 1984 compilation, Hell's Bent On Rockin from Nervous Records
, a well known record label
in the psychobilly scene. These tracks were engineered and co-produced by Paul "Doc" Stewart at Village Way Recording. In 1986, they released their first album, In Sickness & In Health
, on ID Records, which was recorded in less than 24 hours with 90% first takes, with Ray Thompson on bass. The core members at this time remained Mark, Ant and Dick.
The band moved to London in 1986 in an attempt to be closer to regular work. Dick left in 1987 after continuing frustration with the direction the band was taking. Undeterred,the then new double bass player and song writer graeme grant, recruited lex"luther(at dicks last klubfoot gig) to replace Dick, who incidentally coached Lex to bring him up to speed with the band's material. This was followed with their second full-length Kicked Out of Hell album that reached high positions in the indie charts both here and abroad in 1988. The band began extensively touring Europe
and gained both a psychobilly and punk rock following. At this point, the lead singer, Sparky, became addicted to Psychoactive drugs(LSD) and alcohol.At this point graeme and lex both left the band at the end of 89,lex rejoined the band only after a short break."billy munster" was to replace graeme on double bass.(graeme was to return back on bass in 1992.)
In 1990, the band went back to the studio, though without any songs. They were able to write and record an EP for Link Records, The Day the Earth Spat Blood, within the span of three days. The band went on another European tour in 1991, writing and recording their next full-length for [Fury Records], Orgasmic Nightmare. This album also to contained input from their old bassist graeme the flying vicar) on the road. then in 1992 The band would tour almost constantly for the next two years. A second album for Fury Records, Tangenital Madness On A Pleasant Side Of Hell, was recorded in 1993, followed by two tours in Japan. The band was infamous for Sparky showing up to Japanese performances naked and doing strange things with a rubber fish...!
During a tour in Germany in spring 1995, the band broke up due to Sparky's deteriorating mental state. However, in 1996, Demented are Go reformed to release the EP'I Wanna See You Bleed! for Hell Razor Records.(this would be graemes last recording with the band) The band then toured the west coast of the United States|U.S. in 1997. They would again be known more for their wild stage show, which included on-stage sex with vacuum cleaner"At the end of 1997 graeme grant left the band due to other commitments But before leaving would recruit "stan the man" on guitar, graeme still remains friends with the band to this day.
The band released the full-length Hellucifernation
for Crazy Love Records in 1999. However, a European tour for the record's release was cancelled due to Sparky's mental problems returning. The band considered breaking up, but were offered a headlining gig in New Jersey
and decided to give Sparky a second try. Upon arrival, Sparky first caused trouble at the hotel by cross-dressing and doing drugs, then setting fire to a surrounding woodland
at the music venue
. After their soundcheck
, the band went to a nearby shopping mall
where Sparky pinched a girl's behind. She turned out to only be 16, so he was arrested and charged with molesting a minor. Unable to pay the $60,000 bail, the rest of the band left him in jail and returned to England.
After a month in jail and a $100 fine, Sparky returned to England where the Demented Are Go line-up underwent numerous changes. The band went through a period of stability, with Lex Luther re-joining the band along with drummer Criss Damage and Paul 'Choppy' Lambourne on Double Bass They played two U.S. tours and recorded a live album (with Kelvin Klump replacing Choppy on Double bass) Live at the Galaxy, for Crazy Love Records as well as many European festival appearances. However, in the summer of 2003, Sparky was arrested numerous times on the road, resulting in more line-up changes. The band continued touring including a successful Japanese tour and another tour of the USA led by Sparky & including psychobilly scene stalwarts Strangy (Double Bass) & Doyley (Guitar) until September 2005, then split again. During a month-long break, a new album Hellbilly Storm
was released on German label People Like You Records. The line up on this recording was Sparky, Strangy, Doyley, Criss Damage, Stan, Lex Luther and special guests Charlie Harper and Country Woman.
At the beginning of the 2006 U.S. tour, Sparky was detained by U.S. immigration authorities due to his criminal history, and he was sent back to England. The U.S. tour was cancelled but Demented Are Go still played shows in Europe.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
psychobilly
Psychobilly
Psychobilly is a fusion genre of rock music that mixes elements of punk rock, rockabilly, and other genres. It is one of several subgenres of rockabilly which also include thrashabilly, trashabilly, punkabilly, surfabilly and gothabilly...
band that was formed around 1982 in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
. They were one of the earliest in the initial wave of bands to mix 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...
with rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
, and as a result, are considered to be highly influential to the psychobilly scene.
The band often claims their name originated from the phrase "Demon
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
teds are go!," an adaptation of the phrase "Thunderbirds are go!" from the Thunderbirds
Thunderbirds (TV series)
Thunderbirds is a British mid-1960s science fiction television show devised by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and made by AP Films using a form of marionette puppetry dubbed "Supermarionation"...
TV series, as rockabillies
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
are known as teds and psychobilly is often associated with horror.
Career
Demented Are Go got their start in PenarthPenarth
Penarth is a town and seaside resort in the Vale of Glamorgan , Wales, 5.2 miles south west from the city centre of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff and lying on the north shore of the Severn Estuary at the southern end of Cardiff Bay...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
, near Cardiff. Initially, the band was disorganised, with Mark Phillips or "Sparky" playing drums, Ant Thomas singing, a bass
Bass (instrument)
Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
player with his hair dyed red, and a "rock icon" with a gold-top Les Paul
Les Paul
Lester William Polsfuss —known as Les Paul—was an American jazz and country guitarist, songwriter and inventor. He was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar which made the sound of rock and roll possible. He is credited with many recording innovations...
guitar and leather keks on rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
. Dick, a veteran of the punk/pub rock circuits, joined the band in early 1983, reshuffled the line up (Ant moved to drums & Sparky to vocals), taught the bass player and generally consolidated things.
After six weeks of rehearsals, the band's first gig was third on the bill to a line-up of Crass
Crass
Crass are an English punk rock band that was formed in 1977, which promoted anarchism as a political ideology, way of living, and as a resistance movement. Crass popularised the seminal anarcho-punk movement of the punk subculture, and advocated direct action, animal rights, and environmentalism...
-type anarchist bands at the Sea Lion in Penarth and was met with good reception. Several years of playing everything from working men's club
Working men's club
Working men's clubs are a type of private social club founded in the 19th century in industrial areas of the United Kingdom, particularly the North of England, the Midlands and many parts of the South Wales Valleys, to provide recreation and education for working class men and their families.-...
s in the Rhondda
Rhondda Cynon Taff
Rhondda Cynon Taf, or RCT, is a county borough in the South Wales Valleys of Wales. It consists of 3 valleys: the Rhondda Valley, Cynon Valley and Taff-Ely Valley...
to the red-light district
Red-light district
A red-light district is a part of an urban area where there is a concentration of prostitution and sex-oriented businesses, such as sex shops, strip clubs, adult theaters, etc...
in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, turning up at the Klub Foot twenty minutes after they were due on stage. They recorded two songs for their first release on a 1984 compilation, Hell's Bent On Rockin from Nervous Records
Nervous Records
Nervous Records is a UK based rockabilly music independent record label. It was formed in 1979. Artists include Nekromantix, Restless, The Nervous Fellas, The Quakes and many more. The website sells CDs and mp3s. Nervous Records an independent record label based in the UK born out of years of DJ...
, a well known record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
in the psychobilly scene. These tracks were engineered and co-produced by Paul "Doc" Stewart at Village Way Recording. In 1986, they released their first album, In Sickness & In Health
In Sickness & In Health
In Sickness & In Health is the debut album of Welsh psychobilly band Demented Are Go. It was originally released in 1986 on ID Records. The band did two interpretations of early Rock'n'Roll songs plus a cover-version of The Osmonds song "Crazy Horses"...
, on ID Records, which was recorded in less than 24 hours with 90% first takes, with Ray Thompson on bass. The core members at this time remained Mark, Ant and Dick.
The band moved to London in 1986 in an attempt to be closer to regular work. Dick left in 1987 after continuing frustration with the direction the band was taking. Undeterred,the then new double bass player and song writer graeme grant, recruited lex"luther(at dicks last klubfoot gig) to replace Dick, who incidentally coached Lex to bring him up to speed with the band's material. This was followed with their second full-length Kicked Out of Hell album that reached high positions in the indie charts both here and abroad in 1988. The band began extensively touring Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and gained both a psychobilly and punk rock following. At this point, the lead singer, Sparky, became addicted to Psychoactive drugs(LSD) and alcohol.At this point graeme and lex both left the band at the end of 89,lex rejoined the band only after a short break."billy munster" was to replace graeme on double bass.(graeme was to return back on bass in 1992.)
In 1990, the band went back to the studio, though without any songs. They were able to write and record an EP for Link Records, The Day the Earth Spat Blood, within the span of three days. The band went on another European tour in 1991, writing and recording their next full-length for [Fury Records], Orgasmic Nightmare. This album also to contained input from their old bassist graeme the flying vicar) on the road. then in 1992 The band would tour almost constantly for the next two years. A second album for Fury Records, Tangenital Madness On A Pleasant Side Of Hell, was recorded in 1993, followed by two tours in Japan. The band was infamous for Sparky showing up to Japanese performances naked and doing strange things with a rubber fish...!
During a tour in Germany in spring 1995, the band broke up due to Sparky's deteriorating mental state. However, in 1996, Demented are Go reformed to release the EP'I Wanna See You Bleed! for Hell Razor Records.(this would be graemes last recording with the band) The band then toured the west coast of the United States|U.S. in 1997. They would again be known more for their wild stage show, which included on-stage sex with vacuum cleaner"At the end of 1997 graeme grant left the band due to other commitments But before leaving would recruit "stan the man" on guitar, graeme still remains friends with the band to this day.
The band released the full-length Hellucifernation
Hellucifernation
Hellucifernation is the sixth studio album from Welsh psychobilly band Demented are Go , released in 1999.-Track listing:#"I Wanna Be Your Slave"#"Stake In The Heart"#"Daddies Makin' Monsters"#"Can't Sleep At Night"...
for Crazy Love Records in 1999. However, a European tour for the record's release was cancelled due to Sparky's mental problems returning. The band considered breaking up, but were offered a headlining gig in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and decided to give Sparky a second try. Upon arrival, Sparky first caused trouble at the hotel by cross-dressing and doing drugs, then setting fire to a surrounding woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
at the music venue
Music venue
A music venue is any location used for a concert or musical performance. Music venues range in size and location, from an outdoor bandshell or bandstand or a concert hall to an indoor sports stadium. Typically, different types of venues host different genres of music...
. After their soundcheck
Soundcheck
A soundcheck is the preparation that takes place before a concert, speech, or similar performance, when the performer and the sound crew run through a small portion of the upcoming show on the venue's sound system to make sure that the sound in the venue's "Front Of House" and stage monitor sound...
, the band went to a nearby shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
where Sparky pinched a girl's behind. She turned out to only be 16, so he was arrested and charged with molesting a minor. Unable to pay the $60,000 bail, the rest of the band left him in jail and returned to England.
After a month in jail and a $100 fine, Sparky returned to England where the Demented Are Go line-up underwent numerous changes. The band went through a period of stability, with Lex Luther re-joining the band along with drummer Criss Damage and Paul 'Choppy' Lambourne on Double Bass They played two U.S. tours and recorded a live album (with Kelvin Klump replacing Choppy on Double bass) Live at the Galaxy, for Crazy Love Records as well as many European festival appearances. However, in the summer of 2003, Sparky was arrested numerous times on the road, resulting in more line-up changes. The band continued touring including a successful Japanese tour and another tour of the USA led by Sparky & including psychobilly scene stalwarts Strangy (Double Bass) & Doyley (Guitar) until September 2005, then split again. During a month-long break, a new album Hellbilly Storm
Hellbilly Storm
Hellbilly Storm is the seventh full-length studio album by the Welsh psychobilly band Demented Are Go.-Track listing:#"Pedigree Scum"#"The Noose that Snapped"#"Hellbilly Storm"#"Skating in the Rain"#"Out of Control"#"Block Up"#"Hotrod Vampires"...
was released on German label People Like You Records. The line up on this recording was Sparky, Strangy, Doyley, Criss Damage, Stan, Lex Luther and special guests Charlie Harper and Country Woman.
At the beginning of the 2006 U.S. tour, Sparky was detained by U.S. immigration authorities due to his criminal history, and he was sent back to England. The U.S. tour was cancelled but Demented Are Go still played shows in Europe.
Studio albums
- In Sickness & In HealthIn Sickness & In HealthIn Sickness & In Health is the debut album of Welsh psychobilly band Demented Are Go. It was originally released in 1986 on ID Records. The band did two interpretations of early Rock'n'Roll songs plus a cover-version of The Osmonds song "Crazy Horses"...
(ID Records - NOSE 9) - 1986 - Kicked Out of HellKicked Out of HellKicked out of hell is the second album of the Welsh Psychobilly band Demented Are Go. As the debut-album it is released on the ID Records label. It's the first record to feature Lex Luther on guitar and Graeme Grant on bass. As on their previous record the band did a cover-version of a classic...
(ID Records - NOSE 21) - 1988 - The Day the Earth Spat Blood (Link Records - LINK MLP 084) - 1989
- Orgasmic NightmareOrgasmic NightmareOrgasmic Nightmare is the fourth full-length album released by the Welsh Psychobilly band Demented Are Go.-Track listing:#Orgasmic Nightmare#Beast In The Cellar#House Of Blood#Now She's Dead#Clitoris Bite Boogie#Love Is Like Electrocution...
(Fury Records - F3016) - 1991 - Tangenital Madness On A Pleasant Side Of HellTangenital Madness on a Pleasant Side of HellTangenital Madness on a Pleasant Side of Hell is the fifth full-length album released by the Welsh Psychobilly band Demented Are Go.-Track listing:#"Intro"#"Brand New Corpse"#"Mongoloid"#"Gambling Queen"#"Dream Space Baby"#"Zombie Stalk"...
(Fury Records - DAGLP1) - 1993 - HellucifernationHellucifernationHellucifernation is the sixth studio album from Welsh psychobilly band Demented are Go , released in 1999.-Track listing:#"I Wanna Be Your Slave"#"Stake In The Heart"#"Daddies Makin' Monsters"#"Can't Sleep At Night"...
(Crazy Love Records) - 1999 - Hellbilly StormHellbilly StormHellbilly Storm is the seventh full-length studio album by the Welsh psychobilly band Demented Are Go.-Track listing:#"Pedigree Scum"#"The Noose that Snapped"#"Hellbilly Storm"#"Skating in the Rain"#"Out of Control"#"Block Up"#"Hotrod Vampires"...
(People Like You Records) - 2005
Singles
- Holy Hack JackHoly Hack JackPsychobilly band Demented Are Go's 12" single.-Personnel:* Sparky - Vocals* Ant - Drums* Dick - Guitar* Ray Thompson - Double bass...
(12" single) (ID Records - EYE T8) - 1986 - Marijuana (7" Single) (Fury Records) - 1993
- German Tour Single (Limited edition 7" of 1000 copies) (Pin Up Records - Pin Up 95032) - 1995
- I Wanna See You Bleed!! (10" single) - Scandal Records 1996
- Demons of the Swamp (Limited edition 7" of 1000 copies) (Krueger Records - BZH666) - 1997
- Daddy's Making Monsters (7" Single) (Crazy Love Records) - 1999
- Hotrod Vampires / Out of Control (7" Single) (People Like U Records) - 2005
Compilations
- The Best of Demented Are Go (Dojo Records) - 1993
- Satan's Rejects 1: The Very Best of Demented Are Go (Anagram Records) - 1997
- Satan's Rejects 2: The Very Best of Demented Are Go (Harry May Records) - 1999
- I Wanna See You Bleed!! (Remastered with live and demo tracks) (Hell Razer Records) - 2000
Live albums
- Sick Sick Sick (ID Records - NOSE 15) 1987
- Live and Rockin (Link Records - LINL LP 116) - 1990
- Go Go Demented (Link Records - LRMO 5) - 1990
- Live in Japan (Tombstone Records - TOMB-DISK 705/2) - 1993
- Who Put Grandma Under the Stairs (Receiver Records) - 1996
- Stomping at the Klubfoot (Mayo Records) - 2002
- Live at the Galaxy (Crazy Love Records) - 2003
- Call of the Wired (Cherry Red Records) - 2004