Stalag 17 (band)
Encyclopedia
Stalag 17 were an anarcho-punk
band from Belfast
, Northern Ireland
that existed from 1980 to 1987.
bands, The Stillborns, Maimed and Paranoid, the band began writing their own material and covering contemporary punk bands such as The Mekons. After several gigs in and around Belfast the band recorded their first demo and began playing in the Belfast Anarchy Centre, supporting other anarcho-punk bands The Poison Girls and Crass
. In the early 80's line-up changes and hostility from National Front
activists plagued the band.
It wasn't until 1983 that established punk venues began to be formed around Belfast, notably the Manhattan near Belfast city centre as well as The Labour club. This allowed a punk scene to become developed within the city, with Stalag 17 playing alongside bands such as Toxic Waste
. Members of the band got involved with Belfast Anarchist bookshop Just Books and began to establish associations with stalwarts of the anarcho-punk scene that began to tour Belfast such as Conflict
, The Subhumans and DIRT. Conflict offered Stalag 17 a place on the Mortarhate compilation We Don't Want Your Fucking War, and the interest created by that compilation led to a split 12" with Toxic Waste, The Truth Will Be Heard.
In 1985 the band left for an ill-fated seven date tour of Scotland and England, beginning in Edinburgh
where they supported the later to be famous Primal Scream
and Shop Assistants. During this tour over half the gigs were cancelled (without prior notice) and the band had to spend all their money repairing their tour van and eventually resorted to siphon
ing their way back home. On their return the band released their first 'proper' demo 'From Belfast with Love' (titled so in reaction to Mortorhate's decision to catalogue the 'The Truth Will be Heard' 12" as 'From Belfast with Blood' - without either of the band's consent and much to their disgust). The demo was a collection of studio tracks and a live recording from The Station in Gateshead. During the rest of 1985 the band recorded a track for the Words of Warning label's first release 'You Are Not Alone' alongside Oi Polloi
and then in 1986 spent a more successful three-week tour in Europe. 1986 also saw the band recording tracks for the 'We Will be Free' album, which also hosted Toxic Waste and Asylum.
The band recorded two more demos ("And All the Birdies Sang Fuck This for a Lark" and "Erection 87"). In 1987 the band played 2 gigs in Scotland
. However, general dissatisfaction within the band meant the gigs would be their last. The demo 17 from 17 was released after the bands demise. Petesy, the band's vocalist was later to play in FUAL and join Northern Irish 'Punk Supergroup' Shame Academy comprising ex members of Rudi and The Outcasts. More recently Petesy, Mickey (the original drummer) and Joe (bass player) formed A-Political with Ali Curry.
♦ The Truth Will Be Heard (Split with Toxic Waste
) (12" EP, Mortarhate, 1985)
♦ "From Belfast with Love" (Cassette, Warzone 1985)
♦ "Harmless Fun" on You Are Not Alone (Compilation 7", Words of Warning, 1986)
♦ We Will Be Free (split with Toxic Waste and Asylum) (LP, Warzone/Jungle, 1986)
♦ "And All the Birdies Sang Fuck This For a Lark" (Cassette, Warzone, 1986)
♦ "Erection 87" (Cassette, Warzone, 1987)
♦ "17 from 17" (Cassette, Warzone, 1989)
Anarcho-punk
Anarcho-punk is punk rock that promotes anarchism. The term anarcho-punk is sometimes applied exclusively to bands that were part of the original anarcho-punk movement in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s and early 1980s...
band from Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
that existed from 1980 to 1987.
History
Formed in Belfast by the members of three other punkPunk 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...
bands, The Stillborns, Maimed and Paranoid, the band began writing their own material and covering contemporary punk bands such as The Mekons. After several gigs in and around Belfast the band recorded their first demo and began playing in the Belfast Anarchy Centre, supporting other anarcho-punk bands The Poison Girls and 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...
. In the early 80's line-up changes and hostility from National Front
British National Front
The National Front is a far right, white-only political party whose major political activities took place during the 1970s and 1980s. Its popularity peaked in the 1979 general election, when it received 191,719 votes ....
activists plagued the band.
It wasn't until 1983 that established punk venues began to be formed around Belfast, notably the Manhattan near Belfast city centre as well as The Labour club. This allowed a punk scene to become developed within the city, with Stalag 17 playing alongside bands such as Toxic Waste
Toxic Waste (band)
Toxic Waste were an Anarcho punk band from Belfast, Northern Ireland.-Career:The band formed in 1982 after inspiration from the Crass gig at the Anarchy Centre in Belfast. Featuring Phil on bass, Patsy on vocals, Grub on drums and Marty on guitar they wanted to take the DIY and anti-establishment...
. Members of the band got involved with Belfast Anarchist bookshop Just Books and began to establish associations with stalwarts of the anarcho-punk scene that began to tour Belfast such as Conflict
Conflict (band)
Conflict is an English anarcho-punk band originally based around Eltham in South London. Formed in 1981, the band's original line up consisted of: Colin Jerwood , Francisco 'Paco' Carreno , Big John , Steve , Pauline , Paul aka 'Nihilistic Nobody' . Their first release was the EP "The House That...
, The Subhumans and DIRT. Conflict offered Stalag 17 a place on the Mortarhate compilation We Don't Want Your Fucking War, and the interest created by that compilation led to a split 12" with Toxic Waste, The Truth Will Be Heard.
In 1985 the band left for an ill-fated seven date tour of Scotland and England, beginning in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
where they supported the later to be famous Primal Scream
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
and Shop Assistants. During this tour over half the gigs were cancelled (without prior notice) and the band had to spend all their money repairing their tour van and eventually resorted to siphon
Siphon
The word siphon is sometimes used to refer to a wide variety of devices that involve the flow of liquids through tubes. But in the English language today, the word siphon usually refers to a tube in an inverted U shape which causes a liquid to flow uphill, above the surface of the reservoir,...
ing their way back home. On their return the band released their first 'proper' demo 'From Belfast with Love' (titled so in reaction to Mortorhate's decision to catalogue the 'The Truth Will be Heard' 12" as 'From Belfast with Blood' - without either of the band's consent and much to their disgust). The demo was a collection of studio tracks and a live recording from The Station in Gateshead. During the rest of 1985 the band recorded a track for the Words of Warning label's first release 'You Are Not Alone' alongside Oi Polloi
Oi Polloi
Oi Polloi are an anarcho-punk band from Scotland that formed around 1981. Starting as an Oi! band, they are generally associated more with the anarcho-punk genre. More recently the band have become notable for their contributions to the Scottish Gaelic punk subgenre...
and then in 1986 spent a more successful three-week tour in Europe. 1986 also saw the band recording tracks for the 'We Will be Free' album, which also hosted Toxic Waste and Asylum.
The band recorded two more demos ("And All the Birdies Sang Fuck This for a Lark" and "Erection 87"). In 1987 the band played 2 gigs in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. However, general dissatisfaction within the band meant the gigs would be their last. The demo 17 from 17 was released after the bands demise. Petesy, the band's vocalist was later to play in FUAL and join Northern Irish 'Punk Supergroup' Shame Academy comprising ex members of Rudi and The Outcasts. More recently Petesy, Mickey (the original drummer) and Joe (bass player) formed A-Political with Ali Curry.
Discography
♦ "Society's Fairytale" on We Don't Want Your Fucking War! (Compilation LP, Mortarhate, 1984)♦ The Truth Will Be Heard (Split with Toxic Waste
Toxic Waste (band)
Toxic Waste were an Anarcho punk band from Belfast, Northern Ireland.-Career:The band formed in 1982 after inspiration from the Crass gig at the Anarchy Centre in Belfast. Featuring Phil on bass, Patsy on vocals, Grub on drums and Marty on guitar they wanted to take the DIY and anti-establishment...
) (12" EP, Mortarhate, 1985)
♦ "From Belfast with Love" (Cassette, Warzone 1985)
♦ "Harmless Fun" on You Are Not Alone (Compilation 7", Words of Warning, 1986)
♦ We Will Be Free (split with Toxic Waste and Asylum) (LP, Warzone/Jungle, 1986)
♦ "And All the Birdies Sang Fuck This For a Lark" (Cassette, Warzone, 1986)
♦ "Erection 87" (Cassette, Warzone, 1987)
♦ "17 from 17" (Cassette, Warzone, 1989)