The Prefects
Encyclopedia
The Prefects were a punk
band from Birmingham
, United Kingdom, with members that would later form The Nightingales
.
, with guitarist/drummer brothers Alan and Paul Apperley formed after an advert was placed by the Apperley brothers in the Birmingham Evening Mail. Unsuccessful applicants included Nikki Sudden
and Frank Skinner
. Lloyd also brought his friend and colleague from the band Church of England, Graham Blunt, into the band. They were Birmingham's first punk group, and played their first gig on 12 March 1977 at a private party which ended in a police raid. At their first gig at a recognized venue (Rebecca's in Birmingham) later that month they were bottled off stage after premiering their new song, "Birmingham's a Shithole".
The band were part of The Clash
's 'White Riot
Tour' (playing on the bill of four shows), supported Buzzcocks
, played with The Slits
, The Fall, The Damned and many others. Paul Apperley left the band in February 1978, to be replaced briefly by Stephanie (of Manchester band Manicured Noise) and then Adrian Moran. Joe Crow also joined the band around this time. They recorded two sessions for the John Peel
radio show in 1978 and 1979. The band acquired legendary status in the UK, partly because no records were released until the band had split up, and then, only one posthumous single ("Motions"/"Things") on Rough Trade
, which the band agreed to on the condition that Rough Trade record Lloyd's new band The Nightingales
. The band reformed for a few gigs in 2001, but only briefly. In November 2004 (following a semi-official retrospective, The Sound of Tomorrow on Rush Release) a retrospective compilation Amateur Wankers was released by New York City
label Acute Records which, twenty five years after the group's demise, garnered praise all over, from webzines to Rolling Stone
. The interest was such that a Live in 1978 CD was also released on British label Caroline True in 2005. Their seven-second opus "I've Got V.D.
" remained a favourite with John Peel.
January 1979:
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 from Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, United Kingdom, with members that would later form The Nightingales
The Nightingales
The Nightingales are a British punk/alternative band formed in 1979 in Birmingham, England. Original members were Robert Lloyd , Joe Crow on guitar, Eamonn Duffy on bass and Paul Apperley on drums, all formerly of The Prefects...
.
History
In 1976 singer Robert LloydRobert Lloyd (Nightingales)
Robert Lloyd is the lead singer with The Nightingales and formerly with The Prefects. When The Nightingales split in 1986, Lloyd embarked on a solo career, initially signing to In-Tape before signing to Virgin Records in 1989 and releasing the album Me and My Mouth...
, with guitarist/drummer brothers Alan and Paul Apperley formed after an advert was placed by the Apperley brothers in the Birmingham Evening Mail. Unsuccessful applicants included Nikki Sudden
Nikki Sudden
Nikki Sudden was a prolific English singer-songwriter and guitarist. He co-founded the post-punk band Swell Maps with his brother Epic Soundtracks while attending Solihull School in Solihull.-Career:...
and Frank Skinner
Frank Skinner
Frank Skinner is a British writer, comedian and actor. He is best known for his television presenting, often alongside David Baddiel, with whom he also collaborated for the football song "Three Lions."He is a radio presenter on the Saturday morning slot on Absolute Radio.-Youth and early career...
. Lloyd also brought his friend and colleague from the band Church of England, Graham Blunt, into the band. They were Birmingham's first punk group, and played their first gig on 12 March 1977 at a private party which ended in a police raid. At their first gig at a recognized venue (Rebecca's in Birmingham) later that month they were bottled off stage after premiering their new song, "Birmingham's a Shithole".
The band were part of The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
's 'White Riot
White Riot
"White Riot" is a song by English punk rock band The Clash, released as the band's first single in 1977 and also featured on their debut album. There are two versions: the single version , and a different version on the UK album...
Tour' (playing on the bill of four shows), supported Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
, played with The Slits
The Slits
The Slits were a British punk rock band. The quartet was formed in 1976 by members of the bands The Flowers of Romance and The Castrators. The members were Ari Up , who died of cancer in October 2010, and Palmolive , with Viv Albertine and Tessa Pollitt replacing founding members, Kate Korus and...
, The Fall, The Damned and many others. Paul Apperley left the band in February 1978, to be replaced briefly by Stephanie (of Manchester band Manicured Noise) and then Adrian Moran. Joe Crow also joined the band around this time. They recorded two sessions for the John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
radio show in 1978 and 1979. The band acquired legendary status in the UK, partly because no records were released until the band had split up, and then, only one posthumous single ("Motions"/"Things") on Rough Trade
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
, which the band agreed to on the condition that Rough Trade record Lloyd's new band The Nightingales
The Nightingales
The Nightingales are a British punk/alternative band formed in 1979 in Birmingham, England. Original members were Robert Lloyd , Joe Crow on guitar, Eamonn Duffy on bass and Paul Apperley on drums, all formerly of The Prefects...
. The band reformed for a few gigs in 2001, but only briefly. In November 2004 (following a semi-official retrospective, The Sound of Tomorrow on Rush Release) a retrospective compilation Amateur Wankers was released by New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
label Acute Records which, twenty five years after the group's demise, garnered praise all over, from webzines to Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
. The interest was such that a Live in 1978 CD was also released on British label Caroline True in 2005. Their seven-second opus "I've Got V.D.
Sexually transmitted disease
Sexually transmitted disease , also known as a sexually transmitted infection or venereal disease , is an illness that has a significant probability of transmission between humans by means of human sexual behavior, including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex...
" remained a favourite with John Peel.
Singles
- "Motions" (1979) Rough Trade/Vindaloo
- Peel Session EP (2001) Strange FruitStrange Fruit RecordsStrange Fruit Records was an independent record label in the United Kingdom.The label, established by Clive Selwood and John Peel in 1986, was the primary distributor of BBC recordings, including Peel Sessions....
Albums
- The Prefects are Amateur Wankers (2004) Acute
- Live 1978 - The Co-op Suite Birmingham (2006) Caroline True
John Peel Radio 1 sessions
August 1978:- Things In General
- Escort Girls
- Agony Column
- The Bristol Road Leads to Dachau
January 1979:
- Faults
- Going Through the Motions
- Barbarellas
- Total Luck