The Wall (band)
Encyclopedia
The Wall were a punk rock
band formed in Wallsend
, Sunderland
, England
, in early 1978. They released two albums while together.
disc jockey
John Peel
, the single sold more than 10,000 copies. This success led Lowery and Griffiths to relocate to London
, although Hammond and Archibald didn't follow them and were replaced by Nick Ward on guitar, and by Rab Fae Beith, former drummer with Patrik Fitzgerald
(who The Wall had toured with) and The Pack
. After meeting Paul Cook
and Steve Jones
, the two former Sex Pistols
decided they wanted to work with the band, and produced the next single, "Exchange". Rab became the band's manager, and when their first label Small Wonder
ceased operating, he got them a deal with Fresh Records
and went into the studio to record the next single "Ghetto". Although originally recorded with Lowery on vocals, it would be re-recorded with new singer Ivan Kelly (formerly of Ruefrex
). Lowery had decided that Ward should be replaced, but the rest of the band disagreed and instead decided that Lowery should go. Lowery went on to form Ski Patrol (with Archibald) and The Folk Devils
, as well as recording solo work. He died in 2001. Former Straps guitarist Andy "Heed" Forbes was also added to the line-up when Ward decided to leave the band. The debut album, Personal Troubles and Public Issues was released in late 1980. After an unprovoked drunken attack by Kelly on an elderly man while the band were walking through London, the singer was immediately sacked from the band, with Griffiths taking over on vocals. The band were given a support slot on the Stiff Little Fingers
Go For It national tour, and recorded the Remembrance EP
to coincide with the dates, with a stand-in bassist playing in the live shows. On returning from the tour, Claire Bidwell of The Passions
joined on bass guitar, leaving Griffiths free to concentrate on vocals. The band's second album, Dirges and Anthems was released in April 1982, the band now signed to Polydor Records
. Polydor insisted that "Epitaph" be released as a single, but it was outsold by the Hobbies for a Day EP released on Fresh Records shortly before, and the band were dropped by Polydor. The Wall were reduced to a duo of Beith and Griffiths, who soldiered on for one last effort, the Day Tripper EP in late 1982, before the group split up for good.
Beith had a short spell with And Also the Trees
before joining UK Subs
in 1984, and running his own RFB record label. He later worked as a motorcycle mechanic.
A collection of the band's independent releases was issued in 1998 on Captain Oi!.
In August 2007, the band reformed for a headline appearance at the Blackpool Rebellion with 7 of the original members,
Andzy Griffiths (vocals), Nick Ward (guitars), Al Gregg (Guitars), Andrew Forbes (guitars), John Hammond (guitars),
Claire Bidwell (bass) and Mark Dyvig (drums) with a warm-up the previous night at The Thatched House in Stockport.
This was followed by the release of a new live album in August 2009 on Captive Records (Opus Productions).
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 formed in Wallsend
Wallsend
Wallsend is an area in North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England. Wallsend derives its name as the location of the end of Hadrian's Wall. It has a population of 42,842.-Romans:...
, Sunderland
City of Sunderland
The City of Sunderland is a local government district of Tyne and Wear, in North East England, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough...
, England
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...
, in early 1978. They released two albums while together.
History
Formed in early 1978, the initial line-up was Ian Lowery (vocals), Andzy Griffiths (bass, vocals), John Hammond (lead guitar, vocals), and Bruce Archibald (drums), and this line-up recorded the band's debut single, "New Way", which was issued in April 1979. Played regularly by BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
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...
, the single sold more than 10,000 copies. This success led Lowery and Griffiths to relocate to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, although Hammond and Archibald didn't follow them and were replaced by Nick Ward on guitar, and by Rab Fae Beith, former drummer with Patrik Fitzgerald
Patrik Fitzgerald
Patrik Fitzgerald is a singer-songwriter. The son of working-class Irish immigrant parents, he began recording and performing during the punk rock movement in 1977, after working briefly as an actor.-Early recordings:His early songs were generally short, sarcastic efforts, recorded with just an...
(who The Wall had toured with) and The Pack
Theatre of Hate
Theatre of Hate were a post-punk band formed in Britain in 1980.Led by singer-songwriter and ex-member of punk band The Pack, Kirk Brandon, the original group also consisted of: guitarist Steve Guthrie, bassist Stan Stammers , saxophonist John Lennard and drummer Luke Rendle from Crisis/The...
. After meeting Paul Cook
Paul Cook
Paul Thomas Cook is an English drummer and member of the punk rock band Sex Pistols.-Early life and career:...
and Steve Jones
Steve Jones (musician)
Stephen Philip "Steve" Jones is an English rock guitarist, singer and actor, best known as guitarist and founding member of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols.-Childhood:...
, the two former Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
decided they wanted to work with the band, and produced the next single, "Exchange". Rab became the band's manager, and when their first label Small Wonder
Small Wonder Records
Small Wonder Records was a UK independent record label owned and managed by Pete Stennett, that specialised in releasing records by punk rock and post-punk bands. It operated out of a record shop of the same name at 162 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, E17, east London...
ceased operating, he got them a deal with Fresh Records
Fresh Records (UK)
Fresh Records was an independent record label, and distributor based in the United Kingdom. Most popular in the latter 1970s, the label once supported punk groups like UK Decay, Play Dead, Family Fodder, Cuddly Toys, The Dark, Wilko Johnson and Big Hair competed with labels such as 4AD.The label...
and went into the studio to record the next single "Ghetto". Although originally recorded with Lowery on vocals, it would be re-recorded with new singer Ivan Kelly (formerly of Ruefrex
Ruefrex
Ruefrex, originally called Roofwrecks, were a punk rock band from Belfast, Northern Ireland, formed in in 1977.-History:The band was formed in 1977 by Paul Burgess and Tom Coulter at the Boys Model School in Belfast, Coulter originally acting as vocalist but sticking to bass when Ivan Kelly joined....
). Lowery had decided that Ward should be replaced, but the rest of the band disagreed and instead decided that Lowery should go. Lowery went on to form Ski Patrol (with Archibald) and The Folk Devils
The Folk Devils
The Folk Devils were a 1980s post-punk ensemble born of the Notting Hill, West London music scene.Founding member Ian Lowery had previously been the original singer in late 1970s punk rock band The Wall and then signed to Killing Joke's Malicious Damage label as leader of the group Ski Patrol...
, as well as recording solo work. He died in 2001. Former Straps guitarist Andy "Heed" Forbes was also added to the line-up when Ward decided to leave the band. The debut album, Personal Troubles and Public Issues was released in late 1980. After an unprovoked drunken attack by Kelly on an elderly man while the band were walking through London, the singer was immediately sacked from the band, with Griffiths taking over on vocals. The band were given a support slot on the Stiff Little Fingers
Stiff Little Fingers
Stiff Little Fingers are a punk rock band from Belfast, Northern Ireland. They formed in 1977, at the height of the Troubles. They started out as a schoolboy band called Highway Star , doing rock covers, until they discovered punk. They split up after six years and four albums, although they...
Go For It national tour, and recorded the Remembrance EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
to coincide with the dates, with a stand-in bassist playing in the live shows. On returning from the tour, Claire Bidwell of The Passions
The Passions
The Passions were a British band which formed in 1978, and disbanded in 1983. They were one-hit wonders with their misty song, "I'm in Love with a German Film Star". which was released in early 1981.-Career:...
joined on bass guitar, leaving Griffiths free to concentrate on vocals. The band's second album, Dirges and Anthems was released in April 1982, the band now signed to Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
. Polydor insisted that "Epitaph" be released as a single, but it was outsold by the Hobbies for a Day EP released on Fresh Records shortly before, and the band were dropped by Polydor. The Wall were reduced to a duo of Beith and Griffiths, who soldiered on for one last effort, the Day Tripper EP in late 1982, before the group split up for good.
Beith had a short spell with And Also the Trees
And also the trees
And Also The Trees are an English rock band, formed in 1979 in the United Kingdom. They are most notable for their poetic lyrics and evocative music which is strongly influenced by their native English countryside.-History :...
before joining UK Subs
UK Subs
The U.K. Subs are an English punk rock band, among the earliest in the first wave of British punk. Formed in 1976, the mainstay of the band has been vocalist Charlie Harper, originally a singer in Britain's R&B scene. They were also one of the first street punk bands.-Career:The U.K...
in 1984, and running his own RFB record label. He later worked as a motorcycle mechanic.
A collection of the band's independent releases was issued in 1998 on Captain Oi!.
In August 2007, the band reformed for a headline appearance at the Blackpool Rebellion with 7 of the original members,
Andzy Griffiths (vocals), Nick Ward (guitars), Al Gregg (Guitars), Andrew Forbes (guitars), John Hammond (guitars),
Claire Bidwell (bass) and Mark Dyvig (drums) with a warm-up the previous night at The Thatched House in Stockport.
This was followed by the release of a new live album in August 2009 on Captive Records (Opus Productions).
Singles, EPs
- "New Way" (1979) Small WonderSmall WonderSmall Wonder is an American science fiction sitcom that aired in first-run syndication from September 7, 1985 to May 20, 1989. The show chronicles the family of a robotics engineer who, after he secretly creates a robot modeled after a real human girl, tries to pass it off as their daughter...
- "Exchange" (1979) Small Wonder (#26)
- "Ghetto" (1980) Fresh (#19)
- Hobby For a Day EP (1981) Fresh (#14)
- Remembrance EP (1981) PolydorPolydor RecordsPolydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
- "Epitaph" (1981) Polydor
- Day Tripper 4 track 7" EP/9 track 12" EP (1982) No Future (#21)
Albums
- Personal Troubles and Public Issues (1980) Fresh (#18)
- Dirges and Anthems (1982) Polydor
- The Punk Collection (1998) Captain Oi!
- The Wall - Live (2009) Opus Productions