Banned Biographies

Welcome back to Banned Biographies, I'm back to cover some of the reaction to the Love Bites: The Story of Buzzcocks episode, give some shout-outs and to let you know that the next episode will be about my favourite of all the original UK punk bands, The Clash! It should be out on Friday, 25th September 2020. But, i's easily going to be the longest episode to date and I'm not far into the editing...

One day in 1975 Howard Trafford placed a notice on the Bolton Institute of Technology's noticeboard saying he was looking for musicians that shared a liking for The Velvet Underground song "Sister Ray". Peter McNeish, a fellow student at the Institute, responded to the notice...

Welcome back to Banned Biographies, I'm back again cover some of the reaction to The Scream: The Spellbinding Siouxsie and the Banshees episode, give some shout-outs and to let you know that the next episode will be about the first non-London band; Buzzcocks!   I can't wait for you to hear it and, as it stands right now, it'll be out on Friday, 28th August 2020...

It was Malcolm McLaren who provided Susan Ballion and Steven Bailey the opportunity to form a band when he asked if they knew any bands who might want to support the Sex Pistols at the 100 Club at his Punk Festival on 16 September 1976 as an act had pulled out at the last minute. "To say no would have been impossible".   Ballion had already renamed herself Siouxsie Sioux by this time and Bailey (though known as Steve Spunker at that first gig) soon chose the stage name of Steven Severin...

Welcome back to Banned Biographies, I'm back to quickly cover some of the reaction to the Rebel Yell: The History of Generation X and Billy Idol episode, give some shout-outs and to let you know that the next episode will be about Siouxsie and the Banshees!   I can't wait for you to hear it, however, it may not be with you this coming Friday, 31st July 2020 as things have been a bit hectic these last few weeks and I really want to deliver the best possible content to you...

In late 1976, William Broad, a 21 year old university drop-out, and his friend John Towe, a shop assistant and drummer, replied to an advert to form a new band. In this band (Chelsea) they began working with Tony James and Gene October. However, James and Broad - now known as Billy Idol - soon outgrew Chelsea and formed their own band, Generation X...

Welcome back to Banned Biographies, I'm back to quickly cover some of the reaction to The Tale of The Damned (Damned Damned) episode, give some shout-outs and to let you know that the next episode will be about Generation X and its lead singer Billy Idol, who went on to become a massive success as a solo artist in his own right. I can't wait for you to hear it, it should be with you this coming Friday, 26th June 2020...

While the Sex Pistols are claimed with spearheading the punk movement in the UK, with Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious as its poster boys, and later The Clash took punk rock in a more diverse musical direction, there was one band quietly racking up a string of ‘firsts’: First UK punk rock band to release a single; first UK punk rock band to release a full-length album; first UK punk rock band to tour America; and the first UK punk rock band to split up and then reunite - MANY times...

Welcome back to Banned Biographies, I'm back to cover some of the reaction to The Sex Pistols Story, give some shout-outs, pose some possible changes to the format that I'd like to hear back from you about, and finally, to let you know that the next episode will focus on The Damned. Can't wait for you to hear it, it should be with you this coming Friday, May 29th 2020...

The 1970s was a turbulent time in the UK what with a national energy crisis, a financial crash, strikes leading to the three-day-week, runaway inflation and record unemployment figures. Was it any wonder then that people felt disenfranchised, frustrated and nihilistic? Out of this bubbling tension exploded a band that epitomised the national feeling...