British Refugee
Encyclopedia
British Refugee is a 7" single released by the 1970s Liverpool
punk band The Spitfire Boys
, on RKO Records on October 7, 1977. It was the only disc released by the most acclaimed line-up of the band, who comprised vocalist Paul Rutherford
, guitarist David Littler, bassist Pete Griffiths and drummer Peter Clarke
. At the time, they were one of the few punk bands from Merseyside who released a record, apart from Big In Japan and Chuddy Nuddies (later known as Yacths
). Two months after its release, the band split up, but was reformed in Wales
by 1979 by David Littler along ex-Nylonz members.
That line-up was known also for made more successful things in separate ways later. Paul Rutherford formed 1980's pop band Frankie Goes To Hollywood
and Peter Clarke became known as Budgie and joined Big In Japan, Slits, and more famously Siouxsie and the Banshees, later marrying with Siouxsie Sioux
in 1991, until 2007 when they divorced.
The original version of the single was originally issued without a picture sleeve, but it was later added for the German edition in 1978.
The A-Side of the single, the eponymous song British Refugee explained about the life of a Northern Irish immigrant in England, who escaped from the British occupation of his country, and lived poor working-class conditions.
For the single each member was credited with nickname or stage name, so Rutherford was named as Maggot, Littler as Jones, Griffiths as Zero, and Clarke as Blister.
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
punk band The Spitfire Boys
The Spitfire Boys
The Spitfire Boys were the first Liverpool punk band to release a single . The Spitfire Boys were mainly notable for including in their line-up Peter Clarke, who went on to drum for The Slits and later Siouxsie and the Banshees as Budgie, and Paul Rutherford, later better known for being a member...
, on RKO Records on October 7, 1977. It was the only disc released by the most acclaimed line-up of the band, who comprised vocalist Paul Rutherford
Paul Rutherford
Paul Rutherford is the former backing vocalist, dancer and occasional keyboardist with 1980s pop band Frankie Goes to Hollywood , one of the group's two openly gay singers....
, guitarist David Littler, bassist Pete Griffiths and drummer Peter Clarke
Budgie (drummer)
-External links:*...
. At the time, they were one of the few punk bands from Merseyside who released a record, apart from Big In Japan and Chuddy Nuddies (later known as Yacths
Yachts (band)
Yachts were a British pop/rock band, best remembered for their 1977 single, "Suffice To Say", and “minor new wave classic”, "Love You, Love You".-Career:...
). Two months after its release, the band split up, but was reformed in Wales
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...
by 1979 by David Littler along ex-Nylonz members.
That line-up was known also for made more successful things in separate ways later. Paul Rutherford formed 1980's pop band Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Frankie Goes to Hollywood were a British dance-pop band popular in the mid-1980s. The group was fronted by Holly Johnson , with Paul Rutherford , Peter Gill , Mark O'Toole , and Brian Nash .The group's debut single "Relax" was banned by the BBC in 1984 while at number six in the charts and...
and Peter Clarke became known as Budgie and joined Big In Japan, Slits, and more famously Siouxsie and the Banshees, later marrying with Siouxsie Sioux
Siouxsie Sioux
Siouxsie Sioux is an English singer-songwriter. She is best known as the lead singer of the critically acclaimed rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees and of its splinter group The Creatures . The Banshees produced eleven studio albums and a string of hit singles including "Hong Kong Garden",...
in 1991, until 2007 when they divorced.
The original version of the single was originally issued without a picture sleeve, but it was later added for the German edition in 1978.
The A-Side of the single, the eponymous song British Refugee explained about the life of a Northern Irish immigrant in England, who escaped from the British occupation of his country, and lived poor working-class conditions.
For the single each member was credited with nickname or stage name, so Rutherford was named as Maggot, Littler as Jones, Griffiths as Zero, and Clarke as Blister.