Notsensibles
Encyclopedia
Notsensibles are a light-hearted punk rock
band from Burnley
, England
, who had their greatest success with their second single "I'm in Love with Margaret Thatcher
".
), and Kevin "Ploppy" Hemingway (drums). After releasing the "Death to Disco" single in April 1979, they "celebrated" the election of Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister
later that year with the single "I'm in Love with Margaret Thatcher" (initially self-released in a pressing of 1,000, but reissued on the Snotty Snail label due to continuing demand), which gave them a #8 UK Indie Chart
hit at the start of 1980, and the band also recorded a session for John Peel
's BBC Radio 1
show. The single's B-side included "Gary Bushell's Band of the Week", which poked fun at the journalist. The band explained their approach: "all we want to do is make silly records and play silly gigs". In March 1980, the band's only studio album, Instant Classic, was released, reaching #16 on the UK Indie Chart
, and two singles followed, both indie hits, but not selling as well as their earlier single, before the band split up in March 1982. Cherry Red
subsidiary Anagram Records issued a compilation of the band's output, Instant Punk Classics, in 1994.
The band reformed for a performance at the first Wasted/Holidays in the Sun festival in 1996, and reformed more permanently in 2005 with the original line-up.
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 Burnley
Burnley
Burnley is a market town in the Burnley borough of Lancashire, England, with a population of around 73,500. It lies north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River Brun....
, 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...
, who had their greatest success with their second single "I'm in Love with Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
".
History
The band was formed in 1978 by Michael "Haggis" Hargreaves (vocals), Steven "Sage" Hartley (guitar), Roger "Rog Sensible" Rawlins (keyboards), Gary Brown (bassBass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), and Kevin "Ploppy" Hemingway (drums). After releasing the "Death to Disco" single in April 1979, they "celebrated" the election of Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
later that year with the single "I'm in Love with Margaret Thatcher" (initially self-released in a pressing of 1,000, but reissued on the Snotty Snail label due to continuing demand), which gave them a #8 UK Indie Chart
UK Indie Chart
The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
hit at the start of 1980, and the band also recorded a session for 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...
's BBC Radio 1
BBC 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...
show. The single's B-side included "Gary Bushell's Band of the Week", which poked fun at the journalist. The band explained their approach: "all we want to do is make silly records and play silly gigs". In March 1980, the band's only studio album, Instant Classic, was released, reaching #16 on the UK Indie Chart
UK Indie Chart
The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
, and two singles followed, both indie hits, but not selling as well as their earlier single, before the band split up in March 1982. Cherry Red
Cherry Red
Cherry Red is a London-based independent record label formed in 1978.-History:Cherry Red grew from the rock promotion company founded in 1971 to promote rock concerts at the Malvern Winter Gardens...
subsidiary Anagram Records issued a compilation of the band's output, Instant Punk Classics, in 1994.
The band reformed for a performance at the first Wasted/Holidays in the Sun festival in 1996, and reformed more permanently in 2005 with the original line-up.
Singles
- "Death to Disco" (1979) Bent
- "I'm in Love with Margaret Thatcher" (1979) Redball (reissued (1980) Snotty Snail) (#8)
- "I Thought You Were Dead" (1980) Snotty Snail (#29)
- "I am the Bishop" (1981) Snotty Snail (#45) (as The Sensibles)
- (I've Just Had Enough) Brother EP (2005) Snotty Snail
Albums
- Instant Classic (1980) Bent/Snotty Snail (#16)
- Instant Punk Classics (1994) Anagram