One Way System
Encyclopedia
One Way System is a street punk
band
formed in the Fleetwood
area of Lancashire
, England
in 1979.
s. Shortly after this Beat The System Records, from Blackpool
, released the Stab The Judge EP and after some early personnel changes (Tez Mcdonald joined The Fits
) the band settled down as Gavin Whyte on vocals, David Ross guitar, Gaz Buckley bass and Tom Couch on drums.
In 1983, One Way System became the first signing on Cherry Red
's Anagram Records with the release of their All Systems Go LP after the single 'Give Us A Future' did well in the indie charts. The band stayed signed to Anagram until they broke up in early 1986 after an American West Coast tour along side Circle Jerks
in 1984 was cancelled because Keith Morris
broke his neck. However, they did manage to play one date with Suicidal Tendencies
. In 1985 Gavin Whyte was replaced by Andy Gibson of The Genocides on vocals and enough songs were written for a third album but it was never released.
The band was resurrected in 1995 with Gavin Whyte returning after Captain Oi!
re-released All Systems Go and Writing On The Wall in CD format. Gaz Buckley left the band to be replaced by Dave Brown for a ten date European Tour who was soon replaced by Andy Wilkinson and in 1996, Cleopatra
issued a, 'Best Of' collection. In 1996 Whilst working on a new album, Gavin Whyte left the band and was replaced by long time fan , Lee Havok (real name Lee Pinkney). It was this line-up that undertook a tour of Japan. A new CD, Waiting For Zero was released through GMM in 1998 and Cherry Red
released a 'singles collection' in 2003. More recently, Lee Havok was replaced by ukNige (ex-Pink Torpedoes, now of Sick 56) on vocals and he himself was replaced by Jay Susel. Recording for a new album is already underway.
Street punk
Street punk is a working class-based genre of punk rock which took shape in the early 1980s, partly as a rebellion against the perceived artistic pretensions of the first wave of British punk. Street punk emerged from the Oi! style, performed by bands such as Sham 69, Angelic Upstarts, Cockney...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
formed in the Fleetwood
Fleetwood
Fleetwood is a town within the Wyre district of Lancashire, England, lying at the northwest corner of the Fylde. It had a population of 26,840 people at the 2001 Census. It forms part of the Greater Blackpool conurbation. The town was the first planned community of the Victorian era...
area of Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, 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 1979.
Career
One Way System had an initial line-up of Craig Halliday (guitar), Gavin Whyte (vocals), Tez Mcdonald (drums) and Gaz Buckley (bass). A demo of the song, 'Jerusalem' appeared on the A Country Fit For Heroes compilation album, released in January 1982 - Catalogue number Oi3 - reaching #4 in the UK Indie ChartUK 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...
s. Shortly after this Beat The System Records, from Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
, released the Stab The Judge EP and after some early personnel changes (Tez Mcdonald joined The Fits
The Fits
The Fits were a punk rock band from Blackpool, Lancashire, England, who were active between 1979 and 1985, having several hits on the UK Indie Chart.-History:...
) the band settled down as Gavin Whyte on vocals, David Ross guitar, Gaz Buckley bass and Tom Couch on drums.
In 1983, One Way System became the first signing on 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...
's Anagram Records with the release of their All Systems Go LP after the single 'Give Us A Future' did well in the indie charts. The band stayed signed to Anagram until they broke up in early 1986 after an American West Coast tour along side Circle Jerks
Circle Jerks
The Circle Jerks are an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1980 in Los Angeles, California. It was formed by Black Flag's original singer, Keith Morris, and future Bad Religion guitarist Greg Hetson. They were among the preeminent hardcore punk bands of the L.A. scene in the late 1970s.The band...
in 1984 was cancelled because Keith Morris
Keith Morris
Keith Morris is an American singer and songwriter known for his role as frontman of the hardcore punk bands Black Flag, the Circle Jerks, and Off! Born and raised in Hermosa Beach, California, he formed Black Flag at the age of 21 with guitarist Greg Ginn and performed on the band's 1978 debut EP...
broke his neck. However, they did manage to play one date with Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
. In 1985 Gavin Whyte was replaced by Andy Gibson of The Genocides on vocals and enough songs were written for a third album but it was never released.
The band was resurrected in 1995 with Gavin Whyte returning after Captain Oi!
Captain Oi! Records
Captain Oi! is a punk rock and Oi! record label based in High Wycombe, England. The company has released over 300 albums by many notable punk and Oi! bands of the late 1970s and 1980s. The label was set up by Mark Brennan, former bassist of The Business, who had previously co-run Link Records and...
re-released All Systems Go and Writing On The Wall in CD format. Gaz Buckley left the band to be replaced by Dave Brown for a ten date European Tour who was soon replaced by Andy Wilkinson and in 1996, Cleopatra
Cleopatra Records
Cleopatra Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label.- History :Founded in 1992 by Brian Perera, it specializes in gothic rock, hard rock, heavy metal and reissues of out-of-print music...
issued a, 'Best Of' collection. In 1996 Whilst working on a new album, Gavin Whyte left the band and was replaced by long time fan , Lee Havok (real name Lee Pinkney). It was this line-up that undertook a tour of Japan. A new CD, Waiting For Zero was released through GMM in 1998 and 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...
released a 'singles collection' in 2003. More recently, Lee Havok was replaced by ukNige (ex-Pink Torpedoes, now of Sick 56) on vocals and he himself was replaced by Jay Susel. Recording for a new album is already underway.
Albums
- All Systems Go (LP, Anagram 1982) #11
- Writing On The Wall (LP, Anagram Records 1983) #6
- The Best of One Way System (CD, Anagram Records 1995)
- Forgotten Generation (CD, Cleopatra Records 1996)
- Return In Breizh Live (CD, Visionary Records 1997)
- Waiting For Zero (CD, GMM 1999)
- Singles Collection (CD Cherry Red 2003)
- Gutter Box Album Collection (LP, Cherry Red Records 2004)
- Car Bombs In Babylon (CD Unreleased 2010)
Singles
- "Stab The Judge / Riot Torn City" (7" EP, Beat The System 1982)
- "Give Us A Future / Just Another Hero" (7", Anagram, 1982) #28
- "Jerusalem / Jackie Was A Junkie" (7", Anagram 1982) #22
- "Cum On Feel The Noize / Breakin` In" (7", Anagram 1983) #11
- "This Is The Age / Into The Fires" (EP, Anagram 1983) #21
- "Visions Of Angels" (12" EP, Anagram 1984) #39
- "OWS Live In Rennes" (7" EP, Mass Productions France 1995)
- "Believe Yourself / Search Your Soul" (7", Bricks Records Japan 1997)
- "Leave Me Alone" (CD EP, Cleopatra Records USA 1997)
- "Not Your Enemy / Shut Up (7", TCM Records Canada 1998)
Compilations
- A Country Fit For Heroes (compilation albumCompilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
Jerusalem (No Future Records) - 1982 - All Systems Go (VideoMusic videoA music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
, live in Manchester (Jettisoundz) - 1983 - Punk And Disorderly vol. 3 ('Give us a future' (Anagram Records) - 1983
- Singles Collection (CD, Cherry RedCherry RedCherry 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...
2003) - The Ugly Truth About Blackpool (compilation albumCompilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
Jerusalem (Just Say No To Government Music) - 2005 - The Ugly Truth About Blackpool, Vol.2 (compilation albumCompilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
This Could Be You (unreleased) (Just Say No To Government Music) - 2006