Screaming Dead
Encyclopedia
Screaming Dead were a positive punk (the precursory term for gothic rock
) band from Cheltenham
formed in 1980, who have often been characterized as "horror punk
". They released several singles and EPs with indie chart success, before splitting up in 1985. They reformed in 1997 and disbanded again in 1999.
, reaching number 22 in September 1983. While the band were at times tagged as Goth
s, the label was rejected by Bignall, who stated "Screaming Dead were a punk rock band, there's no doubt about that! We had a bit of an interest in the horror theme, and that was how we decided to present ourselves." For their next release, the band recorded a cover
of the Rolling Stones
' "Paint It Black" which was also an indie hit, and was recorded as a tribute of sorts to Brian Jones
who is buried in their hometown of Cheltenham. In 1984, taking inspiration from X-Ray Spex
, the band recruited saxophonist
Nick Upton, the band also signing to Nine Mile Records, who issued their last two releases on the Angel label. The change in sound lost a lot of fans, and with interest in punk rock declining, the band split up in 1985.
McKormack formed pagan gothic rock
band Incubus Succubus
with his wife Candia Ridley, and in 1997 formed a new version of Screaming Dead, without Ogilvie or Upton, touring Germany twice and recording the album Death Rides Out, before they disbanded again in 1999.
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
) band from Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
formed in 1980, who have often been characterized as "horror punk
Horror punk
Horror punk is a music genre that mixes Gothic and punk rock sounds with morbid imagery and lyrics, which are often influenced by horror films...
". They released several singles and EPs with indie chart success, before splitting up in 1985. They reformed in 1997 and disbanded again in 1999.
History
The band was formed by guitarist Tony McKormack, who recruited former singer with The Waste, Sam Bignall, bass guitarist Mal Page, and drummer Mark Ogilvie. The band built up a strong local following which spread further afield with coverage in fanzines such as Rising Free and sales of their demo tape. They followed their first tape with a more formal release, the Children of the Boneyard Stones cassette, which came with a badge and a copy of the band's own fanzine, Warcry. They then self-financed their debut vinyl release, the "Valley of the Dead" single, initially released on their own Skull Records label, but when it sold out its first pressing within a week it was picked up by No Future records. The band's next release, the "Night Creatures" 12-inch single, saw them break into 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...
, reaching number 22 in September 1983. While the band were at times tagged as Goth
Goth subculture
The goth subculture is a contemporary subculture found in many countries. It began in England during the early 1980s in the gothic rock scene, an offshoot of the post-punk genre. The goth subculture has survived much longer than others of the same era, and has continued to diversify...
s, the label was rejected by Bignall, who stated "Screaming Dead were a punk rock band, there's no doubt about that! We had a bit of an interest in the horror theme, and that was how we decided to present ourselves." For their next release, the band recorded a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
' "Paint It Black" which was also an indie hit, and was recorded as a tribute of sorts to Brian Jones
Brian Jones
Lewis Brian Hopkins Jones , known as Brian Jones, was an English musician and a founding member of the Rolling Stones....
who is buried in their hometown of Cheltenham. In 1984, taking inspiration from X-Ray Spex
X-Ray Spex
X-Ray Spex were an English punk band from London that formed in 1976.During their first incarnation , X-Ray Spex were “deliberate underachievers” and only managed to release five singles and one album...
, the band recruited saxophonist
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
Nick Upton, the band also signing to Nine Mile Records, who issued their last two releases on the Angel label. The change in sound lost a lot of fans, and with interest in punk rock declining, the band split up in 1985.
McKormack formed pagan gothic rock
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
band Incubus Succubus
Inkubus Sukkubus
Inkubus Sukkubus are a British goth and pagan band formed in 1989 by Candia Ridley, Tony McKormack, and Adam Henderson.-History:Inkubus Sukkubus are a British goth and pagan band who have been releasing albums and touring since their formation as Incubus Succubus in 1989.-Incubus Succubus:Before...
with his wife Candia Ridley, and in 1997 formed a new version of Screaming Dead, without Ogilvie or Upton, touring Germany twice and recording the album Death Rides Out, before they disbanded again in 1999.
Singles, EPs
- "Valley of the Dead" 7" (1982), Skull - reissued by No Future.. Tracks..Valley of the Dead, Schoolgirl junkie ,Lilith.
- "Nigh Creatures" 12" (1983), No Future (#22).Tracks..Night creatures, Angel of Death, Necroaria, 20th Century Vampire.
- "Paint It Black" 7" (1984), No Future (#38).. Tracks..Paint if Black, Warriors.
- The Danse Macabre Collection 12" (1984), Angel (#31) Tracks..the Lovers, Serenade of suicide, the Night, Sister Crow.
- "A Dream of Yesterday" (1985), Angel (#42) Tracks..A Dream of Yesterday, Jonnie the Bastard, Tower of Babel.
Albums
- Children of the Boneyard Stones (cassette-only) (1982), Recreational Tapes
- Bring Out Yer Dead (1993), Angel
- Death Rides Out (1997), Resurrection
- Screaming Dead home page (album sales)