Subway Sect
Encyclopedia
Subway Sect were one of the original British punk
band
s. Their influence was limited by the very small amount of recorded material they released.
, plus assorted soul
fans, who congregated around early gig
s by the Sex Pistols
until Malcolm McLaren
suggested they formed their own band.
Subway Sect were among the performers at the 100 Club Punk Festival
on Monday, 21 September 1976 - sharing the bill with Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Clash
and the Sex Pistols. The first lineup of Godard on vocals, Paul Packham on drums, Paul Myers on bass and Rob Symmons on guitar lasted for 4 gigs before Mark Laff replaced Packham. Laff himself would leave for fellow punk group Generation X
after the White Riot tour. A third drummer, Bob Ward, was recruited, and it is this lineup that can be heard on the band's first John Peel
session and also on the single
"Nobody's Scared". This was the first and only release on Braik Records, a label owned by Bernie Rhodes
, who managed both Subway Sect and The Clash
. Rhodes subsequently supervised the recording
of their debut album at Gooseberry Studios in London, with Clash sound man and producer Mickey Foote at the production helm. At that time the band toured intensively with The Clash and others.
However, just as their first album was ready for release, for reasons that remain obscure, Rhodes sacked all the band (except Godard) and Subway Sect mark 1 ceased to exist. The album was never released, although a single
from the sessions "Ambition" was released on Rough Trade Records
, with the B-side "Different Story (Rock and Roll Even)" also taken from the same sessions. A further track "Parallel Lines" was released as a track on the C81 cassette produced by NME
magazine. Since then, some monitor copies of tracks from the lost album have come to light on various Subway Sect compilations, including a Motion Records' "20 Odd Years" 2CD anthology, and a CD & CD/EP set "We Oppose All Rock And Roll" on Overground Records. Any copies of the actual album tapes appear to no longer exist (rumored to have been flooded).
As a result of 1977 appearances at The Roxy
club in London, live recordings were made of Subway Sect performances by Don Letts
, the club's disc jockey
. Subway Sect appears in Letts' Punk Rock Movie (1978).
By this time, Godard had become increasingly influenced by early rockabilly
, and the "first wave" of rock and roll
(Sun Records
session era Elvis Presley
, Eddie Cochran
etc.). This was just a few years before the rockabilly revival, and the album was ignored as being 'retro
'. Ignoring this, Godard then went even further back in time, and later releases showed the influence of the "rat pack
" (Dean Martin
, Frank Sinatra
), and even swing
bands of the 1940s, many years before these sounds became fashionable. Facing dwindling sales, Godard left the music business and became a postman
.
In 1982, former Subway Sect members - guitarist Rob Marche, keyboardist Dave Collard, bassist Chris Bostock
and drummer Sean McLusky - teamed up with American singer, Dig Wayne and formed the band Jo Boxers which had two UK Top 10 hits.
and numerous compilation albums, (notably Motion Records' 20 Odd Years...The Story of...., and Singles Anthology) Godard has recently returned to recording. He released a new album Long Term Side Effect (Motion) in 1998, and a single on the Glasgow record label
Creeping Bent, with more work promised.
The 21st century has seen Godard unable to progress from his cult status setting, but in 2002 a CD was issued credited purely to the Subway Sect, thus reviving the name, if not the original band. Named Sansend, it was a sample
and beats
heavy collection of new songs, and it was followed three years later by Motion's Singles Anthology, which collected all single A & B sides.
Plans were reported that Godard was working on songs for the musical to be called "Blackpool", but this was abandoned as the series used original 1960s and 1970s recordings, which were mimed to by the stage actors.
Original Subway Sect guitarist and bass player, Rob Symmons and Paul Myers resurfaced as The Fallen Leaves
in 2004, although Myers has since quit the band. Rob Symmons still performs and records with The Fallen Leaves.
In 2007 Vic Godard and a different band released "1978 Now", which rerecorded the original 1978 album as (as Godard indicated) they originally sounded when recorded for the lost album.
In 2011 Paul Myers rejoined Subway Sect. His first official gig back was at Nambucca in London on October 28th 2011.
Compilations:
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
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...
s. Their influence was limited by the very small amount of recorded material they released.
The early days
The core of the band was singer/songwriter, Vic GodardVic Godard
Vic Godard is a British singer-songwriter formerly of the punk group Subway Sect. He is now a solo performer.-Biography:Born Vic Knapper in Mortlake c.1959, Godard was raised in Barnes....
, plus assorted soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
fans, who congregated around early gig
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s by the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
until Malcolm McLaren
Malcolm McLaren
Malcolm Robert Andrew McLaren was an English performer, impresario, self-publicist and manager of the Sex Pistols and the New York Dolls...
suggested they formed their own band.
Subway Sect were among the performers at the 100 Club Punk Festival
100 Club Punk Festival
The 100 Club Punk Special was a two-day event held at the 100 Club—a typically jazz-oriented venue in Oxford Street, London, England—on 20 and 21 September 1976. The gig showcased eight punk rock bands, most of which were unsigned...
on Monday, 21 September 1976 - sharing the bill with Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
and the Sex Pistols. The first lineup of Godard on vocals, Paul Packham on drums, Paul Myers on bass and Rob Symmons on guitar lasted for 4 gigs before Mark Laff replaced Packham. Laff himself would leave for fellow punk group Generation X
Generation X (band)
Generation X was a British punk rock band, formed on 21 November 1976 by Billy Idol, Tony James and John Towe.-History:...
after the White Riot tour. A third drummer, Bob Ward, was recruited, and it is this lineup that can be heard on the band's first 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...
session and also on the single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Nobody's Scared". This was the first and only release on Braik Records, a label owned by Bernie Rhodes
Bernie Rhodes
Bernard Rhodes is the former manager of English punk rock band The Clash. He previously worked with Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren and once claimed to have "invented punk".-Management:...
, who managed both Subway Sect and The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
. Rhodes subsequently supervised the recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
of their debut album at Gooseberry Studios in London, with Clash sound man and producer Mickey Foote at the production helm. At that time the band toured intensively with The Clash and others.
However, just as their first album was ready for release, for reasons that remain obscure, Rhodes sacked all the band (except Godard) and Subway Sect mark 1 ceased to exist. The album was never released, although a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from the sessions "Ambition" was released on Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
, with the B-side "Different Story (Rock and Roll Even)" also taken from the same sessions. A further track "Parallel Lines" was released as a track on the C81 cassette produced by NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
magazine. Since then, some monitor copies of tracks from the lost album have come to light on various Subway Sect compilations, including a Motion Records' "20 Odd Years" 2CD anthology, and a CD & CD/EP set "We Oppose All Rock And Roll" on Overground Records. Any copies of the actual album tapes appear to no longer exist (rumored to have been flooded).
As a result of 1977 appearances at The Roxy
The Roxy
The Roxy was a fashionable nightclub on Neal Street in London's Covent Garden, known for hosting the flowering British punk music scene in its infancy.-Brief history:...
club in London, live recordings were made of Subway Sect performances by Don Letts
Don Letts
Don Letts is a British film director and musician. He is credited as the man who through his DJing at clubs like The Roxy brought together punk and reggae music.-Biography:...
, the club's disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
. Subway Sect appears in Letts' Punk Rock Movie (1978).
The middle years
Godard put together the pieces, and Subway Sect mark 2 was formed, and the band finally released their first album What's the Matter, Boy? in 1980. The album features many songs written during the previous incarnation of the band, but performed with radically altered arrangements.By this time, Godard had become increasingly influenced by early rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
, and the "first wave" of rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
(Sun Records
Sun Records
Sun Records is a record label founded in Memphis, Tennessee, starting operations on March 27, 1952.Founded by Sam Phillips, Sun Records was known for giving notable musicians such as Elvis Presley , Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash...
session era Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, Eddie Cochran
Eddie Cochran
Eddie Cochran , was an American rock and roll pioneer who in his brief career had a small but lasting influence on rock music through his guitar playing. Cochran's rockabilly songs, such as "C'mon Everybody", "Somethin' Else", and "Summertime Blues", captured teenage frustration and desire in the...
etc.). This was just a few years before the rockabilly revival, and the album was ignored as being 'retro
Retro
Retro is a culturally outdated or aged style, trend, mode, or fashion, from the overall postmodern past, that has since that time become functionally or superficially the norm once again. The use of "retro" style iconography and imagery interjected into post-modern art, advertising, mass media, etc...
'. Ignoring this, Godard then went even further back in time, and later releases showed the influence of the "rat pack
Rat Pack
The Rat Pack was a group of actors originally centered on Humphrey Bogart. In the mid-1960s it was the name used by the press and the general public to refer to a later variation of the group, after Bogart's death, that called itself "the summit" or "the clan," featuring Frank Sinatra, Dean...
" (Dean Martin
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
, Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
), and even swing
Swing (genre)
Swing music, also known as swing jazz or simply swing, is a form of jazz music that developed in the early 1930s and became a distinctive style by 1935 in the United States...
bands of the 1940s, many years before these sounds became fashionable. Facing dwindling sales, Godard left the music business and became a postman
Mail carrier
A mail carrier, mailman, postal carrier, postman, postwoman , postman/postwoman , letter carrier or postie is an employee of the post office or postal service, who delivers mail and parcel post to residences and businesses...
.
In 1982, former Subway Sect members - guitarist Rob Marche, keyboardist Dave Collard, bassist Chris Bostock
Chris Bostock
Chris Bostock is an English musician, songwriter and music producer. He is best known for his work with the JoBoxersbut was also a member of Dave Stewart and the Spiritual Cowboys and Subway Sect....
and drummer Sean McLusky - teamed up with American singer, Dig Wayne and formed the band Jo Boxers which had two UK Top 10 hits.
The revival
However, in the 1990s a slow Godard revival began. Backed by the re-release of his work on CDCompact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
and numerous compilation albums, (notably Motion Records' 20 Odd Years...The Story of...., and Singles Anthology) Godard has recently returned to recording. He released a new album Long Term Side Effect (Motion) in 1998, and a single on the Glasgow record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Creeping Bent, with more work promised.
The 21st century has seen Godard unable to progress from his cult status setting, but in 2002 a CD was issued credited purely to the Subway Sect, thus reviving the name, if not the original band. Named Sansend, it was a sample
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
and beats
Beat (music)
The beat is the basic unit of time in music, the pulse of the mensural level . In popular use, the beat can refer to a variety of related concepts including: tempo, meter, rhythm and groove...
heavy collection of new songs, and it was followed three years later by Motion's Singles Anthology, which collected all single A & B sides.
Plans were reported that Godard was working on songs for the musical to be called "Blackpool", but this was abandoned as the series used original 1960s and 1970s recordings, which were mimed to by the stage actors.
Original Subway Sect guitarist and bass player, Rob Symmons and Paul Myers resurfaced as The Fallen Leaves
The Fallen Leaves
The Fallen Leaves are a British garage rock group that formed in Richmond, London in 2004. The group was formed by Rob Symmons and Rob Green with Paul Myers , and for a very short time, Paul Cook...
in 2004, although Myers has since quit the band. Rob Symmons still performs and records with The Fallen Leaves.
In 2007 Vic Godard and a different band released "1978 Now", which rerecorded the original 1978 album as (as Godard indicated) they originally sounded when recorded for the lost album.
In 2011 Paul Myers rejoined Subway Sect. His first official gig back was at Nambucca in London on October 28th 2011.
Albums
- Sansend (2002), Motion
- 1978 Now (2007), Overground
Compilations:
- We Oppose All Rock 'n' Roll (1996), Overground
Singles
- "Nobody's Scared" b/w "Don't Split It" (1978 Braik)
- "Ambition" b/w "A Different Story" (1978 Rough Trade RT007)
- Ambition EP (1996), Overground
See also
- Vic GodardVic GodardVic Godard is a British singer-songwriter formerly of the punk group Subway Sect. He is now a solo performer.-Biography:Born Vic Knapper in Mortlake c.1959, Godard was raised in Barnes....
- Chris BostockChris BostockChris Bostock is an English musician, songwriter and music producer. He is best known for his work with the JoBoxersbut was also a member of Dave Stewart and the Spiritual Cowboys and Subway Sect....
- JoBoxersJoBoxersJoBoxers was a predominantly British New Wave/soul group formed in 1982, when former Subway Sect members Rob Marche , Dave Collard , Chris Bostock , and Sean McLusky teamed up with American singer, Dig Wayne...
- List of bands from Bristol
- The StingraysThe StingraysThe Stingrays are a New Wave/Rockabilly band, which originally formed in 1977 in Bristol, England, and is still gigging today. ....
External links
- Vic Godard and the Subway Sect official Homepage - Info, Live dates and ongoing archive
- Motion Records-Vic Godard homepage
- Subway Sect
- Discography
- [ Subway Sect biography at AMG website]