The Blood
Encyclopedia
The Blood are a London
-based punk rock
band, formed in 1982. Led by Cardinal Jesus Hate and JJ Bedsore (AKA Bill Sykes and JJ Manson), the band formed in the early 1980s under the name Coming Blood. Their music is a blend of hardcore punk
, Oi!
, heavy metal
, football chant
s and shock rock
.
Many of their songs criticize religion
or discuss political or philosophical topics. Their first single, "Megalomania", ridiculed the Pope
. Their second single "Stark Raving Normal" criticized one-dimensional patriotism
, apathy
and mediocrity. The Cardinal calls himself a punk secular humanist
. Their first album, False Gestures for a Devious Public (1983), hit the UK top 30 and was voted one of the year’s best releases by Sounds
magazine. They used to be managed by Garry Bushell
, and their song "Such Fun" was on the Oi! compilation album Oi! Oi! That's Yer Lot!. J.J. Bedsore died in 2004 of multiple organ failure due to years of chronic alcoholism.
On 10 December 2006, (International Human Rights Day
) The Blood was reformed by the Cardinal and some of his friends to release the song, "Kill The Pimp
s", on the Eyeline Productions record label
. The song criticizes governments that turn a blind eye to human trafficking. On 11 September 2007, The Blood released their first acoustic DVD, Samurai Lullaby, on the Eyeline Productions record label
. The filmic footage on this DVD is taken from the tragedy of 9/11. On 1 June 2008, The Blood released an acoustic CD album punk@theopera. The concept album reveals the voyage of two young people who struggle to free themselves from human-trafficking pimps and a tyrannical religious cult. In 2010, The Blood's latest work came out, a self-penned album, by The Cardinal, @thebodysnatchersball.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based punk rock
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, formed in 1982. Led by Cardinal Jesus Hate and JJ Bedsore (AKA Bill Sykes and JJ Manson), the band formed in the early 1980s under the name Coming Blood. Their music is a blend of hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
, Oi!
Oi!
Oi! is a working class subgenre of punk rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The music and its associated subculture had the goal of bringing together punks, skinheads and other working-class youths ....
, heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
, football chant
Football chant
A football chant or terrace chant, is a song or chant sung at association football matches. They can be historic, dating back to the formation of the club, adaptations of popular songs, or spontaneous reactions to events on the pitch. They are one of the last remaining sources of an oral folk song...
s and shock rock
Shock rock
Shock rock is an umbrella term for artists who combine rock music with elements of theatrical shock value in live performances.-History:Screamin' Jay Hawkins was arguably the first shock rocker...
.
Many of their songs criticize religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
or discuss political or philosophical topics. Their first single, "Megalomania", ridiculed the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
. Their second single "Stark Raving Normal" criticized one-dimensional patriotism
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
, apathy
Apathy
Apathy is a state of indifference, or the suppression of emotions such as concern, excitement, motivation and passion. An apathetic individual has an absence of interest in or concern about emotional, social, spiritual, philosophical or physical life.They may lack a sense of purpose or meaning in...
and mediocrity. The Cardinal calls himself a punk secular humanist
Secular humanism
Secular Humanism, alternatively known as Humanism , is a secular philosophy that embraces human reason, ethics, justice, and the search for human fulfillment...
. Their first album, False Gestures for a Devious Public (1983), hit the UK top 30 and was voted one of the year’s best releases by Sounds
Sounds (magazine)
Sounds was a long-term British music paper, published weekly from 10 October 1970 – 6 April 1991. It was produced by Spotlight Publications , which was set up by Jack Hutton and Peter Wilkinson, who left "Melody Maker" to start their own company...
magazine. They used to be managed by Garry Bushell
Garry Bushell
Garry Bushell is an English newspaper columnist, rock music journalist, television presenter, author and political activist. Bushell also sings in the Oi! band The Gonads and manages the New York City Oi! band Maninblack. Bushell's recurring themes are comedy, country and class...
, and their song "Such Fun" was on the Oi! compilation album Oi! Oi! That's Yer Lot!. J.J. Bedsore died in 2004 of multiple organ failure due to years of chronic alcoholism.
On 10 December 2006, (International Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day is celebrated annually across the world on 10 December.The date was chosen to honor the United NationsGeneral Assembly's adoption and proclamation, on 10 December 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights , the first global enunciation of human rights...
) The Blood was reformed by the Cardinal and some of his friends to release the song, "Kill The Pimp
Pimp
A pimp is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings. The pimp may receive this money in return for advertising services, physical protection, or for providing a location where she may engage clients...
s", on the Eyeline Productions 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,...
. The song criticizes governments that turn a blind eye to human trafficking. On 11 September 2007, The Blood released their first acoustic DVD, Samurai Lullaby, on the Eyeline Productions 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,...
. The filmic footage on this DVD is taken from the tragedy of 9/11. On 1 June 2008, The Blood released an acoustic CD album punk@theopera. The concept album reveals the voyage of two young people who struggle to free themselves from human-trafficking pimps and a tyrannical religious cult. In 2010, The Blood's latest work came out, a self-penned album, by The Cardinal, @thebodysnatchersball.
1983
- Cardinal Jesus Hate - vocals
- JJ Bedsore - guitar
- Muttley - bass
- Dr. Wildthing - drums
- Frankie Flame - Keyboards
1985
- Cardinal Jesus Hate - vocals
- JJ Bedsore - guitar
- Micky James - Bass
- Mark Mitchell - Drums
- Phil Butcher Taylor - Keyboards
1995
- JJ Bedsore - Lead Vocals, Guitar
- Gaz - Lead Vocals, Bass
- Gareth aka Elvis Christ - Guitar, Backing Vocals
- Shane Atlas - Drums
- Cardinal Smith - vocals on studio track "You Kill My Head Out"
1996
- JJ Bedsore - Lead Vocals, Guitar
- Gaz - Lead Vocals, Bass
- Gareth aka Elvis Christ - Guitar, Backing Vocals
- Mark Hannan/Shane Atlas - Drums
1999
- JJ Bedsore - Lead Vocals, Guitar
- Gaz - Lead Vocals, Bass
- Gareth aka Elvis Christ - Guitar, Backing Vocals
- Brad Sims - Drums
2006
- The Cardinal - Lead Vocals, Guitar
- Richard "Orible" Hogben - Drums
- Monty-Mutent The Merciful - Vocals, Keyboards
- Dave Shit - Bass
2007
- The Cardinal - Lead Vocals, Guitar
- The Hammond Summers - Hammond Organ, Piano, Accordion
- Nick Pilton - Backing Vocals
Singles, EPs
- Megalomania EP (1983) #6
- Stark Raving Normal EP (1983) #20
- Fabulous As Usual EP
- Boots EP
- Kill The Pimps single
Albums
- False Gestures For A Devious Public (1983) Noise #5 (reissued 2005, Captain Oi!)
- Se Parare Nex (1985)
- Smell Yourself(1995) CD, LP and single released by Blind Beggar records
- Spillage(1998) CD released by SolidInc records
- Split live (W/ Dizzy Dizzy)(recorded 1999, released 2004) CD released by DSI records
- punk@theopera (2008) Self-Penned CD by the Cardinal(no other previous band members were involved with the writing, recording, production, release or performance of this)
- "@thebodysnatchersball" (2010)
Compilation appearances
- "Such Fun" (Released on Oi! Oi! That's Yer Lot)
- "Stark Raving Normal" (Released on Oi Fuckin' Oi)
- "Incubus" (Released on Metal Inferno)