The Moors Murderers
Encyclopedia
The Moors Murderers were a short-lived punk band who caused controversy by naming themselves after The Moors Murders. The band was founded in 1977 by Steve Strange
(lead vocals), later to be in Visage
, and comprised Chrissie Hynde
(guitar), later in The Pretenders
, Tex
(bass), Topper Headon
(drums), who was then borrowed from The Clash
, Vince Ely (drums), later in The Psychedelic Furs, and The Kid
, whose real name was Mark Ryan and was a member of Adam and the Ants
.
formed after coming to London
and whilst living the punk scene.
There are many doubts about their era. The main involved was Strange, who had the idea of form a band with the name Moors Murderers. They never played music, only they did a session photos. However, Strange claimed, in 1981, he, after left Wales
and went to London
, a person got him involved in the band.
After the photo sessions, Strange decided to form a real band and calling members. Their first gig was supporting The Slits
at Holland Park Comprehensive School. The line-up comprised Strange on vocals, The Kid
(ex-Adam and the Ants
) on guitar, John on bass and drummer Vince Ely (ex-The Unwanted). Chrissie Hynde
(from Johnny Moped
) was also present at gig and involved with the band, writing songs with Strange. About the first concert, The Kid, claimed later, the band debuted live as The Photons, but Dave Goodman, wrote the band performed as The Moors Murderers, causing him a controversy. After that, it seemed The Kid quit and joined a more permanent version of The Photons, being replaced by Chrissie Hynde. By then, Strange wanted to record something to sell, and it was the "Free Hindley", as single, backed with, as a suggestion of Dave Goodman, "Ten Commandments".
During their brief existence, the band composed songs, which were played live and during the rehearsals, being one of them filmed by an Italian TV crew, in 1978. After this, Strange lost interest and the band split up.
Apparently, sometime in late 1977 or 1978, The Kid left the band, being replaced by Tex Axile (ex-Peroxide Romance), called simply during those days as Tex. Another who seemed to leave during those days was Vince Ely, who later went to form The Psychedelic Furs, being replaced by Topper Headon
, borrowed from The Clash
.
Steve Strange
Steve Strange , is a Welsh pop singer, best known as the lead singer and frontman of the 1980s pop group Visage...
(lead vocals), later to be in Visage
Visage
Visage are a British New Wave rock band. Formed in 1978, the band became closely linked to the burgeoning New Romantic fashion movement of the early 1980s, and are best known for their 1980 hit "Fade to Grey".-New Wave years :...
, and comprised Chrissie Hynde
Chrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
(guitar), later in The Pretenders
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
, Tex
Anthony Doughty
Anthony Doughty is an English rock musician. He was a member of a number of punk bands in the late 1970s, including Peroxide Romance, X-Ray Spex, The Outpatients and The Moors Murderers. In 1986, he and Dave Parsons joined fellow musicians Wendy James and Nick Sayer to form Transvision Vamp...
(bass), Topper Headon
Topper Headon
Headon was extensively interviewed for the Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten documentary film about the late Clash frontman. He related his experiences during this period, how he became addicted to heroin and how there were problems before his dismissal...
(drums), who was then borrowed from 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...
, Vince Ely (drums), later in The Psychedelic Furs, and The Kid
Mark Ryan (The Kid)
Mark Ryan was an English guitarist who played in different punk bands during the late 1970s.He was born in Tottenham, London, to an Irish Catholic family. His father was a university lecturer and his mother was a nurse and midwife...
, whose real name was Mark Ryan and was a member of Adam and the Ants
Adam and the Ants
Adam and the Ants were a British rock band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The original group, which existed from 1977 to 1980, became notable as a cult band marking the transition from the late-1970s punk rock era to the post-punk and New Wave era...
.
History
It was one of the punk bands Steve StrangeSteve Strange
Steve Strange , is a Welsh pop singer, best known as the lead singer and frontman of the 1980s pop group Visage...
formed after coming to London
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...
and whilst living the punk scene.
There are many doubts about their era. The main involved was Strange, who had the idea of form a band with the name Moors Murderers. They never played music, only they did a session photos. However, Strange claimed, in 1981, he, after left Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and went to London
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...
, a person got him involved in the band.
After the photo sessions, Strange decided to form a real band and calling members. Their first gig was supporting The Slits
The Slits
The Slits were a British punk rock band. The quartet was formed in 1976 by members of the bands The Flowers of Romance and The Castrators. The members were Ari Up , who died of cancer in October 2010, and Palmolive , with Viv Albertine and Tessa Pollitt replacing founding members, Kate Korus and...
at Holland Park Comprehensive School. The line-up comprised Strange on vocals, The Kid
Mark Ryan (The Kid)
Mark Ryan was an English guitarist who played in different punk bands during the late 1970s.He was born in Tottenham, London, to an Irish Catholic family. His father was a university lecturer and his mother was a nurse and midwife...
(ex-Adam and the Ants
Adam and the Ants
Adam and the Ants were a British rock band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The original group, which existed from 1977 to 1980, became notable as a cult band marking the transition from the late-1970s punk rock era to the post-punk and New Wave era...
) on guitar, John on bass and drummer Vince Ely (ex-The Unwanted). Chrissie Hynde
Chrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
(from Johnny Moped
Johnny Moped
Johnny Moped were a mid 1970s English punk rock group from south London, who once had Chrissie Hynde and Captain Sensible within their ranks.-Biography:...
) was also present at gig and involved with the band, writing songs with Strange. About the first concert, The Kid, claimed later, the band debuted live as The Photons, but Dave Goodman, wrote the band performed as The Moors Murderers, causing him a controversy. After that, it seemed The Kid quit and joined a more permanent version of The Photons, being replaced by Chrissie Hynde. By then, Strange wanted to record something to sell, and it was the "Free Hindley", as single, backed with, as a suggestion of Dave Goodman, "Ten Commandments".
During their brief existence, the band composed songs, which were played live and during the rehearsals, being one of them filmed by an Italian TV crew, in 1978. After this, Strange lost interest and the band split up.
Apparently, sometime in late 1977 or 1978, The Kid left the band, being replaced by Tex Axile (ex-Peroxide Romance), called simply during those days as Tex. Another who seemed to leave during those days was Vince Ely, who later went to form The Psychedelic Furs, being replaced by Topper Headon
Topper Headon
Headon was extensively interviewed for the Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten documentary film about the late Clash frontman. He related his experiences during this period, how he became addicted to heroin and how there were problems before his dismissal...
, borrowed from 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...
.
Around Mid-to-late 1977 (The Holland Park School gig)
- Steve Strange: vocals
- The Kid: guitar
- John: bass
- Vince Ely: drums
1978: probably last line-up
- Steve Strange: vocals
- Chrissy Hynde: guitar
- Tex: bass
- Topper Headon: drums