The Straps
Encyclopedia
The Straps are an English
streetpunk band, formed in 1978 in Battersea
, South London
. Jim Walker was a drummer for the band in the early 1980s. Other members included Andi Sexgang
, and Simon and Jonathan Werner from The Pack, who later became Theatre of Hate
.
The band played their first gig at The Latchmere pub
in Battersea Park Road in 1978. They enjoyed a cult following around London, and subsequently performed alongside The Damned, Sham 69
and Stiff Little Fingers
. Stan Stammers
, a former Epileptics bassist, joined in 1979.
Simon Werner and Johnny Grant (aka Jock Strap) also formed Bartok with Rat Scabies
and Jah Wobble
, recording a 12" single called "Insanity" (1983). Grant went on to form Freakshow 1984, playing around the UK without any record releases.
The Straps reformed in 1991 for a one off gig at the Brixton Academy, with some other original punk bands including Sham 69, UK Subs
and The Lurkers
. The Straps toured and played the Rebellion Festival three years running, until Grant had an accident injuring his right knee. The band separated again in 2008.
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...
streetpunk band, formed in 1978 in Battersea
Battersea
Battersea is an area of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is an inner-city district of South London, situated on the south side of the River Thames, 2.9 miles south-west of Charing Cross. Battersea spans from Fairfield in the west to Queenstown in the east...
, South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
. Jim Walker was a drummer for the band in the early 1980s. Other members included Andi Sexgang
Andi Sexgang
Andi Sexgang was vocalist of the band Sex Gang Children who were a prominent act in the Gothic rock movement of the 1980s, his band played once at the infamous Batcave club...
, and Simon and Jonathan Werner from The Pack, who later became Theatre of Hate
Theatre of Hate
Theatre of Hate were a post-punk band formed in Britain in 1980.Led by singer-songwriter and ex-member of punk band The Pack, Kirk Brandon, the original group also consisted of: guitarist Steve Guthrie, bassist Stan Stammers , saxophonist John Lennard and drummer Luke Rendle from Crisis/The...
.
The band played their first gig at The Latchmere pub
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
in Battersea Park Road in 1978. They enjoyed a cult following around London, and subsequently performed alongside The Damned, Sham 69
Sham 69
Sham 69 is an English punk band that formed in Hersham in 1976.Although not as commercially successful as many of their contemporaries, albeit with a greater number of chart entries, Sham 69 has been a huge musical and lyrical influence on the Oi! and streetpunk genres. The band allegedly derived...
and Stiff Little Fingers
Stiff Little Fingers
Stiff Little Fingers are a punk rock band from Belfast, Northern Ireland. They formed in 1977, at the height of the Troubles. They started out as a schoolboy band called Highway Star , doing rock covers, until they discovered punk. They split up after six years and four albums, although they...
. Stan Stammers
Stan Stammers
Stan Stammers is best known as the bass player for British post punk band Theatre of Hate, Spear Of Destiny and Plastic Eaters co. founded with Robdaly. In 1999 Stammers and Plastic Eaters gained an artist sponsorship from Adidas. Stan uses Wal basses produced by renowned bass manufacturer ...
, a former Epileptics bassist, joined in 1979.
Simon Werner and Johnny Grant (aka Jock Strap) also formed Bartok with Rat Scabies
Rat Scabies
Christopher Millar , better known by his stage name Rat Scabies, is a musician best known for his tenure as the drummer for The Damned....
and Jah Wobble
Jah Wobble
Jah Wobble is an English bass guitarist, singer, poet and composer. He became known to a wider audience as the original bass player in Public Image Ltd in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but left the band after two albums...
, recording a 12" single called "Insanity" (1983). Grant went on to form Freakshow 1984, playing around the UK without any record releases.
The Straps reformed in 1991 for a one off gig at the Brixton Academy, with some other original punk bands including Sham 69, UK Subs
UK Subs
The U.K. Subs are an English punk rock band, among the earliest in the first wave of British punk. Formed in 1976, the mainstay of the band has been vocalist Charlie Harper, originally a singer in Britain's R&B scene. They were also one of the first street punk bands.-Career:The U.K...
and The Lurkers
The Lurkers
The Lurkers were a late 1970s English punk rock group from Uxbridge, West London, notable for being the first group ever on Beggars Banquet Records.-Career:...
. The Straps toured and played the Rebellion Festival three years running, until Grant had an accident injuring his right knee. The band separated again in 2008.
Albums
- The Straps (1983)
- The Punk Collection (2005)
- In Love With the New World Order (2007)