Vic Godard
Encyclopedia
Vic Godard is a British
singer-songwriter
formerly of the punk group Subway Sect
. He is now a solo
performer.
c.1959, Godard was raised in Barnes.
In 1976, Godard formed Subway Sect with three other fans of the Sex Pistols
at the suggestion of Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren
, who wanted another band for the line-up of the 100 Club Punk Festival
. Despite their inexperience, Subway Sect made a successful debut at the festival and were taken on by Clash
manager Bernie Rhodes
. They appeared with The Clash
on the White Riot Tour in 1977 and released their debut single
, "Nobody's Scared"/"Don't Split It", in March 1978. While recording their debut album at Gooseberry Studios, Rhodes suddenly fired the entire band except for Godard. Only one track from the album's recording sessions, "Ambition", was released by Rough Trade records; the single was a major hit on the alternative charts.
Godard re-formed Subway Sect in 1980 with new musicians and signed to MCA Records
sublabel Oddball, releasing the album What's The Matter Boy?. Following a summer tour with Buzzcocks
, Subway Sect disbanded again. Guitarist Johnny Britten formed a rockabilly
band but was soon forced to leave the group, at which point Godard stepped in to take his place. They recorded the album Songs For Sale in 1981, but were disappointed with the results and disbanded soon after, most of the band going on to form JoBoxers
. Godard also recorded an LP at Olympic Studios
, called T.R.O.U.B.L.E., with a group of London jazz
musicians known as Working Week
, which was eventually released two years later by Rough Trade Records
.
In the mid-1980s, Godard retired from music and became a postman.
In 1990, Godard wrote the song "Johnny Thunders", a tribute inspired by reading an obituary of the New York Dolls guitarist
. It was recorded at the home of Paul Baker, a fellow postman. Godard also recorded ten other tracks. The recordings eventually became the album The End of the Surrey People and was released on the Postcard Records
label produced by Edwyn Collins and featuring the Sex Pistols' Paul Cook on drums.
Later in the 1990s, Godard formed the band Long Decline with Kenny Wisdom and Mark Perry
. The band released an album on the Overground label before disbanding in 1998, but re-formed in 2000 with Godard, Wisdom, Lee McFadden, and Mina Sassoon, among others. Godard contributed guitar and some songwriting, but not lead vocals,
In 1998, Godard released the album Long Term Side-Effect on Tugboat Records.
A 2002 album recorded by Godard, Sansend, was released under the name Subway Sect, rather than his own.
Godard's label Motion Records released Singles Anthology in 2005, compiling all A-sides and B-sides
from Godard's career.
In 2007, as Subway Sect, Godard recorded the songs that were intended for the debut LP back in 1978, and released them as 1978 Now. The line-up includes original drummer Mark Laff. Original bass player Paul Myers also features on some of the tracks.
Godard has also contributed to tracks by The Bitter Springs
, who acted as his backing band (as Subway Sect) for nine years.
Compilations:
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
formerly of the punk group Subway Sect
Subway Sect
Subway Sect were one of the original British punk bands. Their influence was limited by the very small amount of recorded material they released.-The early days:...
. He is now a solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
performer.
Biography
Born Vic Knapper in MortlakeMortlake
Mortlake is a district of London, England and part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is on the south bank of the River Thames between Kew and Barnes with East Sheen inland to the south. Mortlake was part of Surrey until 1965.-History:...
c.1959, Godard was raised in Barnes.
In 1976, Godard formed Subway Sect with three other fans of 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...
at the suggestion of Sex Pistols manager 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...
, who wanted another band for the line-up of 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...
. Despite their inexperience, Subway Sect made a successful debut at the festival and were taken on by 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...
manager 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:...
. They appeared with 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...
on the White Riot Tour in 1977 and released their debut 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"/"Don't Split It", in March 1978. While recording their debut album at Gooseberry Studios, Rhodes suddenly fired the entire band except for Godard. Only one track from the album's recording sessions, "Ambition", was released by Rough Trade records; the single was a major hit on the alternative charts.
Godard re-formed Subway Sect in 1980 with new musicians and signed to MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
sublabel Oddball, releasing the album What's The Matter Boy?. Following a summer tour with Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
, Subway Sect disbanded again. Guitarist Johnny Britten formed a 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...
band but was soon forced to leave the group, at which point Godard stepped in to take his place. They recorded the album Songs For Sale in 1981, but were disappointed with the results and disbanded soon after, most of the band going on to form JoBoxers
JoBoxers
JoBoxers 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...
. Godard also recorded an LP at Olympic Studios
Olympic Studios
Olympic Studios was a renowned independent commercial recording studio located at 117 Church Road, Barnes, South West London, England. The studio is best known for the huge number of famous rock and pop recordings made there from the late 1960s onward....
, called T.R.O.U.B.L.E., with a group of London jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musicians known as Working Week
Working Week (band)
Working Week were a British jazz-dance musical ensemble, active in the 1980s and 1990s.Working Week were formed in 1983 by guitarist Simon Booth and saxophonist Larry Stabbins, who were previously in post punk outfit Weekend...
, which was eventually released two years later by 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...
.
In the mid-1980s, Godard retired from music and became a postman.
In 1990, Godard wrote the song "Johnny Thunders", a tribute inspired by reading an obituary of the New York Dolls guitarist
Johnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr. , was an American protopunk guitarist, singer and songwriter.He came to prominence in the early '70s as a member of the New York Dolls...
. It was recorded at the home of Paul Baker, a fellow postman. Godard also recorded ten other tracks. The recordings eventually became the album The End of the Surrey People and was released on the Postcard Records
Postcard Records
Postcard Records is a Glasgow-based independent record label founded by Alan Horne in 1979, as a vehicle for Orange Juice and Josef K releases. The label's motto was "The Sound of Young Scotland", a parody/tribute to the Motown motto; its logo featured a cartoon cat beating a drum...
label produced by Edwyn Collins and featuring the Sex Pistols' Paul Cook on drums.
Later in the 1990s, Godard formed the band Long Decline with Kenny Wisdom and Mark Perry
Mark Perry (musician)
Mark Perry, also known as Mark P, was a British fanzine publisher and is a writer and musician.Perry was a bank clerk when, inspired by The Ramones, he founded the punk fanzine Sniffin' Glue in 1976...
. The band released an album on the Overground label before disbanding in 1998, but re-formed in 2000 with Godard, Wisdom, Lee McFadden, and Mina Sassoon, among others. Godard contributed guitar and some songwriting, but not lead vocals,
In 1998, Godard released the album Long Term Side-Effect on Tugboat Records.
A 2002 album recorded by Godard, Sansend, was released under the name Subway Sect, rather than his own.
Godard's label Motion Records released Singles Anthology in 2005, compiling all A-sides and B-sides
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
from Godard's career.
In 2007, as Subway Sect, Godard recorded the songs that were intended for the debut LP back in 1978, and released them as 1978 Now. The line-up includes original drummer Mark Laff. Original bass player Paul Myers also features on some of the tracks.
Godard has also contributed to tracks by The Bitter Springs
The Bitter Springs
The Bitter Springs are an English rock group from the London suburb of Teddington. The band evolved from Last Party, who had formed in 1985, with the name changing in 1996...
, who acted as his backing band (as Subway Sect) for nine years.
Albums
- What's the Matter Boy? (1980), Oddball/MCA
- Songs For Sale (1982), London
- Long Term Side-Effect (1998), Tugboat
- We Come As Aliens (2010), Overground
Compilations:
- A Retrospective (1977-81) (1985), Rough Trade
- Twenty Odd Years - The Story of... (1999), Motion
- Singles Anthology (2005), Motion
Singles
- "Split Up the Money" (1980), Oddball/MCA
- "Stop That Girl" (1981), Rough Trade
- "Hey Now (I'm In Love)" (1982), London
- "Johnny Thunders" (1992), Rough Trade
- "Won't Turn Back" (1993), Postcard
- "No Love Now" (1996), Garcia
- "Place We Used to Love" (1999), Creeping Bent
Albums
- T.R.O.U.B.L.E. (1986), Rough Trade
- End of the Surrey People (1993), Postcard
- In T.R.O.U.B.L.E. Again (2002), Tugboat
External links
- Vic Godard and The Subway Sect Official Homepage. New live dates, bio, video, audio, News and ongoing archive
- 2002 interview
- Info about the Blackpool EP with Irvine Welsh - Vic Godard & Irvine Welsh