Instigators
Instigators | |
---|---|
Origin | Dewsbury, England |
Genres | Punk rock, anarcho-punk |
Years active | 1980–present |
Labels | Bluurg, Peaceville |
Past members | Paul "Hammy" Halmshaw Simon Mooney Simon Bridgewater Simon Elsey Barbara Drye Nicky Djorjevic "Tompo" Darren Dean Tez Turner Andrew Turnbull Steve Curran |
Instigators were an anarcho-punk band from Dewsbury, England, formed in 1980. The original line-up split up in the mid-1980s, but the band carried on into the 1990s.
History[]
The band was formed in 1980 by drummer Paul "Hammy" Halmshaw and guitarist Simon Mooney, both students at Thornhill High School, and the line-up was completed by Simon "Semi" Bridgewater (vocals) and Nicky Djorjevic (bass Guitar).[1] They took the name Instigators on the suggestion of Ritchie Calvert of the band Disintegrated.[1] The band's first live performance was in summer 1982.[1] Influences on the band included Crass and Flux of Pink Indians.[1]
Djorjevic left to be replaced by "Tompo", who only lasted a few months, playing on the band's first demo, before being replaced himself by Simon "Tab" Elsey.[1] Bridgewater also left for a short time and later became a Web Developer, his replacement Daz Dean. The band's demo got the band a support slot for Flux of Pink Indians in November 1982, and they recorded two further demos, all three getting released on a cassette on Halmshaw's Peaceville Records label, gaining the band more fans. Barbara Drye also added some further input into the band by singing a couple of songs with 'Aggression' been one of them.[1] The band were given another support slot in May 1983, opening for Subhumans in Bradford, a performance that was recorded by Subhumans vocalist Dick Lucas and released through his Bluurg label.[1] Bluurg also released the band's first EP, The Blood is on Your Hands, which reached number 21 on the UK Independent Chart.[2] The 1985 LP release Nobody Listens Anymore increased their popularity, reaching number 18 on the Indie Albums Chart,[2] and securing them a spot on 's Cleanse the Bacteria compilation LP.
Bridgewater left later that year after an argument, and the band recruited Andy "Tez" Turner (formerly of Xpozez) as his replacement.[1] Halmshaw and Elsey also soon left, with Mooney and Turner continuing with Andrew "Trimble" Turnbull (Also formerly of Xpozez) on bass guitar and Steve "Cuzzy" Curran on drums.[1] The band's sound changed with the new line-up, taking on a more American influence. They went on to tour Europe and the United States and continued into the 1990s.
Halmshaw went on to front , and continued to develop his Peaceville label.[1]
Discography[]
Singles, Eps[]
- The Blood Is on Your Hands 7" EP (1984), , Fish 6 - UK Indie No. 21
- Recorded Live in Denmark Feb '86 7" EP (1986), Mystic
- "Eye to Eye" (1986), Mystic
- "Full Circle" 7" (1987), Double A
- "Invasion" 7" (1988), Super Seven
- "Toshiyuki Hiraoka/With The Instigators–Personal Progress" 7" (1990), Deco Record
Albums[]
- Demo (cassette) (1982)
- Demo (cassette) (1983)
- Demo (cassette) (1984)
- Live in Leeds (cassette) (1983), Bluurg
- It Has To Be Stopped Live (cassette) (1984), 96 Tapes
- All Creatures Great And Small Live (cassette) (1984), Bluurg
- Nobody Listens Anymore (1985), Bluurg, Fish 11 - UK Indie No. 18
- We Are The Race Of The Media Fix Live (cassette), (1985) Bluurg
- Shrapnel, Instigators–Live At St.Phillips Community Centre. (cassette), (1985)
- Live In Leeds(cassette), (1985)
- Demo (cassette), (1986)
- Phoenix (1986), Bluurg, Fish 13
- Instigators Live At Huset, Arhus, Denmark, 15 February 1986 (1987), self-released, later licensed to Calypso Now
- Wall of Sound - Live in Berlin (1988), Meantime
- Live (1988) Black Box Records
- Shockgun (1988), Flipside, FLIP 16
- New Old Now (1989), Peaceville
- Recovery Sessions (1990), Full Circle
- Demo (cassette) (1993)
- Dine Upon the Dead (2002), Blackfish - compilation
- The Blood Is On Your Hands (LP) (2015), RuinNation
- Nobody Listens Anymore (30th Anniversary Edition) (LP) (2015), RuinNation
References[]
External links[]
- Punk rock groups from West Yorkshire
- Musical groups established in 1980