Subhumans - From the Cradle to the Grave (CD 2009)
Subhumans were, between 1980-85, one of the most prolific and
original of the evolving UK punk scene; they were based in
Warminster, Wiltshire, [SW England], and the lineup was Dick on
vocals, Bruce played guitar, Phil on bass, and Trotsky on the drums.
Dick had previously sung for The Mental, who released one EP and
embodied the 'cant-play-will-play' early punk 'anyone-can-do-it'
attitude. Bruce had been in the Stupid Humans, also based in
Warminster; these two met at an Angelic Upstarts gig in 1980, and
when their bands split they got together to form Subhumans.
Musical influences were a mix of Sex Pistols, Damned, and similar
punk originators, and prepunk bands like King Crimson and Frank
Zappa, which led to a style of punk more intricate in its structure
than their contemporaries, without losing the base energy and
dynamics of punk. Dick's lyrics, at once socially aware and heavily
critical of social norms, placed them in the anarcho-punk area of
the ever-expanding UK punk scene of the early 80s, alongside Crass,
Antisect, Conflict, and Flux of Pink Indians, who released the
band's first 3 EPs [Demolition War, Reason For Existence, and
Religious Wars] and their first LP [in '83] The Day The Country
Died, which became an instant classic that went on to sell 100,000
copies,
In `83 they formed their own label, Bluurg Records, and over the
next two years released From the Cradle to the Grave LP [which
included a 16 minute track of the same name that had the music press
calling for a redefinition of 'punk'!] Evolution EP, Time Flies 12"
EP, Rats EP, Worlds Apart LP, and 29:29 Split Vision LP, which was
released after splitting up in '85. By then they'd played 262 gigs
including several European tours and 2 in the USA, [which was in the
80's a rare achievement for a non-commercially minded band].
Dick went on to join seminal ska-punk-reggae band Culture Shock [86-
89, 3 LPs on Bluurg Records], and met up with Phil and Trotsky again
in Citizen Fish [89-???], who have so far recorded 7 LPs of their
politipunk-ska songs and clocked up over 1000 gigs across the
planet...then in `98 these 3 ex-Subhumans roped Bruce back in to
reform Subhumans, to 'see what it felt like', and, it feeling rather
excellent, have kept going with occasional touring and a limited
release CD of old unused songs, Unfinished Business.
New songs are being created slowly but surely for another studio
release, and a live one is released as part of the Live in a Dive
series on Fat Wreck Chords, it was recorded April `03 in Corona,
California during a highly packed-out USA tour, and features 26
tracks that span their entire output and captures the intensity of
Subhumans live that studio recordings could only hint at. In August,
Queens of the Stone Age recorded and released their version of a
Subs song 'Wake Up Screaming', and the film director Asia Argento
has asked to use Subs music in her adaptation of 'The Heart is
Deceitful Above All Things'.
"Song words are passing moments of thought that can relate forever
(if they do do that they are good songs) - from experience combined
with imagination". Dick Lucas, Crisispoint zine 1982.
"And remember, life ain't about computers, it's about communication.
You know, you and me talking face to face, don't ever forget it." Dick Lucas
If you like Subhumans, also check out P.A.I.N and Sensa Yuma and other punk bands in the shop
On 22-May-06 at 16:51:23 BST, seller added the following information:
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