Basczax

Basczax are a British post-punk band that was formed in Redcar in late 1978, including in the line up vocalist Anne Cahill and drummer Jane McGrath. Starting out as an anti-punk, almost anti-music noise band, it supported the Gang Of Four, amongst others in the early days. The band saw changes in line-up in early 1979, with Mick Todd (bass), Jeff Fogarty (sax), and Alan Savage (guitar/vocals), being joined by John Hodgson (keyboards) and Alan Cornforth (drums) from the punk band Blitzkrieg Bop.

Within days, Basczax was playing with The Damned at Cleethorpes Wintergardens. The blue fluffy jumper, worn by Captain Sensible on the "Love Song" single sleeve and numerous TV appearances, was stolen from the Basczax dressing room. It has never been returned. Basczax appeared on Fast Product's "Earcom 2" mini-LP, alongside Joy Division and "Thursdays". The band also released a 7" single on the Pipeline label: Madison Fallout/Auto Mekanik Destruktor.

Basczax toured with Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), and appeared on TV, performing "Ego Therapy". This line-up split in September 1980, with Hodgson and Cornforth going on to join "Makaton Chat" a local band formed by Anthony Lindo. A CD compilation of tracks recorded by Basczax entitled "The Eyeliner Years 1978-80" is being prepared for release in 2008. John Hodgson now records under the name Fast Cakes, who released an album in August 2007 entitled "LIVEYOUNGDIEFAST" (excerpts of which can be heard here: [http://www.blitzkriegbop.info/home.html fast cakes)] . The three remaining members regrouped and continued. Eventually, after many line-up changes, the band mutated into "Jank Mamba", and then "The Flaming Mussolinis", which released two albums in the mid-'80s for Portrait Records (CBS). Savage went on to form a band called "Zoom", and released a solo CD in the '90s on Darlington-based "Northern Sky".

A photo gallery of Basczax pictures can be found here: http://www.blitzkriegbop.info/basczax/gallery/index.htm