Blitzkrieg (punk band)

Infobox musical artist |
Name = Blitzkrieg
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Southport, England
Instrument =
Genre = Punk rock
Years_active = 1979–1984, 1991–1995, 2007–present
Label =
Associated_acts = Broken Bones, Varukers
URL =
Current_members = Chris Hind
Jim Corrupt
Mick nofone Stokes
Jack Chambers
JB DirtStar
Past_members =

Blitzkrieg are an English punk rock band, based in Southport and formed in 1979.cite book |last=Lazell |first=Barry |title=Indie Hits 1980-1999 |year= 1997 |publisher=Cherry Red Books |isbn=0-9517206-9-4 ]

Blizkrieg made a distinct contribution to the UK hardcore punk scene and were a powerful antidote to the neo-Nazi punk/skinhead 'Oi' bands that rose to prominence in the early 1980s. The band never achieved major success, and are considered by their fans as one of the most underrated bands on the British punk scene.

History

The original line-up were formed by Mike 'Riffone' on vocals together with his brother Phil 'Din' on drums in 1979, initially with Will Mawdsley on guitar and Gary 'Gaz' Sumner on bass. Tony "Toe" Fowler joined on bass, while Gaz Sumner switched over to guitar. Later when Toe Fowler left, he was replaced with Chris Hind on bass, previously of the local Southport band Mayhem.

This formed the definative line-up of Mike Riffone (vocals), Phil Din (drums), Gaz Sumner (guitar) and Chris Hind (bass).It was in this line-up that the band where signed-up by the fledgling independent record label [http://www.nofuturerecords.co.uk/ No Future Records] and released the track "The Future Must Be Ours" which appeared on the [http://www.nofuturerecords.co.uk/uk/oi3.htm A Country Fit For Heroes] compilation album, released in January 1982 – Catalogue number Oi3 reaching #4 in the UK Indie Charts.

Blitzkrieg played a vast number of gigs primarily in the North of England both in their own right and as a support group to a number of signed bands of the time including, UK Decay, Chron Gen, The Not Sensibles, Anti-Pasti amongst others.

Shortly after the release of this track, Phil Din left the band and was for a brief period replaced by 'Jackanory' John McCallum on drums.Despite the Nazi connotations of the name Blitzkrieg, German for "Lightning-War", they took a fiercely anti-Nazi stance, which was reflected in their second vinyl release, a four track EP on [http://www.nofuturerecords.co.uk/ No Future Records] , entitled the [http://www.nofuturerecords.co.uk/uk/oi8.htm Lest We Forget EP,] - Catalogue number Oi8 which reached #11 in the Indie Charts in 1982. Later in the same year, the band parted company with drummer McCallum and their record label, signing to Sexual Phonograph Records, who released their Animals in Lipstick EP.

In on drums came Dave "Bambi" Ellesmere, previously of the local Wigan group The Insane and more notably of the seminal grunge/speed-metal group Discharge who joined the group in mid 1982. The "Animals in Lipstick EP" featured an aggressively anti-vivisection theme, and their most popular recorded song to date, "Conscience Prayer", an anti-society polemic, it reached #30 in the Indie Chart in 1983. Since the break-up of the group soon after the "Conscience Prayer" release in 1983, there have since been a number of reformations of the group, initially in late 1987 with new vocalist Spike, Gaz, Bambi & ex-Insane bassist Trev.Dave left to join Flux of Pink Indians, and has latterly enjoyed success as a Techno House DJ.

1988 saw Spike form Paradox UK with renowned Liverpool guitarist Martin "Ales" Walker, releasing several vinyl offerings and the now "cult" EP single "Charmed Existence"

Another reformation in 1990 combined Gaz Sumner and Martin "Ales" Walker on guitars, Freddy Doyle on drums, Mal on bass, while Spike returned to vocals. This line-up supported Discharge on a UK Tour.

When Punk became a spent force in the UK, the group disbanded, reforming in the 1990s as part of a 'punk package' series of dates in the UK.

Then group reformed yet again in 1991 and recorded the LP Future Must Be Ours on Retch Records. A retrospective joint LP with Insane was released on Capt Oi! Records in 1997

Blitzkrieg reformed for Rebellion 2007 at Blackpool. The new line up is Chris Hind(former member) Bass and vocals, Jax Chambers(Girlschool) Lead guitar and vocals, Mick Stokes(Last Orders) guitar and vocals, J.B. Dirtstar(Sellout Flaw) vocals and Jim Corrupt(Sellout Flaw) Drums. They are currently working on a new album to be released 2008 and have a tour planned including Rebellion 2008.

Discography

Chart placings shown from the UK Indie Chart.
* "Demo Tape 81"
* "Lest We Forget EP" #11
* "Practice Tape 82"
* "Animals in lipstick EP" #30
* "The Future Must Be Ours LP"
* "A Country Fit for Heroes" - No Future Records' 12" sampler features a track of theirs.

CDs
* "The Future Must Be Ours CD"
* "Back To No Future CD"

References