- The Plague (English punk rock band)
Infobox musical artist 2
Name = The Plague
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Background = group_or_band
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born =
Died =
Origin =England
Instrument =
Genre = Punk Rock
Occupation =
Years_active = 1976 - 1981, 2005 - present
Label =
Associated_acts =
URL = www.originalplague.com [http://www.originalplague.com]
Current_members = Gareth Martin
Marc Jefferies
Greg Horton
Chris Gambold
Past_members = Graham RobinsonThe Plague are an English
punk rock band. Formed in in South EastLondon during 1976, the band were initially in existence until 1981. [ [http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/plague.htm The history of The Plague at] "www.punk77.co.uk/groups/plague.htm". RetrievedMay 3 2007 .] They reformed in 2005. [ [http://www.originalplague.com/index.html The Plague announce their reformation at] "www.originalplague.com". RetrievedMay 3 2007 .] Their original line-up was:* Gareth Martin - vocals,
rhythm guitar
* Marc Jefferies - Vocals,lead guitar
* Graham Robinson -Bass guitar
* Greg Horton - drums, vocalsThe Plague are notable as a band who played
London venueThe Roxy many times, as well as many more shows all over the country. [ [http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/plague.htm The Plague play The Roxy at] "www.punk77.co.uk/groups/plague.htm". RetrievedMay 3 2007 .] They also scored a minor hit with their 1979 single "In Love", which received Radio 1 airplay and became a favourite of the lateJohn Peel , a long-time champion of underground music.Outbreak
After meeting at college Gareth, Graham and Marc noted a shared interest in bands such as
The Damned ,The Who andThe Sex Pistols ; and formed The Plague in the autumn of 1976. Drummer Greg Horton completed the line-up, and the band began playing together at a rehearsal space attached to a church inBromley .By early 1977 The Plague were playing locally, soon securing a regular slot at the
Battersea Arts Centre - initially as support to musical-play "The Food Show". They were the firstpunk rock band to play at the venue, playing a twenty-minute set to open the show as well as providing a contemporary soundtrack to The Food Show in return for rehearsal space. As The Food Show was put on by the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA ), the unlikely pairing played otherILEA venues together. However this was a short-lived arrangement after the band played soon-to-be fan-favourite "1, 2, Fuck You!" one night at a school. Despite requesting a punk show, school staff in the audience went berserk, almost leading to a fight between the school's PE teacher and the band/manager. The headmaster demanded an apology from The Plague, which was unforthcoming so from that point onward they were banned from allILEA venues - rather a fitting and appropriate state of affairs for a hungry teenage punk band in 1977. [ [http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/plague.htm The Battersea Arts Centre story at] "www.punk77.co.uk/groups/plague.htm". RetrievedMay 3 2007 .]Having recorded their first demo (containing such embryonic examples of their sound as: "Again and Again", "On The Dole", and "Nightmares") [ [http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/plague.htm About The Plague's first demo at] "www.punk77.co.uk/groups/plague.htm". Retrieved
May 3 2007 .] The Plague began their long-standing relationship withThe Roxy club, playing shows with such punk luminaries as theUK Subs andSlaughter and the Dogs . Eventually the club manager Kevin St John would phone the band up when others had cancelled gigs at the last minute.As well as regulars to the club the band brought with them their "Battersea Mob", a group of punks based at The Old Swan pub in
Battersea . The Battersea Mob proved to be the most loyal of fans, some even trekking as far afield asCoventry andManchester to see the band. It was during this time that the band wrote many songs including "Spies", "End of the World", "Politician" and "Nuffin' Doing". [ [http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/plague.htm Playing Manchester as "The Plough" at] "www.punk77.co.uk/groups/plague.htm". RetrievedMay 3 2007 .]After
The Roxy closed The Plague remained active, playing at the Institute of Psychiatry,Camberwell , andToyah Willcox 's club night "Mayhem". One outstanding gig at the Institute resulted in interest fromCBS records. [ [http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/plague.htm The CBS incident at] "www.punk77.co.uk/groups/plague.htm". RetrievedMay 3 2007 .]Singles
"In Love" (backed with "Wimpy Bar Song") was released on two independent labels in 1979: Psycho Records and Evolution Records. Despite Radio 1 airplay for "In Love" and it's backing by
John Peel , The Plague's second single "Out With Me All Night" (backed with "Er!" and "I Don't Wanna Be Like Jimmy") was released in 1980 to little success. [ [http://www.detour-records.co.uk/plague.htm Cover art, label and pressing information for The Plague's singles at] "www.detour-records.co.uk/plague.htm". RetrievedMay 3 2007 .] [ [http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/plague.htm About The Plague's singles at] "www.punk77.co.uk/groups/plague.htm". RetrievedMay 3 2007 ]The End of the World
Sadly, around this time internal problems started to emerge within the band. Rhythm guitarist/vocalist Gareth Martin left in 1980. After that the remaining members tried to keep The Plague going, trying out vocalist Sue Slack for a while and eventually re-inventing themselves as Indoor Games with a different vocalist. Knowing that their initial chemistry was broken and feeling unable to continue, the band finally disbanded in 1981. [ [http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/plague.htm The history of The Plague at] "www.punk77.co.uk/groups/plague.htm". Retrieved
May 3 2007 .]The X Tapes
Following a resurgence of interest in original punk rock, Detour Records contacted the band in 2005 regarding the compilation of all The Plague's various demos and singles onto one vinyl/CD album. The result was "The X Tapes" ((p) and (c) 2005 Bin Liner Records), containing the following tracks: [ [http://www.detour-records.co.uk/binliner.htm Information about The X Tapes album at] "www.detour-records.co.uk/binliner.htm". Retrieved
May 3 2007 ]# "
Come Together " (Lennon/McCartney )
# "Lay Me in the Moonlight"
# "In Love
# "Wimpy Bar Song" (B-side of "In Love" single)
# "Nuffin' Doing"
# "I Don't Wanna Be Like Jimmy" (B-side of "Out With Me All Night" single)
# "Dog Days"
# "The End of the World"
# "Er!" (B-side of "Out With Me All Night" single)
# "Out with Me All Night"
# "Stop" (vocals bySue Slack )
# "On the Dole" (from the original Plague demo tape)
# "Again and Again" (from the original Plague demo tape)
# "Nightmares" (from the original Plague demo tape)After "The End of the World"
The Plague got back together in 2005 when Gareth and Greg, who had remained in-touch, contacted Marc. Graham Robinson declined to rejoin, possibly because he is now living in
Scotland , making rehearsals a difficult matter. The band understandably decided to become a three-piece, with Gareth taking over bass duties in place of rhythm guitar. Since their reactivation The Plague have played gigs inLondon and are working towards recording and releasing an album of brand new recordings, containing both new and old material. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,,1888155,00.html Are You Happy? - A short interview with lead guitarist/vocalist Marc Jefferies at] www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,,1888155,00.html". RetrievedMay 3 2007 ] [ [http://www.originalplague.com/index.html The Plague are gigging and recording at] "www.originalplague.com". RetrievedMay 3 2007 .]New beginnings
At the beginning of 2007 the band were joined by new bassist Chris Gambold, formerly of
funk rock outfit The Taxmen and hardcore/metal crossover trioMK-Ultra . Chris is also the bassist forSussex metallers Enemy Within, who feature Marc Jefferies on lead guitar. His addition returns The Plague to a four-piece line-up:* Gareth Martin - vocals,
rhythm guitar
* Marc Jefferies - Vocals,lead guitar
* Chris Gambold -Bass guitar , vocals
* Greg Horton - drums, vocalsExternal links
* [http://www.myspace.com/originalplague The official MySpace page of The Plague www.myspace.com/originalplague]
* [http://www.originalplague.com The official website of The Plague www.originalplague.com]
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,,1888155,00.html Are You Happy? An interview with Marc Jefferies from Guardian Unlimited]
* [http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/plague.htm An article about the history of The Plague at www.punk77.co.uk]
* [http://www.detour-records.co.uk/plague.htm Cover art, pressing and label information for The Plague's singles at www.detour-records.co.uk]
* [http://www.detour-records.co.uk/binliner.htm Information about The X Tapes album at www.detour-records.co.uk]References
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