021
Formed in 1979, 021’s original line up included Tony Simpson, Martin Frain and Ian Richards. Hailing from the Birmingham suburbs of Shirley and Olton, the band played first gigs at the nearby Langley School, with an eclectic set that matched their diverse musical interests.
Spurred on by the rivalry with local Band The Undertakers, the line up and look changed just after their first vinyl offering “I Don’t Wanna Be A Robot”, on the Mell Square Music EP, in 1980.[1] The track is barely produced, providing a nod to DIY punk and the genuine belief in the art of the garage band. It was featured along with The Accused and Cracked actors on a John Peels Show.
During this period the band gigged regularly in Birmingham and Solihull, with a residency at the Golden Lion Solihull, and appearing on the same line ups a The Au pairs, The Cult Figures, The Accused, The Undertakers, UB40, The Beat at venues such as the Golden Eagle, Barrel Organ, and Kit Kat club and The Star Club.
The bands local fan base increased to the point that a graffiti campaign came to regional prominence via the Birmingham Evening Mail, with 021 being sprayed on walls and Bus’s throughout the City.
In 1981 the band recorded three studio sessions after which the acetate of 'What Ever Happened To You' along with a very early recording of 'Simple Minds' was released, they additionally recorded a session, borrowing the Undertakers bass player Michael Hogan and recorded the definitive version of Heaven and Hell, featured on the 2015 Album 'All Was Nothing'.[2]
By Mid-1981, the band settled on a stable line-up, with ever presents Simpson and Frain, joined by (Viv) Elmore, and (Mike) Hancox, and (John) Groake from Birmingham Ska Band 'The Androids'. The band began to establish itself across the region playing with Blurt, The Au Pairs, UB40, and The Denizens as well as taking part in the 'Lark in the Park' music festival at Cannon Hill Park. The bands infamous concert at Weymouth Pavilion is well documented in Paul Panics book.[3]
In 1982 the power pop single, The Pop Song was self-released on UK pop Records, (now $130 on ebay) The release was supported by a series of limited gigs culminated at La Beat Route Club in London and performing at Andy Raws Mod Alldayer with a Mary Wilson at the Ilford Palais in Essex. The bands new sound attracted the power pop mods that had stated to surface in Birmingham, along with The Nervous Kind and The Mood Elevators, they forged power pop, with a small but passionate following that culminated in a residency at the Barrel Organ, ultimately being terminated due to crowd disturbances between Mods and Skinheads.[4]
The Pop Song gained both regional and national airplay, featuring on BBC Radio 1, and making various playlist in Birmingham. The small press run of 1000 being distributed nationally via the independent Cartel. The band were now considered to be writing their best work. By 1983 Elmore was the creative engine of the band, for a period.
As The Pop Song gained more BBC Radio 1 Airplay, the band like so many, failed to deliver a follow up and slid into apathy, and disarray, leaving a memory of what might have been.
References
- ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Various-Mell-Square-Musick/release/1125934. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ http://shop.detourrecords.co.uk/021-ALL-WAS-NOTHING-CD-NEW-M. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ I Thought Solihull Was for Snobs (but These Punks Think Different). No Rip off Books in Association with 'Black Rose Ents. 2015. ISBN 978-0993160806. Search this book on
- ↑ "The Pop Song U:K Pop Records – UK 0201". discogs. Missing or empty
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