Charged GBH

This article is about the band. For information on the British legal phrase, see Grievous bodily harm.
Charged GBH

GBH performing on a Warped Tour
Background information
Origin Birmingham, England
Genres Hardcore punk, street punk,[1][2] crossover thrash
Years active 1978–present
Labels Clay, Captain Oi!, Anagram, SOS, Cleopatra, Go Kart, Idol, Sanctuary, Castle, Hellcat, Rough Justice / Music For Nations, Roadrunner
Website Official website
Members Colin Abrahall
Ross Lomas
Colin "Jock" Blyth
Scott Preece
Past members Sean McCarthy
Andrew "Wilf" Williams
Kai Reder
Joseph Montero

Charged GBH, commonly known as GBH, are an English street punk band which was formed in 1978 by vocalist Colin Abrahall, guitarist Colin "Jock" Blyth, bassist Sean McCarthy (replaced by Ross Lomas by the time they had signed to Clay records) and Drummer Andy "Wilf" Williams. GBH were early pioneers of English street punk, often nicknamed "UK82", along with Discharge, Broken Bones, The Exploited and The Varukers. GBH have gone on to influence several punk rock musicians.

The name GBH was inspired by then-bassist Sean McCarthy's trial for grievous bodily harm. Though the core line up of Colin, Ross and Jock has stayed the same throughout their history the drum stool has been occupied by a number of incumbents following Wilf's departure after the Midnight Madness and Beyond album and Oh No It's GBH again 12" ep. 1986 saw the arrival of German drummer Kai Reder who played on three albums and an EP (No Need To Panic, A Fridge Too Far and From Here To Reality, as well as the "Wot A Bargain" 12"), Kai was then replaced by American, Joe "Fish" Montanero for one album (Church of The Truly Warped), this was the band's last release for the Rough Justice label. The drum stool was then occupied from around 1994 by former Bomb Disneyland/Bomb Everything drummer Scott Preece, who has remained to this day and played on all releases since.

Biography

Charged GBH embarked on several English and mainland US tours during the early 1980s, including several gigs at the 100 Club. 1982 saw the release of GBH's first LP, City Baby Attacked By Rats which reached number 17 in the UK charts as well as Number 2 in the respected UK Indie charts where the bands singles had also taken up residence, leading to a memorable appearance on legendary UK TV programme "The Tube" doing "Give Me Fire" (UK Indie chart no 2). Lyrically, the album dealt with criticism of British and European culture, violence, morbidity (especially in reference to the song "Passenger On The Menu", which describes in graphic detail the experiences of the passengers on the Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571), atheism, nihilism and humour. Musically, the album was loud and fast, with few songs exceeding three minutes. The success of the first album was repeated with second LP "City Baby's Revenge" in 1983 and saw more extensive touring in America and Europe and higher profile UK shows including the Carlisle Punk festival which they co headlined with fellow UK82 stalwarts The Exploited, and also featured the likes of Toy Dolls, Chelsea and The Destructors. In 1984 the band dropped the "Charged" from their name and became just GBH (grievous bodily harm) .[3] Throughout their recording History it has become a tradition to include a cover version on many of the Albums. Boston Babies - Slaughter and The Dogs (City Baby Attacked By Rats), I Feel Alright - The Damned / The Stooges (City Baby's Revenge), Avenues and Alleyways - Tony Christie (No Need To Panic), Needle In A Haystack - The Velvelettes (A Fridge Too Far), Destroy - The Vibrators (From Here To Reality), I Need Energy - Zero Boys (Church of The Truly Warped).

They and many of their UK82 peers such as The Exploited, Picture Frame Seduction, Discharge, and The Varukers have all enjoyed resounding success among street punks in the USA. Although many of their contemporaries have evolved towards other styles over the years, GBH have remained fairly faithful to their original UK82 sound in subsequent releases. However, the band have experimented to some degree with a more speed metal-inflected sound, notably with their 1992 release Church of the Truly Warped, although they have since returned to a more purist punk sound. The band is still active and touring and maintain a strong following both in England and the rest of Europe, as well as in United States and Japan.

Band members

Current band members

Former band members

Timeline

Discography

Demos

Year of release Title
1980 1980 Demo
1980 Practice 1980

Splits

Year of release Title Featuring Label
1998 Punk As Fuck Billyclub Idol
2001 Punk Rock Ambulance Billyclub Idol

Studio albums

Year of release Title Label
1982 City Baby Attacked By Rats Clay
1983 City Babys Revenge Clay
1986 Midnight Madness and Beyond Rough Justice (later reissued by Captain Oi!)
1987 No Need To Panic Rough Justice (later reissued by Captain Oi!)
1989 A Fridge Too Far Rough Justice (later reissued by Captain Oi!)
1990 From Here To Reality Rough Justice (later reissued by Captain Oi!)
1992 Church of the Truly Warped Rough Justice (later reissued by Captain Oi!)
1996 Punk Junkies We Bite (later reissued by Captain Oi!)
2002 Ha Ha Go Kart
2004 Cruel and Unusual Idol
2010 Perfume and Piss Hellcat

EPs/singles/box sets

Year of release Title Label
1981 Leather, Bristles, Studs, And Acne Clay
1982 No Survivors Clay
1982 Sick Boy Clay
1982 Give Me Fire / Man Trap Clay
1983 Catch 23 / Hellhole Clay
1984 Do What You Do Clay
1986 Oh No, It's GBH Again Rough Justice
1988 Wot A Bargain Rough Justice
2004 Cruel and Unusual Idol
2007 Race Against Time: The Complete Clay Recordings Castle

Compilations & live albums

Year of release Title Label
1982 Punk And Disorderly Abstract/Posh Boy
1982 Leather, Bristles, No Survivors & Sick Boys Clay
1986 Clay Years 1981-1984 Clay
1989 No Survivors '83 Clay
1990 The Clay Years - 1981-84 Clay
1992 The Clay Recordings Clay
1993 Live In Japan Anagram
1995 The Clay Punk Singles Collection Clay
1996 Celebrity Live Style Cleopatra
1999 Punk Rock Hits Cleopatra
1999 Live In Los Angeles Anagram
2002 The Punk Singles 1981-84 Castle
2005 Dead on Arrival: A Punk Rock Anthology Sanctuary

Compilation appearances

Year of release Title Label
1999 A Triple Dose Of Punk - 60 Song box set Cleopatra

DVDs & videos

Year of Release Title
1983 Live At Victoria Hall, Hanley
1995 Kawasaki Live
1996 Live in L.A. 1988
2003 Live at the Ace, Brixton
2004 Kawasaki Live/Brit Boys Attacked by Brats
2005 G.B.H. Live in LA/Live at Victoria
2006 Charged: On Stage

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://punkmusic.about.com/od/reviews/fr/gbhperfumeandpiss.htm
  2. ↑ http://www.sputnikmusic.com/bands/Charged-GBH/24419/
  3. ↑ Archived 8 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine.
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