Anti-Nowhere League are an English punk band formed in 1980, by lead singer Animal (Nick Culmer), rhythm guitarist Magoo (Chris Exall), Bones (Tony Shaw) on drums and Baggy Elvy on bass. They play in a punk rock musical style.
Early days
Their first gig was at the Tunbridge Wells annual carnival, at which they got arrested[citation needed]. This led to their first press coverage with the local newspaper describing their gig as a 'cacophony of noise'[citation needed]. In 1981, Gooky (who left the same year), Hopper and Clive "Winston" Blake came in on lead guitar, drums and bass respectively, although Hopper was quickly replaced with PJ ('Persian John') (real name Djahanshah Aghssa). They managed to get a slot in The Exploited's Apocalypse tour, along with Chron Gen and Anti Pasti. This led to them signing to John Curd's record label WXYZ, with Curd and Chris Gabrin co-managing the band.
Later that year, they also opened for The Damned on a short tour round the north of England and Scotland. November 1981 saw the release of their first single, a cover version of Ralph McTell's "Streets of London". This single later became the group's anthem, "So What" on the B-side.
In 1982, they took part in the 'So What Tour' in the company of such groups as Chelsea, Chron Gen and The Defects, and the release of their debut album We Are...The League. However, the Obscene Publications Squad seized all copies of their records, which were removed from retailers and they were banned from TV and radio. In addition, they were removed from the Top Of The Pops studio because Animal was carrying a 3ft axe around with him[citation needed]. The year finished with the 'Hardcore Storms America' tour with the UK Subs.
Gilly (real name Mark Gilham) joined the band in 1983 as an extra guitarist, which according to the band's website,[1], was because Magoo was drinking heavily and was often unable to carry out his commitments as guitarist. The band went to Yugoslavia to record a live album, called Live In Yugoslavia, but this was dogged by problems with the authorities insisting that references that Animal had made about the recently deceased president Tito be removed from the master tapes, and any language which they deemed to be offensive be bleeped.
By 1984 PJ got fired, unable to cope with the pressures of the drugs and alcohol lifestyle the band were now leading, and they became musically inactive. 1985 saw Michael Bettell join on drums, followed in 1986 by JB (Jonathan Birch). During this time they signed for GWR Records, and recorded the The Perfect Crime album. However, once again there were problems. GWR refused to put up the money to finish the album once they heard its rough cut, and it was released unfinished to try to get back some of the money already invested.
This was the final straw, and in 1987 ANWL disbanded. There was a farewell show in 1989, which can be heard on their live album Live Animals.
Michael Bettell died aged 41, from a brain tumour.
-Wikipedia Article, Unknown Author Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
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