The Spitfire Boys
Encyclopedia
The Spitfire Boys were the first Liverpool
punk
band
to release a single
("British Refugee" c/w "Mein Kampf"). The Spitfire Boys were mainly notable for including in their line-up Peter Clarke
, who went on to drum
for The Slits
and later Siouxsie and the Banshees (as well as marrying Siouxsie
of the Banshees) as Budgie, and Paul Rutherford
, later better known for being a member of 1980s pop
band Frankie Goes to Hollywood
. Jones (aka guitarist David Littler) went on to join The Photons, which also included Steve Strange
(Visage) and Vince Ely (The Psychedelic Furs).
live at Eric's Club
, in Liverpool
, and asked them about a band he had, but really didn't exist, and the group gave him a place to support them alongside Slaughter and the Dogs and Buzzcocks
at Warrington Parr Hall
, Warrington
, Cheshire
, in May. The band was formed shortly afterwards by Littler as guitarist, alongside his friends, bassist Peter Griffiths and lead vocalist Michael Rigby, and Steve Platt a drummer, A short time later, while preparing for the gig, the band changed their name to The Spitfire Boys as a suggestion of Wayne County
. For their first gig at Warrington Parr Hall, they played covers of Ramones
.
After their debut gig, the band had their first drummer, Peter Clarke
, then an art student and member of Albert Dock, later Yachts
. With that new line-up, the band played their second gig at Eric's Club. After that, the group sacked off Michael Rigby, who was replaced, as suggestion of Clarke, by Paul Rutherford
.
They released their first single, British Refugee 7", on 7 October 1977, on RKO Records.
During the brief era of that line-up, they toured UK. They also supported The Prefects
and The Slits
(later Clarke's band), and also played a gig with Holly Johnson
.
In December, Pete Wylie
(formerly of Crucial Three
and The Mystery Girls) joined the band, but only for a few rehearsals. On 22 December 1977, the band split up, Clarke, Griffiths and Wylie formed The Nova Mob (along Julian Cope
), and Paul Rutherford formed The Opium Eaters, while Littler moved to London in January 1978, where joined The Photons, alongside Steve Strange
(later Visage
). Griffiths joined turned his back on the entire music scene, citing the growing trend in drug abuse, and general disillusionment as his reasons.
In July 2006 the band had "British Refugee" re-released on a Korova Records compilation album
, entitled North by Northwest, which was compiled by Paul Morley
.
, Wales
, in October 1978, where he formed a band, The White Boys, but changed their name to The Spitfire Boys, as pressure by a financer of the band, who thought the name would sell better. That time, the line-up was formed by Littler (as David Francis) on vocals and guitar, and former Nylonz members Peter Millman on guitar, Kurt Prasser on bass and Chris Brazier on drums. That alineation recorded and released the 7" single, "Funtime" in 1979. In October 1979, the band moved to London, where they recorded some demos with RKO records. By 1980, despite the interest of Major Label, they disbanded, and Littler joined White Brothers.
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
to release a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
("British Refugee" c/w "Mein Kampf"). The Spitfire Boys were mainly notable for including in their line-up Peter Clarke
Budgie (drummer)
-External links:*...
, who went on to drum
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
for The Slits
The Slits
The Slits were a British punk rock band. The quartet was formed in 1976 by members of the bands The Flowers of Romance and The Castrators. The members were Ari Up , who died of cancer in October 2010, and Palmolive , with Viv Albertine and Tessa Pollitt replacing founding members, Kate Korus and...
and later Siouxsie and the Banshees (as well as marrying Siouxsie
Siouxsie Sioux
Siouxsie Sioux is an English singer-songwriter. She is best known as the lead singer of the critically acclaimed rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees and of its splinter group The Creatures . The Banshees produced eleven studio albums and a string of hit singles including "Hong Kong Garden",...
of the Banshees) as Budgie, and Paul Rutherford
Paul Rutherford
Paul Rutherford is the former backing vocalist, dancer and occasional keyboardist with 1980s pop band Frankie Goes to Hollywood , one of the group's two openly gay singers....
, later better known for being a member of 1980s pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
band Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Frankie Goes to Hollywood were a British dance-pop band popular in the mid-1980s. The group was fronted by Holly Johnson , with Paul Rutherford , Peter Gill , Mark O'Toole , and Brian Nash .The group's debut single "Relax" was banned by the BBC in 1984 while at number six in the charts and...
. Jones (aka guitarist David Littler) went on to join The Photons, which also included Steve Strange
Steve Strange
Steve Strange , is a Welsh pop singer, best known as the lead singer and frontman of the 1980s pop group Visage...
(Visage) and Vince Ely (The Psychedelic Furs).
Liverpool era
In early 1977, David Littler saw The HeartbreakersThe Heartbreakers
Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers, also known as The Heartbreakers, were an American rock & roll band formed in New York in May 1975. The band was part of the first wave of punk rock.-History:...
live at Eric's Club
Eric's Club
Eric's Club was a music club in Liverpool, England. It opened on October 1, 1976 in a building basement on Mathew Street opposite The Cavern Club where The Beatles and other bands of the 1960s played, and became notable for hosting early performances by many punk and post-punk bands.The club was...
, in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, and asked them about a band he had, but really didn't exist, and the group gave him a place to support them alongside Slaughter and the Dogs and Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
at Warrington Parr Hall
Parr Hall
The Parr Hall is the only surviving professional concert hall/theatre venue in Warrington, England.-Location:The Parr Hall and Pyramid Arts Centre are located in the Cultural quarter of Warrington town centre, in Palmyra Square.-History:...
, Warrington
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, in May. The band was formed shortly afterwards by Littler as guitarist, alongside his friends, bassist Peter Griffiths and lead vocalist Michael Rigby, and Steve Platt a drummer, A short time later, while preparing for the gig, the band changed their name to The Spitfire Boys as a suggestion of Wayne County
Jayne County
Jayne County , formerly known as Wayne County, is an American male-to-female transsexual performer, musician and actress whose career has spanned several decades. County would go on to be known as rock's first transsexual singer...
. For their first gig at Warrington Parr Hall, they played covers of Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
.
After their debut gig, the band had their first drummer, Peter Clarke
Budgie
Budgie has several meanings:* Budgerigar, a small parrot native to Australia* Budgie , a rock band** Budgie , the self-titled debut album of the above band* Budgie , a 1971 British TV drama starring Adam Faith...
, then an art student and member of Albert Dock, later Yachts
Yachts (band)
Yachts were a British pop/rock band, best remembered for their 1977 single, "Suffice To Say", and “minor new wave classic”, "Love You, Love You".-Career:...
. With that new line-up, the band played their second gig at Eric's Club. After that, the group sacked off Michael Rigby, who was replaced, as suggestion of Clarke, by Paul Rutherford
Paul Rutherford
Paul Rutherford is the former backing vocalist, dancer and occasional keyboardist with 1980s pop band Frankie Goes to Hollywood , one of the group's two openly gay singers....
.
They released their first single, British Refugee 7", on 7 October 1977, on RKO Records.
During the brief era of that line-up, they toured UK. They also supported The Prefects
The Prefects
The Prefects were a punk band from Birmingham, United Kingdom, with members that would later form The Nightingales.-History:In 1976 singer Robert Lloyd, with guitarist/drummer brothers Alan and Paul Apperley formed after an advert was placed by the Apperley brothers in the Birmingham Evening Mail....
and The Slits
The Slits
The Slits were a British punk rock band. The quartet was formed in 1976 by members of the bands The Flowers of Romance and The Castrators. The members were Ari Up , who died of cancer in October 2010, and Palmolive , with Viv Albertine and Tessa Pollitt replacing founding members, Kate Korus and...
(later Clarke's band), and also played a gig with Holly Johnson
Holly Johnson
Holly Johnson is an English artist, writer and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and former bassist for Big in Japan.- Big in Japan :...
.
In December, Pete Wylie
Pete Wylie
-Studio albums:- Extended Plays :-Singles:-External links:***...
(formerly of Crucial Three
Crucial Three
The Crucial Three were a short-lived band that existed for approximately six weeks in early 1977. They nevertheless achieved notoriety on account of the individual success of all three founding members: Julian Cope formed The Teardrop Explodes and has enjoyed a long and successful solo career as...
and The Mystery Girls) joined the band, but only for a few rehearsals. On 22 December 1977, the band split up, Clarke, Griffiths and Wylie formed The Nova Mob (along Julian Cope
Julian Cope
Julian Cope is a British rock musician, author, antiquary, musicologist, poet and cultural commentator...
), and Paul Rutherford formed The Opium Eaters, while Littler moved to London in January 1978, where joined The Photons, alongside Steve Strange
Steve Strange
Steve Strange , is a Welsh pop singer, best known as the lead singer and frontman of the 1980s pop group Visage...
(later Visage
Visage
Visage are a British New Wave rock band. Formed in 1978, the band became closely linked to the burgeoning New Romantic fashion movement of the early 1980s, and are best known for their 1980 hit "Fade to Grey".-New Wave years :...
). Griffiths joined turned his back on the entire music scene, citing the growing trend in drug abuse, and general disillusionment as his reasons.
In July 2006 the band had "British Refugee" re-released on a Korova Records compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, entitled North by Northwest, which was compiled by Paul Morley
Paul Morley
Paul Morley is an English journalist, who wrote for the New Musical Express from 1977 to 1983, during one of its most successful periods, and has since written for a wide range of publications...
.
Wales era
After Littler disbanded the short-lived Photons, he moved to CardiffCardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, in October 1978, where he formed a band, The White Boys, but changed their name to The Spitfire Boys, as pressure by a financer of the band, who thought the name would sell better. That time, the line-up was formed by Littler (as David Francis) on vocals and guitar, and former Nylonz members Peter Millman on guitar, Kurt Prasser on bass and Chris Brazier on drums. That alineation recorded and released the 7" single, "Funtime" in 1979. In October 1979, the band moved to London, where they recorded some demos with RKO records. By 1980, despite the interest of Major Label, they disbanded, and Littler joined White Brothers.
Discography
- "British RefugeeBritish RefugeeBritish Refugee is a 7" single released by the 1970s Liverpool punk band The Spitfire Boys, on RKO Records on October 7, 1977. It was the only disc released by the most acclaimed line-up of the band, who comprised vocalist Paul Rutherford, guitarist David Littler, bassist Pete Griffiths and drummer...
" (RKO, October 7, 1977) - "Funtime" (Impeccable, 1979)