The band UK Decay although grounded in punk, developed into a seminal Post–Punk outfit with a global presence – an important early link between the Punk and emerging Gothic subculture.
"No band in the UK deserves more credit than UK DECAY for what they did in the early years of the Goth scene, which may have struggled to expand were it not for their activities, endlessly touring, always helping bands, networking benevolently before networking was a concept. The help they offered other bands was as immense as their inspirational sound."
Mick Mercer
UK Decay: A brief introduction
Formed in Luton during the spring of 1979, UK Decay released the ‘Split Single’ 7” on their own Plastic Records label. The 'Split Single' sold extremely well, mainly thanks to a damning review in the NME, whose Danny Baker and Charles Shaar Murray described them as "one of the worst punk bands of all time".
Next was the band's Black Cat EP, in early 1980, which made the UK Indie Chart for three weeks, getting to No. 42.
"For My Country"(Sept 80), gained airplay from John Peel (for whom they would record two sessions). It spent eight months in the indie chart reaching No. 13. Next was a major UK tour with US punks, the Dead Kennedys. In 1981 two further singles, "Unexpected Guest" and "Sexual", were released, the former achieving the Indie chart position at No. 4, paving the way for UK Decay’s début album, ‘For Madmen Only’ which reached no. 2 in the indie album charts.
Following a US tour in 81, Eddie 'Dutch' Branch (AKA 'Twiggy') from Northampton joined on bass.
“The Rising From The Dead” 12" came out on Crass's Corpus Christi label in August 82. However, despite a strong showing in the independent charts and an ever-expanding fanbase, UK Decay split up in December 1982. A posthumous live album, A Night For Celebration, was released during the summer of 1983.
UK Decay were arguably a major influence on the emerging post-punk and 'goth' movements that still resonate today. The band had a major role in developing these scenes, but had ceased to exist by the time these other bands started getting serious press coverage and sales.
In 2008 UK Decay reformed for a reunion gig in the UK and to headline the Drop Dead Festival in Portugal. There was a short tour of Italy in April 09, headlined the WGT Festival in Leipzig, June 09, two appearance at the Rebellion Punk Festival Blackpool in 2009 and 2010, In July 2011 the DV8 Festival in York and a headline at the Moonlight Festival in Rimini, August 2011.
August 2009 also saw the long awaited reissue of the ‘For Madmen Only’ album, the ‘Rising from the Dead’ 12" and other singles on CD and download.
The band are currently writing material for a new album with an expected release date later in 2012.
Watch classical early-period and recent UK Decay music and videos here
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